ST. SILOUAN THE ATHONITE (SEPT. 24TH)
A Contemporary Byzantine Style Icon of St. Silouan by Uncut Mountain Church Supply Edited by Bp. Joseph ( Ancient Church of the West ) St. Silouan the Athonite was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in 1866 in the Russian village of Shovsk, to a humble family of devout peasants. From a young age, Simeon exhibited a natural piety, and his heart longed for God. Though he lived a simple rural life, he was drawn to prayer, but his early years were marked by a struggle with worldly passions. Like many young men of his time, he was caught up in the vigor of youth, but in his twenties, a profound experience turned his heart decisively towards the path of holiness. The turning point came when, after an episode of sinful indulgence, Simeon had a dream in which he saw a serpent slithering down his throat. Deeply shaken by this terrifying vision, he sought repentance and the mercy of God. Shortly after this, he enlisted in the Imperial Army, but he never lost his desire for monastic life. After c...
