Saint Silouan the Athonite
Our Patron and Guide in Christ
Life of Saint Silouan
Saint Silouan the Athonite (born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov before his monastic tonsure) was born in 1866 in the Tambov Governorate, Russia, and died on September 24, 1938, on Mount Athos, Greece.
As a young man, he worked in his brother’s trade as a carpenter and later served in the Imperial Russian Army. At the age of 27, he left for the holy monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece, where he dedicated his life to prayer, repentance, and the pursuit of Christ.
He became known for his humility, simplicity, and deep compassion for all people. Saint Silouan would often pray and weep for the whole world, interceding for both the faithful and those who did not yet know God.
His Teachings
Saint Silouan’s teachings focus on humility, repentance, and above all, the love of one’s enemies. He believed that without forgiveness, there can be no true Christian life.
One of his most famous spiritual counsels came directly from Christ:
“Keep your mind in hell, and despair not.”
This paradox captures the heart of Orthodox spirituality—acknowledging our sins without losing hope in God’s boundless mercy.
Legacy of Saint Silouan
Saint Silouan reposed in 1938 on Mount Athos. His disciple, Archimandrite Sophrony (later Saint Sophrony of Essex), preserved his writings and shared them with the world. Today, his teachings are read and loved by Orthodox Christians everywhere, and he was officially canonized by the Orthodox Church in 1987.
At Mount Athos, the stone where he would often sit in prayer is still known as “St. Silouan’s Bench,” a symbol of his humility and tireless intercession.
Wisdom of Saint Silouan
“Keep your mind in hell, and despair not.”
“We have such a law: If you forgive, it means that God has forgiven you; but if you do not forgive your brother, it means that your sin remains with you.”
“Those who dislike and reject their fellow man are impoverished in their being. They do not know the true God, who is all-embracing love.”
“Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, ‘You are a saint,’ and the other, ‘You won’t be saved.’ Both of these thoughts are from the enemy, and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins.”