Silvanus of Tabennisi,
Hermit (AC)
4th century. Saint Silvanus was an actor who abandoned the world to become a
monk at Tabennisi under Saint Pachomius. For some time he led an undisciplined
life, trying to entertain the other monks and often transgressing the rule of
silence. Pachomius endeavored to reform him by remonstration, prayers, sighs,
and tears, for his poor soul. It was a fruitless endeavor for a long time, but
Pachomius persisted until one day he explained to the impenitent Silvanus the
dreadful judgments which threaten those that mock God.
From that moment
Silvanus began to lead a life of great edification to the rest of the brethren
and began to bewail his past misdemeanors. When others entreated him to
moderate the floods of his tears, "Ah," said he, "how can I help
weeping, when I consider the wretchedness of my past life, and that by my sloth
I have profaned what was most sacred? I have reason to fear lest the earth
should open under my feet, and swallow me up, as it did Dathan and Abiron. Oh!
suffer me to labor with ever-flowing fountains of tears, to expiate my
innumerable sins. I ought, if I could, even to pour forth this wretched soul of
mine in mourning; it would be all too little for my offenses."
His sentiments of
contrition helped him so to progress in virtue that the holy abbot proposed him
as a model of humility to the rest. After eight years in this penitential
course, God had called Silvanus to himself. Saint Pachomius was assured by a
revelation, that his soul was presented by angels a most agreeable sacrifice to
Christ. The saint was favored with a spirit of prophecy, and with great grief
foretold the decay of monastic fervor in his order in succeeding ages. He is
especially honored among the Greeks (Benedictines, Husenbeth).
In art, Saint
Silvanus is a hermit watering flowers. He is venerated by the Greeks (Roeder).
Rothschild Canticles (f. 3v): Silvanus watering the
garden. C. 1300
Description: A bearded and hooded hermit carries a basket over his left arm as he covers his eyes with his left hand and waters the leafy foliage at his feet with a bowl of water.
Interpretation: The image illustrates the virtue of sobriety. Asked by his disciple to water the gardens, Silvanus does so with his eyes covered to avoid distractions.
