Saint Silouan: Monastic Life and Prayers
SaintSilouan of Athos, or Saint Silouan the Athonite, is one of the best-known Russian monks. His feast day is September 11. He was a monk at the Saint Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos in Greece during the 19th century.
Biography of Saint Silouan
Saint Silouan, born Simeon Antonov, was born on January 17, 1866, in the village of Snovskoye, Russia. He was raised in the Christian faith by his wise and gentle parents.
At the age of four, he decided that once he grew up, he would “seek God.” This thought arose after an encounter with an atheist who was visiting his parents around 1870.
At the age of nineteen, he was told the story of miracles that had occurred at the tomb of a holy ascetic. Simeon concluded that he did not need to travel the world in search of God, since this man had become a saint by fulfilling God’s Will.
Gradually, the desire to serve God in a monastery took root in his heart. He completed his military service, thinking only of Mount Athos and the Lord. Toward the end of his service, he traveled to Kronstadt to receive the blessing of Father John of Kronstadt, who would later be canonized.
In 1892, he finally arrived at Mount Athos and entered the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon. The period of discernment was difficult for the young man. He went through a phase of doubt, wondering whether he should marry and become a family man or become a hermit. He led a life of strict asceticism.
Simeon, who became Brother Silouan, ultimately remained on Mount Athos for forty-six years. His name, Silouan, comes from the Valley of Silouan in Jerusalem, where, in the Gospel of Saint John, Jesus sent the man born blind to wash himself in order to heal him.
He was very hardworking and was therefore entrusted with a multitude of “obediential duties.” Throughout all his activities, he prayed continually for humanity. His entire life, he was tormented by the temptation of pride and prayed tirelessly to the Lord to help him become more humble and to drive out his demons.
Toward the end of his life, he fell ill and his strength gradually failed him. Despite this, he continued the practice of waking up in the middle of the night to pray.
Saint Silouan passed away on September 11, 1938, in the monastery infirmary, at the hour of Matins. He was canonized on November 26, 1987.
Beautiful Prayers of Saint Silouan
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
“Lord, send Your Holy Spirit upon us, for we know You and all that is Yours only through the Holy Spirit whom You gave first to Adam, then to the holy prophets, and afterward to the Christians. Lord, make known to all peoples Your Love and the gentleness of the Holy Spirit, so that people may forget the sorrows of this earth, forsake all evil, and cling to You with love, and so that they may live in peace, fulfilling Your holy Will for Your Glory. O Lord, deign to grant us the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that we may know your Glory and live on earth in peace and love, so that there may be neither hatred, nor war, nor enemies, but that love alone may reign. Then there will be no need for armies or prisons, and it will be easy for everyone to live on earth. Lord, hear my prayer; grant that all the peoples of the earth may come to know You through the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Prayer for Praying for Our Enemies
“Lord, You have commanded us to love our enemies, but this is difficult for us sinners unless Your grace is with us: grant us all to know Your love, to know that You love us without measure, so that we may learn to love as You love us. Whoever does not love his enemies cannot know You, Lord, nor the gentleness of the Holy Spirit: teach us, through that same Spirit, to have compassion on our enemies as on our own children, and to pray for them with tears. Amen.”
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