St. Silouan the Athonite icon

Orthodox icon of Saint Silouan of Mt. Athos or Silouan the Athonite.

Commemorated September 24.

Saint Silouan was a monk of the early twentieth century at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon and is known for his wise counsel. Saint Silouanu00a0was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in 1866 to Russian Orthodox parents who came from the village of Sovsk in Russia's Tambov region. At twenty-seven he left Russia and went to Mount Athos, where he became a monk given the name Silouan, the Russian version of the Biblical name Silvanus.

Saint Silouan received the grace of unceasing prayer and saw Christ in a vision. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and inner stillness. St Silouan died on September 24, 1938. His writings were edited by his disciple and pupil, Archimandrite Sophrony who has written the life of the saint along with a record of St. Silouan's teachings in the book Saint Silouan the Athonite.