#silouan

[asmallorthodoxblog]

If we only knew

,,Ah, if we only knew how the Most Holy Mother of God loves all those who keep the commandments of Christ and how much she pities and grieves for those who do not amend their ways. I have felt this myself. I do not lie, I speak the truth before the Face of God, Whom my soul knows: in the spirit, I have known the Most Pure Virgin. I have not seen her, but the Holy Spirit granted me to know her and her love for us. Had it not been for her mercy, I would have perished long ago, but she wanted to visit me and enlighten me so that I would sin no more. She said to me: "It is not beautiful for me to look at you to see what you are doing!". Her words were pleasant, quiet, and gentle, and they worked upon my soul. More than 40 years have passed since then, but my soul has not been able to forget these sweet words, and I do not know what I, a sinner, could give her in return for her love toward me, the unclean one, and how I shall thank the good and merciful Mother of the Lord.

Truly, she is our protectress before God, and even her name alone gladdens the soul. Now, all of heaven and all of earth rejoice in her love. A wonderful and incomprehensible thing. She dwells in the Heavens and unceasingly beholds the glory of God, yet she does not forget even us, the poor ones, and covers all the earth and all the nations with her mercy. And this Most Pure Mother of His, the Lord gave to us! She is our joy and our hope. She is our Mother according to the spirit and, as a human, she is close to us by nature, and every Christian soul is drawn toward her with love."

-Saint Silouan the Athonite, Between the Hell of Despair and the Hell of Humility

[thesynaxarium]

Today we also celebrate the Venerable Silouan of Athos (+1938). Saint Silouan grew up in a spiritual family, however he lived a worldly life - he enjoyed the luxuries of the world and often got drunk at parties and loved showing off in front of his female friends. One night at a party, he saw a man die from alcohol abuse and this made him rethink his life choices. He finally decided to become a monk at age 27 at the Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimon on Mount Athos. Here, he struggled greatly to rid himself of his passions. One night, he fell into despair and prayed unceasingly for the Lord's solace. Still a novice, the Lord Himself appeared to him and comforted his despondent soul. This however, brought on the vice of pride to the young novice and he was faced with many more temptations. The Lord's voice gave him the advice by which he would live the rest of his life: "keep your mind in hell and despair not". These poignant words, just like to us, seemed unusual to the Saint, but he developed a love for them. After much struggle, he reached the state of dispassion and was granted the gift of tears as well as prophecy. Although illiterate, Saint Silouan became a fount of knowledge for all who sought his counsel. Having lived a life equal to those of the first desert fathers, Saint Silouan reposed in peace in 1938. May he intercede for us always + #saint #silouan #silouanos #athos #mountathos #mount #stpanteleimon #panteleimon #monk #monastic #ascetic #christ #jesus #jesuschrist #vision #despondent #despondency #despair #hope #love #keepyourmindinhell #despairnot #orthodox #saintoftheday (at St. Panteleimon Monastery) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3DMjerxLR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[asmallorthodoxblog]

[asmallorthodoxblog]

"If trials seem heavy to us, it is a sign that we have not fully entrusted ourselves to the will of God."

-St. Silouan the Athonite

[asmallorthodoxblog]

When the soul is in the love of God, how good, how pleasant and joyful everything is then. But even in the love of God there are sorrows, and the greater the love, the greater the sorrows. The Mother of God never sinned, not even with a single thought, nor did she ever lose grace, but in her too there were great sorrows; and when she stood by the cross, then her sorrow was immeasurable as the ocean and the torments of her soul were incomparably greater than the torments of Adam at his expulsion from Paradise, because her love was also incomparably greater than the love of Adam in Paradise. And if she remained alive, it is only because the power of the Lord strengthened her, for the Lord wanted her to see His Resurrection and to remain on earth, after His Ascension, for the comfort and joy of the apostles and the new Christian people.

We do not reach the fullness of the love of the Mother of God and therefore we cannot fully understand her sorrow. Her love was perfect. She loved her God and Son immeasurably, but she also loved the people with a great love. And what did she not experience then, when the people she loved so much and whose salvation she desired to the end crucified her Beloved Son? We cannot comprehend this, because in us the love for God and for people is small.

Just as the love of the Mother of God is immeasurable and incomprehensible, so her sorrow is immeasurable and incomprehensible to us.

-Saint Silouan the Athonite

[asmallorthodoxblog]

[asmallorthodoxblog]

,,The Lord loves people, but sends them suffering so they may realize their powerlessness and humbly receive the Holy Spirit. Where the Holy Spirit is, there is goodness, joy; everything is wonderful. He who suffers greatly due to poverty and illness but does not humble himself, suffers in vain. But he who humbles himself will be content with any kind of life, because the Lord is his wealth and joy. All people will marvel at the beauty of his soul."

Saint Silouan the Athonite

[asmallorthodoxblog]

Advice for those who don't believe in God

Pride doesn't allow the soul to take the path of faith. I give this advice to the unbeliever: say, "Lord, if you exist, enlighten me, and I will serve you with all my heart and all my soul." And for this humble thought and disposition to serve God, the Lord will surely enlighten him. But don't say, "If you exist, punish me," because if punishment comes, you may not have the strength to thank God and repent.

When the Lord enlightens you, your soul feels the Lord; it feels that the Lord has forgiven and loves it, and you know this from experience, and the grace of the Holy Spirit will bear witness in your soul to your salvation, and then you will want to shout loudly to the whole world: "How much the Lord loves us!" Until he knew the Lord, the Apostle Paul persecuted Him, but when he knew Him, he traveled the whole world preaching Christ.

-Saint Silouan the Athonite, Between the Hell of Despair and the Hell of Humility