Saint Hesychius the Silent of Mt. Horeb, lived during the sixth
century at one of the monasteries on Mt. Horeb, and at first he
was not a very fervent monk. Hesychius died after a serious
illness, but through a wondrous act of Divine Providence, he
came back to life an hour later. After this, the saint secluded
himself in his cell as a recluse, and for twelve years he dwelt
in complete solitude. He would not converse with any of the
brethren, but devoted himself to the singing of Psalms and
penitential weeping. Before his death, Blessed Hesychius said to
the assembled monks: "Forgive me, brethren. He who acquires the
remembrance of death cannot sin." The holy hesychasts (those who
keep silence) are the spiritual descendants of St Hesychius.
These ascetics devote themselves to contemplating God, and to
unceasing prayer of the heart.