In the autumn of 1892 a young Russian peasant named Simeon from the province of Tambov was drawn to that ancient repository of Orthodox spirituality, Mt Athos. He had done his military service and now came to the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon, to embark on long years of spiritual combat lasting until his death in 1938. Although he was unlearned and ignorant in the ordinary sense, tireless inner strivings gave him authentic personal experience of Christianity identical with that of many of the early ascetic Desert Fathers.
The first part of this book is a remarkable account of St Silouan's life, personality and teaching by his spiritual disciple Archimandrite Sophrony. Archimandrite Sophrony went to Mt Athos in 1925 and there at the Monastery of St Panteleimon became amanuensis to Staretz Silouan.
Part two comprises the writings of Silouan, originally penciled in laborious, unformed characters on odd scraps of paper. The Lord said, 'Every one that is of the truth hears my voice' (John 18:37). And according to Father Sophrony, 'these words are applicable to Staretz Silouan's notes ... [That] whoever has received from God the mind and wisdom to know him will be aware in the Staretz' words of the breath of the Holy Spirit.'
In 1988 Staretz Silouan was placed in the canon of saints by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church.
Author(s): Archimandrite Sophrony, Rosemary Edmonds
Publisher: St Vladimir's Seminary Press
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 504
City: Crestwood, NY
Cover
Contents
Foreword
Part I: The Staretz’ Life and Teaching
I. Childhood and Early Years
II. Arrival on Mt. Athos
III. Monastic Strivings
IV. Portrait of the Staretz
V. The Staretz’ Doctrinal Teaching
VI. Pure Prayer and Mental Stillness
VII. The Imagination and the Ascetic Struggle against its Various Aspects
VIII. Uncreated Divine Light and Ways of Contemplation
IX. Grace and Consequent Dogmatic Consciousness
X. Spiritual Trials
XI. ‘Keep thy mind in hell, and despair not!’
XII. The Divine Word and the Bounds of Created Nature
XIII. On the Purport of Prayer for the World
XIV. The Staretz’ Demise
XV. Testimonies
Part II: The Writings of Staretz Silouan
Foreword
I. Yearning for God
II. On Prayer
III. On Humility
IV. On Peace
V. On Grace
VI. On the Will of God and on Freedom
VII. On Repentance
VIII. On the Knowledge of God
IX. On Love
X. We are Children of God and in the Likeness of the Lord
XI. On the Mother of God
XII. On the Saints
XIII. Concerning Shepherds of Souls
XIV. Concerning Monks
XV. Concerning Obedience
XVI. Concerning Spiritual Warfare
XVII. Concerning Intrusive Thoughts and Delusions
XVIII. Adam’s Lament
XIX. Reminiscences and Conversations
XX. Thoughts, Advice and Observations on Asceticism
