Venerable Silouan the Athonite (+1938)
The Venerable Silouan the Athonite (in the world Symeon) was born in 1866 in the village of Shovskoye in the province of Tambov, into the family of a peasant, John Antonov. While still a youth the blessed one expressed the desire to renounce the world and become a monk in the Kiev Caves Lavra, but he could not obtain his father’s blessing. His father insistently demanded that his son first do his military service and then choose his path in life.
Symeon began his service in Saint Petersburg and became an exemplary and conscientious soldier. In the army the blessed one’s wisdom and meekness showed themselves with special clarity. At this time the place of his future labours, the Holy Mountain of Athos, was miraculously revealed to him. Shortly before the end of his military service Symeon decided to receive the blessing of Father John of Kronstadt, but, not finding him, he left him a letter: “Father, I wish to become a monk; pray that the world may not hinder me.” The very next day in the barracks the saint felt as though clearly the horror of hell, and from that time on, wherever he went, this feeling did not leave him.
In the autumn of 1892 the venerable father came to Athos and entered the Russian monastery of Saint Panteleimon as a novice. At first he was assigned to the mill, which was followed by the laborious service of steward, in charge of the workshops and the storehouse of provisions. After his period of probation he was clothed in the great schema in 1896.
At work in the monastery mill
From the first to the last day of his ascetic life the Venerable Silouan gave an example of the complete cutting off of his own will. “Here is the shortest and easiest way to salvation: be obedient, be temperate, do not judge, and keep thy mind and heart from evil thoughts; think always that every man is good and that the Lord loves them all. Then the grace of the Holy Spirit will dwell in thee, and thou wilt say: ‘The Lord is merciful.’ But if thou judgest, murmurest and art self-willed, then however much thou prayest, thy soul will be empty, and thou wilt say: ‘The Lord has forgotten me.’ Whereas it is not the Lord who has forgotten thee, but thou who hast forgotten that thou must be obedient. That is why the grace of God has left thee and does not abide in thee. In an obedient soul it dwells easily and brings with it peace and rest in the Lord,” he used to say.
The holy father’s prayer was more and more accompanied by grief for this world, which did not know the Lord.
Saint Silouan the Athonite reposed on 11 September 1938. His holy relics rest on Athos, in the Russian monastery of Panteleimon.
At the millennium of the Baptism of Russia the Orthodox Church of Constantinople numbered the God-pleaser among the saints.
