Memorial Day of St. Hilarion

On April 10 (March 28 according to the old style of the calendar), Orthodox churches celebrate the Day of Remembrance of St. Hilarion, who served as rector of the Pelikite monastery. He was named Hilarion the New to distinguish him from Hilarion of Dalmatia, who lived during the same period. From a young age, Hilarion revered the Lord and desired to lead a monastic life. Having become a monk, he secluded himself: he prayed to God, took a vow of silence, observed fasts, abstained from carnal passions, and showed good deeds to those in need. For his beneficence and exemplary obedience among the other monks, he was ordained a presbyter, and then appointed abbot (abbot) of the Pelicite monastery, located near the Dardanelles Strait. The Lord rewarded Hilarion with wisdom and the gift of working miracles. A saint could, through prayer, heal a seriously ill person, restore sight to a blind person, or drive demons out of his body. He also became famous for calling rain when the harvest was lost due to drought, helping to fill fishing nets with the catch, and driving insects and mice out of the fields during famine years. During his life, Hilarion wrote works instructing Christians to lead a moral life. One day on Maundy Thursday, warriors led by the iconoclast Lachanodragon burst into the monastery. They shamelessly interrupted the ongoing service, caused a rout, and subjected the monks who were in the monastery to terrible torture and humiliation. 42 monks were chained and sent to prison, where they were martyred. The remaining monks were abused: they were beaten, doused with tar and their faces burned with fire, some had their noses cut out. The monastery itself was set on fire. It is believed that Hilarion was among the monks taken to prison. The exact dates are unknown, but there are two versions of when Hilarion became a victim of the iconoclasts. Some argue that this happened under Emperor Leo the Armenian, a fighter against worshipers of icons at the end of the 8th century. Others believe that the torment took place during the reign of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian, at the beginning of the 9th century.