Silouan the Athonite

Elder Silouan (Russian Силуан Афонский; * 1866 Kirchdorf Schowskoje, Circle Lebedin in the Tambov Oblast, † September 24, 1938 ), whose real name was Simeon Ivanovich Antonov, was a Russian monk and mystic of the Orthodox Church.

Life

Silouan was born the son of a Russian peasant and went after his military service in 1892 in the Russian Panteleimonkloster on Mount Athos one. In 1896, he was dressed and took 1911 Schima on. He spent his monastery service at the mill, on the Metoche squid, on the Russik Stary ( Old monastery on Mount Athos) and in the food storage of the monastery as an economist.

Importance

Silouan lived in secret and became known only after his death. Today he is regarded as a saint of the heart prayer, which was already given to him early as a novice in a higher everlasting stage. His mystical writings are read by many people who maintain the Jesus Prayer.

In Munich there is one of the few chapels dedicated to him, which belongs to the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Writings

• Manfred Baumotte (ed.): Elder Silouan: Mystical writings, Zurich / Dusseldorf 1999, ISBN 3-545-20321-2.
• Elder Silouan - monk from Mount Athos. His life and his teachings, Dusseldorf 2007, Patmos -Verlag, ISBN 978-3-491-71316-1.