The Monk Salaman the Silent
Commemorated on January 23
The Monk Salaman
the Silent was a native of the city of Kapersan, near the River Euphrates.
Having found at the bank of the river a solitary cave, he became an hermit
within it and spent there a life of silence and prayerful deeds.
And in learning of
his lofty life, the bishop of Kapersan wanted to ordain him presbyter, but the
man of silence did not answer him even a single word. The ascetic also in other
instances of life did not cease his effort of silence, conversing only with the
Lord alone. The Orthodox Church venerates him as the first saint to have taken
upon himself the deed of silence, which he continued to his very end (+ c.
400).
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.