Keep Thy Mind in Hell and Despair Not (St. Silouan the Athonite) | Modern Russian Elder | Orthodox Christian Tank TopIt 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

' The Apostle Paul likens the Christian life of prayer and repentance to training for various sporting events (1 Cor

we must put things in order and think: “What does my salvation require

do not make offerings that you have not carefully prepared to please God

count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight

we do not war according to the flesh

Thou didst free us from the curse which hath its origin in the tree

all those with the duty to preserve others from corruption

Herman of Alaska

and Silouan was engaged in one of these nocturnal struggles with devils which so tormented him

“Buy what we need for the feast

I called to mind the Prophet’s words

The time of battle is our whole life