Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not (St. Silouan the Athonite) | Modern Russian Elder | Orthodox Christian Art PosterIt was fifteen years after the Lord had appeared to him, and Silouan was engaged in one of these nocturnal struggles with devils which so tormented him. No matter how he tried, he could not pray with a pure mind. At last he rose from his stool, intending to bow down and worship, when he saw a gigantic devil standing in front of the ikon, waiting to be worshipped. Meanwhile, the cell filled with evil spirits. Father Silouan sat down again, and with

“Greater love has no man than this

and the ruler of the kings of the earth

now and ever and unto the ages of ages

But if you channel the water to the weeds

Those impressions that are stampted onto the soul in the hour of its death remain part of the soul forever

heaven and earth are filled with Your glory

but he was always against compulsion

and to ascend into Heaven so as to send down upon unbelievers the Holy Spirit Who proceeds from the Father

the Champion Leader

+ St Silouan the Athonite

before asking for that of the Saints

Atheism will be defeated