Born Simeon Antonov in a Russian peasant family, St Silouan entered St Panteleimon’s Monastery on Mount Athos. There he lived a quiet life of work, prayer, and spiritual struggle.

Early in his monastic life, he experienced a vision of Christ. Yet he continued to struggle with despair and the search for humility. The words “Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not” became the teaching for which he is best remembered.

St Silouan prayed for the whole world and taught that we must pray even for our enemies. After his death in 1938, his disciple St Sophrony preserved his writings so that his witness could reach people far beyond Mount Athos.

St Silouan, pray to God for us.