Biography of Saint Silouan of Athos
Childhood and adolescence
The biography of the reverend father begins in the village of Shovskaya, Tambov province. The future Athonite monk was born into a family of simple peasants in 1866 and received the name Simeon. Although the father and mother did not have literacy, they were distinguished by piety, wisdom, sensitive hearts and responsiveness. There was no abundance in the house, but they were hospitable people and provided help to those in need, sometimes sharing the latter. Father Silouan always remembered his parents with warmth and love.
Saint Silouan of Athos
Simeon often went to church with his father and mother; he liked to stand for services. In the temple he comprehended the word of God and learned about the lives of the saints. On weekdays he worked with his father on the land, and sometimes he worked at a construction site with his older brothers.
Simeon was raised in Orthodox traditions, which he really liked. From a young age, he thought about monastic life and the path to the Lord and Heavenly Jerusalem. He wanted to become a resident of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. However, the father, wanting to warn his son against hastily making such a serious decision, insisted that his son first pass the test in the army, and only then determine his future path.
The loving son did not resist his father's will. But the temptations of this world gradually began to drag the guy down to the point that the desire to devote his life to God moved (for a while) to the side. There was a worldly life with festivities, girls, music. And then one day in a dream Simeon saw a snake crawl into his mouth. Out of disgust, he woke up and heard the voice of the Lady of Heaven herself, which cannot be confused with anyone else. She said that just as he was disgusted by what he saw, She was also disgusted by what he was doing.
Video “Prayers to the Venerable Elder Silouan of Athos”
In this video you can listen to an audio recording of prayers to the Venerable Elder Silouan of Athos.
Military service
Military service sent Simeon to St. Petersburg, where he served in the Life Guards, in a battalion of sappers. Being a soldier was not a burden for the future monk; on the contrary, this period of life strengthened his character and taught him to be responsible and efficient. The decision to leave worldly temptations and empty vanity grew stronger and stronger.
Several times Simeon sent money by mail to Athos to help the brethren. In any place, even in a tavern, he preserved the memory of the Last Judgment, of the Holy Mountain.
Before the end of his service, Simeon came to Father John of Kronstadt to take his blessing to enter the monastery and receive the necessary instructions. He failed to find Father John in his place, and the guy wrote a short note in which he asked for blessings and prayers for him. The very next day something changed and he began to feel as if hellish fire was humming around him. This strengthened his decision, and a week after returning home, Simeon went to Holy Mount Athos.
Years of monasticism
The model for Father Silouan was Saint Seraphim of Sarov.
On Holy Athos, Simeon entered the brethren of the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon. He was immediately given obedience to work at the mill. Physical work was not a burden for the guy, because he grew up in a village in a peasant family and was used to working. The fight against temptation turned out to be more difficult. Simeon even had thoughts of returning to the world, but he remembered the words of the Mother of God and was afraid to upset Her again.
The model for Father Silouan was Saint Seraphim of Sarov
I had to fight pride and conceit, which I managed to destroy through prayer, humility and with the help of the advice of my fathers. The awareness of his own insignificance, which grew into despair, convinced him of the impossibility of salvation. Then the Merciful Lord took him to Heaven and bestowed grace, which Simeon called “the grace of martyrdom.” After meeting the Heavenly King himself, it was no longer possible to forget His loving gaze. And Simeon never tired of testifying that “God is love, immeasurable, incomprehensible love.”
4 years after arriving on Athos, Simeon took monastic vows and received the name Silouan. In 1911 he was elevated to the great schema. Not wanting to leave the monastery for solitude, believing that this required the favor of the Lord, the monk humbled and limited himself.
One day he was unable to concentrate on prayer, and he called on the Lord. The merciful Lord heeded the monk’s prayer and answered that people who have pride suffer from demonic attacks. God ordered us not to give in to despair and to keep the fire of hell in our memory.
Father Silouan prayed for many people - living and deceased, prayed for the whole world, which was forgetting its Creator. He believed that when prayer became weaker, the world would not be able to stand.
Father Silouan reposed in the Lord on September 24, 1938.
Where was Elder Sophrony (Sakharov) born?
Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov) is a Muscovite. And the house where he lived for the first years is still preserved - Gilyarovskogo Street, 16a - a stone's throw from the Prospekt Mira metro station.
Sophrony (Sakharov) was born in 1896 into the family of a successful artisan, and, in part, this predetermined many things - the boy had the opportunity to show his creative abilities, he became interested in painting. In 1918 he entered the School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in Moscow.
In 1922, as a young man, he emigrated to Europe. There was no Christianity or thoughts about monasticism in his life yet.
Sergei Sakharov (future Archimandrite Sophrony) - self-portrait in his youth.
Teachings and moral teachings of the saint
The merciful Lord gave Father Silouan the gift of miracles, insight and wise words. The advice and instructions of the saint are known to the entire Orthodox world. They can be found in the following creations:
- “The Writings of Elder Silouan”;
- "Salvation according to the teachings of St. Silouan of Athos."
The monk taught that the absence of humility prevents one from acquiring grace, and the soul, not feeling the presence of the Lord, grieves. Father Silouan did not condemn anyone and did not laugh at anyone. He taught to cry both for one’s own and for the sins of others.
The merciful Lord gave Father Silouan the gift of miracles
Sophrony (Sakharov) - artist
They say that creativity is a reflection of a person’s spiritual giftedness. If so, then the fate of Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov) is clear proof of this idea.
The paintings of the future elder Sophrony were exhibited in Parisian galleries, and some of them were highly valued. He himself was interested in modern trends in painting, lived according to the social circle - although he stood out in that he tried to spend as much time as possible in his own studio: working and thinking.
One of the “pre-Athos” works of Sergei Sakharov, the future Archimandrite Sophronius.
The main result of these reflections is that, for many, the young artist suddenly left France without living there for even five years. And his new place of life became the holy Mount Athos.
Archimandrite Sophrony himself said that at some point he felt, and then finally understood for himself, that inspiration and any creative experience is finite in its own way and has a limit. At the same time, the religious searches that he conducted in parallel gave his soul more complete answers. Some spiritual experiences turned out to be so strong and deep that after them any art and social life lost their meaning altogether.
In such cases, it is customary to say: Christ revealed himself to the young man and called him to monastic service.
Veneration of Silouan of Athos
The Holy Orthodox Church established September 11 (24) as the day of remembrance of St. Silouan. The relics of the saint are kept in the Russian Monastery on Mount Athos, part of them was transferred to Russia. Many churches in Greece and Russia were consecrated in honor of the saint. People resort to the help of the monk in various needs and illnesses; he helps fight pride, despondency, despair, protects against slander, and reconciles those at war. On the icons the saint is depicted as an old man standing half-turned, facing Heaven and holding in his hands a scroll with words from the Holy Scriptures.
Prayer to Saint Silouan of Athos
Saint Silouan worked a lot, struggling with passions, and showed us an example of the struggle for his soul. Believers can read an akathist, prayers to the saint, and sing a troparion.
O wonderful servant of God, Father Silouan! By the grace given to you by God, we tearfully pray for the entire universe - the dead, the living and the future - do not remain silent for us to the Lord, who earnestly fall to you and tenderly ask for your intercession. Move, O all-blessed one, to prayer the Zealous Intercessor of the Christian race, the Most Blessed Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, who miraculously called you to be a faithful worker in Her earthly city, where the chosen one of God for our sins is merciful and long-suffering to God, so that our untruths and iniquities are not remembered , but according to the ineffable goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ, to spare and save us according to His great mercy.
To her, saint of God, with the Most Blessed Lady of the World - the Most Holy Abbess of Athos and Her holy ascetics, ask the saints for the Most Holy Word of the Holy Mount Athos and its God-loving desert dwellers from all the troubles and slander of the enemy in the world. Yes, the Angels deliver the saints from evil and strengthen them in faith and brotherly love with the Holy Spirit, until the end of the century they pray for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and show everyone the saving path, and the Earthly and Heavenly Church constantly glorifies the Creator and Father of Lights, enlightening and illuminating peace in the eternal truth and goodness of God.
Ask the people of the entire earth for a prosperous and peaceful life, a spirit of humility and brotherly love, good morals and salvation, a spirit of fear of God. Let it not be malice and lawlessness that harden the hearts of men, which can destroy the love of God in men and cast them into godless enmity and fratricide, but in the power of Divine love and truth, as in heaven and on earth, hallowed be the name of God, may His holy will be done in men , and may peace and the Kingdom of God reign on earth.
Likewise, ask for your earthly Fatherland - the Land of Russia, servant of God, the longed-for peace and heavenly blessing, covered by the all-powerful omophorion of the Mother of God, to get rid of famine, destruction, cowardice, fire, sword, invasion of foreigners and internecine warfare and from all visible enemies and invisible, and thus in the most holy house of the Most Blessed Mother of God, until the end of the century, he will remain in the power of the Life-Giving Cross and be established in the inexhaustible love of God.
For all of us, who are immersed in the darkness of sins and warmth of repentance, who have no lower fear of God and who constantly insult the Lord who loves us immeasurably, ask, O all-blessed one, from our All-Bountiful God, so that with His All-powerful divine grace He will visit and revive our souls and all evil and let the pride of life, despondency and negligence in our hearts be abolished.
We also pray that we, strengthened by the grace of the All-Holy Spirit and warmed by the love of God, in philanthropy and brotherly love, in humble crucification for one another and for everyone, may be confirmed in the truth of God and well strengthened in the gracious love of God, and will draw closer to Him who loves His sons. Yes, so, doing His all-holy will, in all piety and purity of temporary life, let us walk the path unashamedly and with all the saints of the Heavenly Kingdom and His Lamb we will be honored.
To Him from all earthly and heavenly be glory, honor and worship, with His Beginningless Father, His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.
New mental anguish
After 15 years had passed from the day the Lord God appeared to St. Silouan, he again began to feel the loss of peace and the attacks of devilish forces within himself. Over time, this condition began to intensify, especially at night. According to the elder, he felt severe pain in his soul, which he could not have survived if the Creator had not previously given him knowledge of the love he has for every person.
Conversation with the Lord
On one of these terrible nights, no matter how hard he tried, the elder could not begin to pray .
“In desperation, he appealed to God, asking him the question: “Lord, you observe my great desire to pray, but the demons oppose me in this. Teach me what to do to overcome them?”
- And God answered him that this happens to people who suffer from pride.
— Silouan asked God how he could overcome pride and come to humility?
“In his heart the monk heard the following answer: “You need to keep your mind in hell and never give in to despair.”
Silouan's Understanding of Divine Inspirations
Silouan interpreted this answer as follows :
- When sinful thoughts and desires approach the soul, it must descend to hell, recognizing itself as worthy of this torment.
- With the power of the flames of hell, you need to burn out any passion in yourself.
- Offer a sincere prayer to God.
- Hope for salvation through the love of Christ.
- Don't despair.
Thus, Silouan summed up, enemies are defeated when, having passed through fire with the mind, they are reborn and acquire new strength. Subsequently, this inspiration of God became a guide for the elder in his daily spiritual life, and never left him. Thus began the next stage of his ministry.
