‪I remember a conversation between him [St Silouan the Athonite] 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.’‬