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Our father among the saints, [[saint]]s '''Hilarion, Bishop of Meglin in Bulgaria''' was born in a [[bishop]] of the village eleventh century known for his teachings against [[heresy|heresies]] and his support of Promahi, Greece around 1080-1090[[monasticism]]. He is commemorated by the [[church]] on [[October 21]] alongside St. [[Hilarion the Great]] and Venerable Hilarion, the Schemamonk, of the [[Kiev Caves]].__NOTOC__==Life==St. Hilarion was born of Greek origin in the village of Promahi, Greece, around 1080-1090. He received an extremely pious and Christian upbringing by his devout parents. His parents had been barren and after years of unceasing [[fasting]] and prayer, the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]] appeared to his mother and comforted her with a promise that they would give birth to a son who would turn many to the light of the knowledge of God's truth.

When Hilarion was born three he would chant the [[hymn]] "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Greek origin Sabbaoth!" constantly. At the age of eighteen, he joined a local [[monastery]] and received an extremally pious and christian upbringing by his devout parentswas [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]]. His parents had been barren He was well educated and after lived in extreme asceticism for many years of unceasing fasting . Due to his virtuous and prayerstrict life, he was chosen to be the [[Theotokos|Virgin Maryabbot]] appeared to his mother and comforted her of this monastery. He was very concerned with a promise that they would give birth to a son that would turn many to the light salvation of the knowledge of Godmonks's truthsouls. He was particularly persistent on eradicating drunkenness from within the monastery.

When Hilarion During his life he was three he would chant well known for founding and establishing a monastery based on the Rule of St. [[hymnPachomius the Great|Pachomius]] "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabbaoth!"" constantly. At the age of eighteen, he joined a local This monastery and was tonsured a monkdedicated to the [[Apostles]]. He The oldest historical [[synaxarion]] record for this saint does not distinguish whether this monastery was well educated and lived in extreme asceticism for many years. Due dedicated to his virtuous and strict life, he was chosen the twelve Apostles or specifically to be the Abbott of this monasteryApostles [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul|Paul]]. He This clarification was very concerned with later made through an archaeological find called the salvation of Markianos Code, Codex #524, dated to the monk's souls13th century. He was particularly persistent on eradicating drunkenness from within This text exists in the monasteryGreek language.

During his lifeIn 1134, he was well known for founding and establishing a monastery based on the Rule of St. consecrated [[PachomiusBishop]]of Meglin by Eustathius, Archbishop of Trnovo. This monastery Holy Tradition holds that Eustathius was dedicated also visited in a vision by the Virgin Mary who announced to him that Hilarion would soon be placed as leader of the ApostlesMeglin region. The oldest historical Synaxarion record for During this saint does not distinguish if this monastery was dedicated to twelve Apostles or merely for time, the Apostles Peter and Paul. This clarification Bogomil heresy was later made spreading through an archaeological find called the Markianos Code, Codex #524, dated to the 13th centuryBulgaria. This text exists in The followers of this group believed that 'good and evil manifest themselves as independent principles and a struggle between the Greek languagetwo ensues.'

In 1134, he was consecrated Bishop of Meglin by '''Eustathius, Archbishop of Trnovo'''. Holy Tradition holds that Eustathius was also visited in a vision by the '''Virgin Mary''' who announced His lifelong struggle and contribution to him that Hilarion would soon be placed as leader of the Meglin region. During this time, the Bogomil heresy Orthodox church was spreading through Bulgaria. The followers of this group believed that 'good and evil manifest themselves as independent principles and a struggle between against the two ensues[[Bogomilism|Bogomils]].' In refuting their teachings, Hilarion said:

His lifelong struggle and contribution :''You are not Christians at all, since you are hostile to the Orthodox church was against Cross of Christ the BogomilsSavior. In refuting there You do not acknowledge the One God, you slander the teachings of the [[Old Testament]] venerated by Christians. You deceive people by hypocritical meekness while full of pride. True piety is not possible in those who do not see their own heart's corruption, but by those who ask God's grace with prayer and humility. Evil thoughts, envy, vanity, greed, lies are not the deed of some evil thing within man to be conquered by mere fasting. These vices are the fruit of self-love which demands rooting out by spiritual efforts.'' <ref>[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=103010 Translation of the relics of St Hilarion said: the Bishop of Meglin in Bulgaria] (OCA)</ref>

:Because of Hilarion''"You are not Christians at alls prayers and exhortations, since you are hostile to the Cross many of Christ the Savior. You do not acknowledge the One God, you slander the Bogomils abandoned their teachings of the Old Testament venerated by Christians. You deceive people by hypocritical meekness while full of pride. True piety is not possible in those who do not see their own heart's corruption, but by those who ask God's grace with prayer and humility. Evil thoughts, envy, vanity, greed, lies are not the deed of some evil thing within man [[conversion|converted]] to be conquered by mere fasting. These vices are the fruit of self- love which demands rooting out by spiritual effortsOrthodox Christianity."''

Because of Hilarions prayers and exhortations, many of the Bogomils abandonded there teachings and converted to Orthodoxy.  Hilarion struggled successfully against the rise of the Armenian [[Monophysitism|Monophysite ]]s in Bulgaria, who acknowledged only the divine nature of [[Christ]].

At his request, he was succeeded as Abbott abbot of the monastery, by his disciple of many years, monk Peter. It is noted in the Codex 524 that during his burial service that , [[myrrh ]] streamed continually from his eyes and that he later appeared on many occassions occasions in visions to the monks of the monasteries to strengthen them in their monastic duties.

The transfer of the [[relics ]] of Saint St. Hilarion, Bishop of Meglin, to the Bulgarian city of Trnovo, occurred between 1204-1206, by the Bulgarian Tsar Ioannis Asanis to the Church of the 40-saints. Prior to this event, the body of the saint rested in the city of Meglin.

* 1. [[http://www.promahi.gr/moni_agiou_ilariona_GR.html/ Μονή Αγίου Ιλαρίωνα] ("Monastery of Saint Hilarion " in Greece]]Greek)* 2. [[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=103010/ Orthodox Church Translation of the relics of America (OCA) - Saint St Hilarion the Bishop of Meglinin Bulgaria] ([[OCA]])* 3. [[http://orthodoxchurchalbionwww.org/pipermail/readingsandsaints_orthodoxchurchalbionwestsrbdio.org/2007-Octoberprolog/000270my.html/ Church of Albion - Feast Days for ?month=October &day=21Saint Hilarion, Bishop of Meglin] (''[[Prologue of Ohrid]]'') ==Reference==<references /> ==External link==* 4. [[http://peoplewww.bakersfieldtransfigcathedral.comorg/homefaith/BlogBulgakov/sojourner7/16288/ The Bakersfield Californian 0382b.pdf Translation of the Relics of Our Ven. Father Hilarion, Bishop of Meglin] (PDF) [[Category:Bishops]][[Category:12th-century bishops]][[Category:Bulgarian Saints]][[Category:Byzantine Saints]][[Category:Greek Saints]][[Category:Saints]][[Category:12th- October 21century saints]]