There lived in the world a man named Siluan Athos. He daily and frantically prayed, asking God to have mercy on him. But his prayers remained unanswered. Several months passed, and his strength was exhausted. Siluan despaired and shouted to heaven: "You are inexorable." With these words, something broke in his soul. For a moment he saw the living Christ in front of him. A fire filled his heart and body - with such force that if the vision lasted a couple more seconds, the monk would simply die. Throughout his life, Siluan remembered the ineffably meek, joyful, infinitely loving gaze of Jesus and told others that God is an incomprehensible and immeasurable love. We will talk about this saint in this article.
Childhood
Siluan of Athos (real name - Semyon Antonov) was born in the Tambov province in 1866. For the first time, the boy heard about God at the age of four. Somehow, his father, who loved to host guests and ask them about something interesting, invited a bookseller to his house. During the meal, a "hot" conversation began about the existence of God, and little Semyon sat nearby and listened attentively. The book-killer convinced his father that the Lord did not exist. Especially the boy remembered his words: “Where is he, God?” Semyon then said to his father: “You teach me prayers, and this person denies the existence of the Lord.” To which he replied: “Do not listen to him. I thought he was smart, but it turned out the opposite. ” But the father’s answer raised doubts in the boy’s soul.
Youth
Fifteen years have passed. Simon grew up and got a job as a carpenter in the estate of Prince Trubetskoy. A cook also worked there, regularly going to pray at the grave of John Sezenevsky. She always talked about the life of the recluse and about the miracles taking place on his grave. Some of the workers present confirmed these stories and also considered John a saint. After hearing the future Rev. Silvanus of Athos distinctly felt the presence of the Most High, and his heart was lit up with love for the Lord.
From that day, Semyon began to pray a lot. His soul and character changed, awakening in youth a desire for monasticism. The prince had very beautiful daughters, but he looked at them as sisters, and not as women. At that time, Semyon even asked his father to send him to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. He allowed, but only after the young man finished military service.
Extraordinary power
Elder Siluan of Athos possessed great physical strength in his youth. One day, one of the guests of the prince was going to harness a horse. But in the night severe frosts hit, and all her hooves were in ice, and she did not give to repel him. Semyon tightly grabbed his horse’s neck with his hand and said to the peasant: “Fight off”. The animal could not even move. The guest knocked the ice from their hooves, harnessed the horse and left.
Also, Semyon could take a vat with boiling cabbage soup with his bare hands and transfer it to the table. With a fist, the young man interrupted a thick board. In the heat and cold, he lifted and wore weights for several hours without rest. By the way, he ate and drank the same way he worked. Once, after a hearty meat dinner on Easter, when everyone went home, his mother offered Simon scrambled eggs. He did not refuse and gladly ate a fried egg, in which, as they say, there were not less than fifty eggs. Same thing with booze. On holidays in the tavern, Semyon could easily drink two and a half liters of vodka and not even get drunk.
First big sin
The youth’s strength, which was later useful to him for accomplishing feats, became the cause of the first great sin, which Silvanos of Athos long repelled.
On one of the holidays, when all the villagers were on the street, Semyon walked with his comrades and played the harmonica. Two brothers, working as shoemakers in the village, walked towards them. The eldest was of tremendous growth and strength, and he also liked to have a scandal. He began to take an accordion from Semyon. He handed it to his friend, and asked the shoemaker to calm down and go his own way. It did not help. A pood fist flew towards Semen.
Here is how St. Silouan of Athos himself recalled this incident: “At first I wanted to give in, but then I felt ashamed that the inhabitants would laugh at me. So I hit him hard in the chest. The shoemaker flew away a few meters, and blood and foam poured from his mouth. I thought I killed him. Thank God everything worked out. About half an hour he was pumped out, pouring cold water. Then they picked it up with difficulty and took it home. He finally recovered only after two months. After that I had to be very careful, because two brothers constantly kept watch on the street with knives and clubs. But the Lord has protected me. ”
First vision
The young life of Semyon was in full swing. He had already forgotten about the desire to serve God and simply spent his time chastely. After another drinking party with friends, he dozed off and in a dream saw a snake creep into him through his mouth. Feeling very disgusted, Semyon woke up and heard the words: “After all, are you disgusted by what you see? It’s also unpleasant for me to watch what you do with your life. ”
There was no one near, but the voice that spoke these words was unusually pleasant and amazing. Silouan of Athos was convinced that the Virgin herself spoke to him. Until the end of his days, he thanked her for instructing on the true path. Semyon was ashamed of his past life, and he became stronger in the desire to serve God after the end of military service. A sense of sin awoke in him, which completely changed his attitude to everything around him.
Military service
Semen was sent to serve in St. Petersburg, in the Life Guards. He was loved in the army, as he was a good, calm and efficient soldier. Once, he, together with three friends, went to the city to celebrate a holiday in a tavern. Everyone drank and talked, and Semyon sat and was silent. One of the soldiers asked him: “Why are you silent? What was he thinking about? ”He replied:“ Here we are sitting, having fun, and they are praying on Athos now! ”
Throughout his service in the army, Semyon constantly thought about this Holy Mountain and even sent there the received salary. Once he went to the nearest village to transfer money. On the way back he met a rabid dog who wanted to pounce on him. Shackled by fear, Semyon only said: “Lord, have mercy!” The dog seemed to stumble upon an invisible barrier and ran into the village, where it caused harm to livestock and people. After this incident, he became even stronger in his desire to serve the Lord. When the service was over, Semyon came home, packed his things and went to the monastery.
Arrival to the Holy Mountain
Silouan of Athos, whose teaching is still relevant today, arrived on the Holy Mountain in 1892. He began his new ascetic life in the Russian monastery of St. Panteleimon.
According to Mount Athos, the new novice was to be completely at rest for several days, remembering his own sins. Then put them in writing and repent to the confessor. Sins of Silvanus were released, and his service to the Lord began: prayers in the cell, lengthy worship in the temple, vigil, fasting, communion, confession, labor, reading, obedience ... Over time, he learned the Jesus prayer with beads. Everyone in the monastery loved him and regularly praised him for his good character and good work.
Monastic feats
Over the years of serving God in the Holy Mountain, the monk performed many ascetic feats that most would find impossible. The monk’s sleep was intermittent - he slept several times a day for 15-20 minutes, and he did it on a stool. He had no bed at all. The prayer of Silvanus of Athos lasted all night. In the afternoon, the monk worked like a worker. He adhered to inner obedience, cutting off his own will. He was abstained in movements, conversations and food. In general, he was a role model.
Conclusion
Silouan of Athos, whose life was described in this article, slept literally a few minutes until the end of his life. And this despite the diseases and melting forces. Thus, he freed up a lot of time for prayer. He did it especially hard at night, before Matins. In September 1938, the monk died peacefully. With his life, the Monk Silvanus of Athos set an example of humility, meekness and love for his neighbors. Fifty years after the day of his death, the elder was counted among the saints.