Orthodox shrine. The relics of Silouan Athos - in Minsk

In August 2016, the relics of Silouan Athos were delivered to Belarus. In Minsk, a sarcophagus with an Orthodox shrine was met by Metropolitan Paul (head of the BOC).

Simeon Antonov

Simeon Antonov (the worldly name of Silouan Athos) was born in 1866 in the family of a pious peasant. His homeland - the village of Shovskoye, which is in Lebedyan county Tambov province.

On the holy mountain Athos Simeon first visited as a pilgrim in 1892, after which he became a novice of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery. His appearance on Mount Athos, as is commonly believed in the Orthodox world, has made positive changes in monotonous monastic life.

In Belarus, the honest head of the Monk Silvan was delivered in honor of the holiday: exactly 100 centuries ago on Mount Athos Russian monasticism was formed. The news that the relics of Silouan Athos - in Minsk, gathered in the capital of Belarus numerous pilgrims, including many foreigners.

His life could have changed

Siluan Afonsky survived the revolution, the Civil War and the formation of the Soviet Union, turning from an uneducated Russian peasant into one of the greatest ascetics of the Christian world. Silouan died during the Stalin regime.

When the relics of Silouan Athos were brought to Minsk, the head of the BOC, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsky Paul, speaking before the laity, could not help but recall the sincere desire of the Reverend Silvanus to become like God and called the saint a symbol of divine love and mercy.

His life could have been different: almost without education (just two winters Simeon managed to study in a rural school), like other villagers, he could marry and follow in the footsteps of his father - to raise children and farm. From his childhood Simeon worked in the field and was very strong physically: he broke a thick board with a fist.

The relics of St. Silouan Athos - in Minsk

On the Holy Mount Athos the Monk Siluan Afonsky left on the eve of the coronation of Nicholas II, and in the Russo-Japanese War he was already mobilized as a monk. After the war, Silouan returned to Athos again.

Siluana Afonsky's relics were brought to Greece from Belarus. Until August 31, believers could touch the Orthodox shrine at any time of the day within the walls of the Holy Spirit Cathedral. Then the sarcophagus with the relics of the saint was transported to Russia.

The young novice

In his youth, Siluan, despite being a novice, differed little from his peers. He also spent time at the tavern ... although he was always mentally on Mount Athos.

Shortly after the monk's tonsure, the persistent thought that he could enter Paradise through daily prayers began to haunt him, but it is unlikely to happen to his loved ones ... "If I do not meet them there, then I will not be happy either," - Thought young Silouan. Not understanding what was happening to him, the inexperienced youth did not notice how he became the target of the evil attack. The demons came to him more and more, depriving them of their spiritual strength. So several months passed.

Siluan felt abandoned and tired, but one day, when the yearning caused by thinking about the cruel God's inexorability reached its climax ...

The meeting of the relics of Silouan Athos in Minsk - to the joyful changes

The living Christ Silvan saw during Vespers, when, being finally exhausted by spiritual torments, he passed by the royal gates. Seeing the Savior, the monk was not frightened, but was so delighted that he lost his senses. Filling the soul of a desperate novice with the fire of grace, the Lord disappeared, and the spirit of Silvanus, enveloped in divine light, ascended to heaven. Siluan "heard unspeakable verbs" and, as he later said, as if born again.

The news that the relics of Silouan Athos in Minsk, brought here many disbelieving novices and laymen.

To Saint Silvan pray those who want to overcome their own vices and learn to be tolerant towards other people. His miraculous relics are constantly kept on Mount Athos - where he carried the service. Having received the gift of unceasing prayer at a very young age, Siluan almost did not sleep at night: he was interrupted for rest only a few times a day for 15-20 minutes.

Silvan died at an advanced age on September 24, 1938. Before he died, he completely controlled himself, although he was seriously ill. The monks who came to visit him, Siluan assured that he feels very well, because his soul is not afraid of death.

To see the sarcophagus in which the miraculous relics of Silouan Athos were brought, believers gathered in Minsk, among whom were citizens of other countries.