St. Hilarion the Great
St. Hilarion was born around 291 to pagan parents in Thabatha near Gaza and was baptized while studying in Alexandria, where he heard of St. Anthony the Great and became his disciple.
Returning to Palestine, he gave away his inheritance and withdrew to the desert near Maiuma, where his holiness and miracles drew so many disciples that he became the founder of monasticism in Palestine. Fleeing the crowds his fame attracted, he wandered through Egypt, Sicily, Dalmatia, and finally Cyprus, where he reposed about 371-372; his life was written by his contemporary St. Jerome.
Go forth, my soul, why do you hesitate? You have served Christ nearly seventy years, and do you fear death?
He that has nothing does not fear robbers.
I do not fear robbers, because I am prepared to die.
You can best distribute your own gifts, for you tread the streets of the cities and know the poor. Why should I, who have forsaken my own, seek another man's?
Ass! I will stop your kicking: I will not feed you with barley, but with chaff.
Troparion · Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! O our holy father Hilarion, pray to Christ God to save our souls!
Kontakion · Tone 3
Today we gather to praise you with hymns, O unfading light of the Spiritual Sun; for you illumined those in the darkness of ignorance, leading all to the heights of God, as they cried: Rejoice, Father Hilarion, rampart of ascetics.
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