Monastère Saint Silouane, monastery located in Sarthe, in France
The Monastère Saint Silouane is an Orthodox monastery in Val-de-la-Hune housed in a renovated farmstead with stone walls and tile roofs. The grounds include a small chapel, living quarters, simple gardens, and walking paths where visitors can stroll.
The monastery was founded in 1990 shortly after Saint Silouan's official canonization to establish an Orthodox community. The original farmstead required extensive restoration work that was done carefully to preserve its character.
The monastery is named after Saint Silouan, a revered Orthodox monk whose teachings on prayer and compassion guide the community's daily life. Visitors can observe the monks gathering multiple times each day to pray together in the simple chapel and sing liturgical chants.
Visitors should dress modestly and speak quietly when entering the grounds to respect the prayers and peaceful atmosphere. It helps to time your visit during prayer services to experience monastic life, particularly at morning and evening liturgies.
The community consists of monks and nuns from different nationalities, which has organically created a blend of cultures and perspectives within the monastery. This natural diversity enriches the spiritual life without having been deliberately planned.
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