The Monk Ilarion (Hilary) the New, Hegumen of Pelikition Monastery
Commemorated on March 28
The Monk Ilarion
(Hilary) the New, Hegumen of Pelikition Monastery, from the time of his
youth devoted himself to the service of God and spent many years as an hermit.
Because of his holy and immaculate life he was at first granted the dignity of
presbyter, and later on he was made hegumen of the Pelikition monastery (nearby
the Dardanelles Straits). The Monk Ilarion was granted of the Lord gifts of
perspicacity and wonderworking. By the graced power of prayer he brought down
rain during a time of drought, and like the Prophet Elisei (Elijah) he
separated the waters of a river, he rid harmful beasts from the fields, he
filled the nets of fishermen during a time of luckless fishing, and he did many
other miracles. Besides which, he was glorified by the gift of healing the sick
and casting out demons. The monk suffered in the year 754 on Great Thursday of
Holy Week, when the military-commnander Lakhanodrakon – in pursuit of
icon-venerators, suddenly descended upon the Pelikition monastery, boldly
forcing his way into the church during the time of Divine-services, disrupting
the service and throwing the Holy Gifts upon the ground. Forty-two monks were
arrested, slapped into chains, dispatched to the Edessa district and murdered.
The remaining monks were dealt horrible mutilations, they beat them, they
scorched their beards with fire, they smeared their faces with tar and cut off
the noses of certain of the confessors. During the time of this tormenting
persecution the Monk Ilarion died for the veneration of icons.
The Monk Ilarion left
behind spiritual works, in which are contained profound moral directives about
spiritual asceticism. The Monk Joseph of Volotsk (Comm. 9 September and 18
October) was well acquainted with the work of the Monk Ilarion, and in his own
theological works he likewise expounded the significance of monastic effort.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.