St. Silouan the Athonite

Simeon Antonov was a strong, simple peasant from Tambov who came to the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon on Mount Athos in 1892. For years he struggled with despair, until Christ appeared to him and filled him with love. Later he heard the words, “Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not.” He worked as a steward of the monastery workshops and prayed constantly for the whole world, even for those who hated him. His writings were published by his disciple St. Sophrony.

• Feast: September 24 (New Calendar)
• Lived: 1866–1938
• Place: St. Panteleimon, Mount Athos