Saint Silouan had an immense love for every single person, and all of God’s creation. He often thought about Eternal Life and Prayed that every Soul will be Saved and be with God.
“I Pray Thee O Merciful Lord for all the peoples of the Earth that they may come to know Thee by Thy Holy Spirit.”
I remember a conversation between him and a certain hermit, who declared with evident satisfaction, “God will punish all atheists. They will burn in everlasting fire.” Obviously upset, the Staretz said: “Tell me, supposing you went to Paradise and there looked down and saw somebody burning in hell-fire – would you feel happy?” “It can’t be helped. It would be their own fault,” said the hermit. The Staretz answered him with a sorrowful countenance: “Love could not bear that,” he said. “We must Pray for all”.
+
