🔸 September 24 - Saint Silouan the Athonite 🔸
Today, we also honor Saint Silouan the Athonite, a Russian monk from the early 20th century who lived at the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon on Mount Athos. He is remembered for his deep ascetic devotion and wise counsel.
Born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in 1866 to Orthodox parents in the village of Sovsk, located in Russia’s Tambov region, Saint Silouan embraced monastic life at the age of 27. With the prayers of Saint John of Kronstadt, he set out for Greece and the Holy Mountain.
Upon joining the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon, he adopted the monastic name Silouan, the Russian equivalent of Silvanus, a name found in the Bible.
Devoting himself entirely to God, Saint Silouan received the gift of unceasing prayer from the Most Holy Mother of God and was blessed to see Christ in the chapel of the Holy Prophet Elijah.
Despite many years of spiritual struggle and temptation, Saint Silouan endured his trials with great humility and inner peace, his heart filled with meekness. Although he had limited formal education, his wisdom attracted numerous pilgrims seeking his guidance.
He prayed and wept for the salvation of the entire world, teaching that the greatest evidence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the love we have for our enemies.
On this day in 1938, Saint Silouan passed away peacefully at the monastery where he had spent 46 years. His relics, particularly his skull, continue to be venerated by pilgrims.
His life and spiritual teachings were later shared with the world by his disciple, Saint Sophrony of Essex, to whom Saint Silouan had entrusted his writings. On his scroll is inscribed: “I pray thee, O merciful Lord, for all the peoples of the earth, that they may come to know Thee through Thy Holy Spirit."