St. Silouan was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov on January 17, 1866, to Russian Orthodox parents in the village of Sovsk in Russia's Tambov region.

At the age of twenty-seven he left his native Russia and came to Mount Athos, where he became a monk at the Monastery of St. Panteleimon and was given the name Silouan, the Russian version of the Biblical name Silvanus (Silas).

An ardent ascetic, he received the grace of unceasing prayer and saw Christ in a vision. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and inner stillness. He prayed and wept for the whole world as for himself, and he put the highest value on love for enemies.

Thomas Merton, a twentieth-century Catholic monk, described Silouan as “the most authentic monk of the twentieth century.” St. Silouan died on September 24, 1938. He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1987.

Though barely literate, he was sought out by pilgrims for his wise counsel. His writings were edited by his disciple and pupil, Elder Sophrony. St. Sophrony (standing behind St. Silouan in photo at right) has written the life of the saint along with a record of St. Silouan's teachings in the book Saint Silouan the Athonite.​

​As Jean-Claude Larchet says, "Although it is natural and usual to love those who love us and to do good to those who do good to us, to love our enemies is distasteful to our nature. One can say that it isn't in our power but is an attitude that can only be the fruit of grace, given by the Holy Spirit. This is why St. Silouan the Athonite writes, 'The soul that has not known the Holy Spirit does not understand how one can love one's enemies, and does not accept it.' The Staretz would say that for Christ there are no enemies -- there are those who accept "the words of eternal life," there are those who reject and even crucify; but for the Creator of every living thing, there can be no enemy. So it should be for the Christian, too, who 'in pity for all must strive for the salvation of all.'"

sources: Here,  Here, and Here

Troparion

By prayer thou didst receive Christ as your teacher in the way of humility; and the Spirit bore witness to salvation in your heart; wherefore all peoples called unto hope rejoice in this day of your memory. O Sacred Father Silouan, pray unto Christ our God for the salvation of our souls.

Linked Resources on Saint Silouan:

St. Silouan the Athonite - definitive biography written by his disciple, St. Sophrony
Humility and the Life of St. Silouan - a series of lectures by His Grace, Bishop Basil
Quote a Day - a Facebook page with a St. Silouan quote each day
St. Silouan: On the Love of Enemies - an essay by Philosopher Jean-Claude Larchet
The Life and Teachings of Elder Silouan - abbreviated biography, by +Bp Alexander Meliant (ROCOR)