When one visits Mount Athos, and sees the humble monks, one can reason and think that they live an indolent life without purpose.
This is what it looks like when one sees things from the outside.
For there are few who could understand the terrible and uninterrupted war that is taking place within the souls of the monks.
This war is almost supernatural, invisible and (is taking place) not only against the demonic powers of the princes of darkness, but for the beginners it is against the flesh, that is, against the fleshly desire and passion.
In his writings Father Silouan describes how this war brought him to despair and almost to suicide.
The Holy Mary, Mother of God, appeared to him while he was going through the most difficult war against passions and rescued him from impurities, fleshly desires and thoughts.
Christ appeared to him and empowered him to defeat and reign over earthly thoughts and evil spirits.
So, after a quarter century of hard and tiring war, he gained victory.
Until then he was searching for God, and he finally came to theology; and from a disciple, he became a teacher.
Elder Silouan was also my teacher. I once asked him: “Father Silouan, does this great crowd disturb your mind and your prayer? Wouldn’t it be better for you to live in a secluded cave like Fr. Gorgonios?”
“I live in the cave,” replied Fr. Silouan. “My body is the cave of my soul. And my soul is a cave for the Holy Spirit. And I love and serve the people of God, without leaving my cave.”
He was talking about God with great enthusiasm and with the boldness that one would have when talking about a friend of his: “I know God. He is a philanthropist, good, quick to help.”
When the Elder was saying these things, another monk, Father Theophanes, listened with fear and thought that Silouan had lost the fear of God.
Later, however, when he read the writings of Fr Silouan, Fr Theophanes changed his mind and said: “Fr Silouan went ahead and reached the steps of the Fathers of the Church.”
I think Father Silouan’s texts should be among psychology books.
If not for any other reason, at least to confirm that (their author) was a spiritual warrior of the 20th century and to validate what the glorified Fathers of the Church have taught and wrote about.
Saint Nikolai Velimirovich of Ohrid and Žiča
