Hieroschemamonk Silouan (Lightle), Abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in Cañones, NM, fell asleep in the Lord on Monday evening, October 12, 2026, following a long battle with cancer.
Father Silouan faithfully served the Orthodox Church for many years, dedicating his life to prayer, monastic obedience, and the spiritual care of the brotherhood entrusted to him. As abbot of Holy Archangel Michael Monastery, he played an important role in the development and growth of the monastic community in northern New Mexico.
The monastery was originally established as a skete in 1993 before receiving its designation as a monastery in 2009. Under Father Silouan’s leadership, the community grew into a brotherhood of twelve monks, continuing the Orthodox Christian tradition of monastic prayer, worship, and spiritual life.
The funeral service for Father Silouan will be held, Tuesday, October 13, at Holy Archangel Michael Monastery in Cañones, NM. Following the funeral, he will be laid to rest in the monastery cemetery.
His Grace Bishop Gerasim, who is currently serving as Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South of the Orthodox Church in America, traveled to the monastery to be present for the funeral and to join the brotherhood in prayer for their departed abbot.
We ask the faithful to remember Father Silouan in their prayers, along with the brotherhood of Holy Archangel Michael Monastery as they mourn the loss of their spiritual father.
May Father Silouan’s memory be eternal!