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The complete life of the Monk Hilarion the Elder of Optina. Akathist to Our Monk and God-bearing Father Hilarion, Optina Elder Hilarion of Optina Life

Brief life Reverend Hilarion of Optina

Pre-dob-ny Ila-ri-on (in the world of Ro-di-on Ni-ki-tich Po-no-ma-rev) was born on Easter night from 8 to April 9, 1805 in the family Ni-ki-you Fili-mo-no-vi-cha and Ev-fi-mii Ni-ki-for-rov-ny Po-no-ma-re -out. His father was a man of b-go-che-sti-vy and for-no-small-sya port-new craft. Subsequently, after his son, he also accepted mo-na-she-stvo in the Op-ti-noy desert with the name Ni-font, he worked at the skete pa-se-ke and died in 1849.

All his childhood and youth were spent in the ro-di-tel-house in the No-in-Khoper district of the Vo-ro-nezh-sky gu-ber-nii. Ro-di-he in childhood was ti-ho-go, mole-to-go disposition. At the same time, he was also awkward, he rarely played with his peers, he loved to sit home and help his father in his re-mes-le.

Mother Ro-di-o-na pre-re-ka-la from-ro-ku with se-mi-years-not-age-ra-ta mo-na-she-stvo. Ever since childhood, he has felt a desire in himself to become mo-on-hom and thought that the port-new re-mes-lo was familiar to him in mo-na-she-sky life.

In 1829, being 24 years old, Ro-di-he went with his family to the city of Sa-ra-tov, where he spent de - nine years of life. Bu-duchi roar-ni-te-lem of goodness, he is relentlessly-step-but-to-the shaft of the lips of the Pra-glorious-church-vi and father-che-ski-on- zi-gave for morality and steady use of hri-sti-an-sky obligations of ra-bo-chi-mi-her ar- those. Ro-di-on Ni-ki-tich taught his-their-bo-chih-church-to-no-mu singing and reading, idle-word and obscene jesters -ki during the time of ra-bo-you all-che-ski resurrected. Ro-di-he himself was through-you-tea-but soft, cro-current and mi-ro-loving.

In Sa-ra-to-ve, under the protection of the pres-priest-schen-no-go Ia-ko-va Ro-di-on Ni-ki-tich mu-same-sven-no-bo -rolling with races-if-no-ka-mi of various interpretations for pure right-to-glory.

Gradually, with spiritual maturity, come-ho-dit and window-cha-tel-naya re-shi-bridge to leave everything and follow-up Christ. Still not knowing which abode to take, Ro-di-he part of 1837 and the whole of 1838 went on trips for-me-cha-tel-her -shim mo-on-stay-ryam of Russia. Having set many habitations, he calmed down in the spirit only in the Ko-zel Op-ti-noy desert, about-re-tya, what he was looking for for a pro-tya-zhe-nii for almost two years, - an old-che-feeding and spiritual husbands, capable of with God -to her in power and to co-de-let him worthy on-the-next-to-no-one-of-the-Kingdom of Heaven. On March 13, 1839, he was already accepted into the ranks of the skete brethren.

At that time, in the mo-at-sta-re, the blessed elders Leo-nid and Ma-ka-riy were pre-wa-whether. Ro-di-o-na-se-li-li to live in co-neighborhood with the kel-li-she of the former-she-go va-la-am-sko-go ygu-me- on the father of Var-la-a-ma, the eye-head of the b-go-de-tel-noe influence on the future old man. Is-ve-do-wa-lis brothers at the pre-do-no-go Ma-ka-ria, at the same time Ro-di-he daily-but went-dil on from -kro-ve-nie-mys-fishing in the mo-on-stay to the old Leo-ni-du. After the signing on December 1, 1839, pre-before-do-no-go Ma-ka-ria ski-to-on-chief-no-one Ro-di-on was chosen by him in ke-lei-ni-ki, and in this hearing he stayed for those twenty years, that is, until the day of the blessed end the ranks of the elder Ma-ka-ria in 1860. Taking on a spa-si-tel-ny cross in listening-ni-che-stva, growing up in the inner de la -he all-measures-but in need-gave himself to carry and bodily labors. In addition to listening, some kind of pre-excellent Ila-ri-he carried like a cell-nick of his old elder, he also needed - the ladies of the skete brotherhood and economy were hoo-born-no-one, garden-no-no-one, cooked kvass, baked bread, for-no-small-sya on pa -se-ke ear-house for bees-la-mi.

In the last days of his life, the old man Ma-ka-riy bla-go-slo-vil pre-do-do-no-go Ila-ri-o-to continue to reap the old -che-de-I-tel-ness, handing over his spirit-hov-no-mu ru-ko-vod-stvo to many of his spiritual children than an underline -null pre-success-I-nie pre-on-dob-no-go Ila-ri-o-na in the inner-ren-it de-la-nii.

Having accepted this hearing from his elder, the reverend elder Ila-ri-he carried it until the next day of his life .

From April 8, 1863, to Elder Ila-ri-o-na, it was-lo-lo-same-but new-hearing: he was appointed on-chief-no-one ski-ta and general spirit-hov-no-one mo-on-stay-rya. The true pastor-you-rem-kind-eye was the venerable old man Ila-ri-on: at all times, even in the last days of hard wishing for his dying pain, he cared about his children and was always ready to come to the aid of their spirits hov-nym and life-tei-sky needs-ladies. When for-nya-ti-yah with the brotherhood, obi-te-whether the old man didn’t have-lo from-ka-for-no-mu and from the other side of them in se-ti- te-ley. Go-rya love-bo-view to the holy ve-re of the right-in-glorious, the old man of each came to the monastery of the wrong or ras-kol-no-ka vra-zum-lyal and turned to the ma-te-ri of our Right-of-the-glorious Church.

Loyalty and love to Mi-lo-heart-no-mu -noe-follow-up-of-the-way along the path of the Evangelical-Gel-for-ve-dey He made the heart of the humble-ren-but-of-the-old elder together-li- we have many gifts of the Spirit of the Holy One, some of them in abundance from-would-were on those who came to his help. Along with the b-go-dat-ny gift of the du-hov-no-go dis-judgment-de-niya pre-good Ila-ri-he had the gift of pro-zor-li- in fact, he was a teacher’s husband, leading a truly tin-but in a moving life. One-on-one, not only in-chi-ta-nie and love you-pa-yes-whether on his share, but sometimes hu-lu and cle-ve-tu pri-ho -di-moose ter-sing pre-on-dob-no-mu. But all this he re-re-no-strength with great media-re-no-em and sniss-walk-de-no-em to all human infirmities.

In 1870, the health of the elder deteriorated, but despite this, he did all the divine services.

On March 4, 1872, on Saturday, Ve-li-ko-go in a hundred, the elder served the last Liturgy. On Sunday, March 5, the old man fell ill window-cha-tel-but, and on March 9 he was wives-wives in a schema with a save-not-no-name -no Ila-ri-on.

For four-you-re-weeks, a pre-extra pre-said the day of his end. Finally, on September 18/October 1, 1873, yes, partaking of the Holy Ta-in, the elder of the world, but chil about the Lord -de in a wine of the sixth hundredth morning in full consciousness and pa-my-ty. See-dev-shie pre-do-good-no-go Ila-ri-o-na on death-one-re-re-might-whether in front of yourself an example of udi-vi-tel-no-go media -re-niya, kro-to-sti and ter-pe-niya.

The Monk Hilarion (in the world Rodion Nikitich Ponomarev) was born on Easter night from April 8/21 to April 9/22, 1805, in the family of Nikita Filimonovich and Evfemia Nikiforovna Ponomarev. His father was a pious man and was engaged in tailoring. Subsequently, following his son, he also took monastic vows in Optina Hermitage with the name Nifont, worked at the skete apiary, and died in 1849.

All his childhood and youth were spent in his parents' house in the Novokhopersk district of the Voronezh province. Rodion in childhood was of a quiet, meek disposition. Being at the same time awkward, he rarely played with his peers, liked to stay at home and helped his father in his craft.

Rodion's mother predicted monasticism from the age of seven. Since childhood, he felt the desire to become a monk and thought that tailoring would be useful to him in monastic life.

edified for morality and the steady fulfillment of Christian duties by the workers of his artel. Rodion Nikitich taught his workers church singing and reading, idle talk and obscene jokes during work were forbidden in every possible way. Rodion himself was extremely gentle, meek and peaceful.

In Saratov, under the patronage of His Grace Jacob, Rodion Nikitich courageously fought against schismatics of various persuasions for the purity of Orthodoxy.

Gradually, with spiritual maturity, comes the final determination to leave everything and follow Christ. Still not knowing which monastery to choose, Rodion spends part of 1837 and all of 1838 on trips to the most remarkable monasteries in Russia. Having visited many monasteries, he calmed down in spirit only in the Kozelskaya Optina Hermitage, having found what he had been looking for for almost two years - senile care and spirit-bearing husbands capable of God's help and make him a worthy heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. On March 13/26, 1839, he was already accepted into the number of the skete brethren.

At that time, the blessed elders Leonid and Macarius were staying in the monastery. Rodion was settled in the neighborhood of the cell of the former Valaam hegumen father Varlaam, who had a beneficial effect on the future elder. The brothers confessed at the Monk Macarius, at the same time Rodion went daily to the revelation of thoughts to the monastery to the elder Leonid. After the appointment on December 1/14, 1839, of the Monk Macarius as the head of the skete, Rodion was elected by him to his cell-attendant and remained in this obedience for twenty years, that is, until the day of the blessed death of Elder Macarius in 1860. Taking upon himself the saving cross of obedience, growing in inner deeds, the Monk Hilarion forced himself in every possible way to bear bodily labors. In addition to the obediences that the Monk Hilarion carried as a cell-attendant of his elder, he also, for the needs of the skete brethren and household, was a gardener, a gardener, cooked kvass, baked bread, and took care of bees in the apiary.

AT last days In his lifetime, Elder Macarius blessed St. Hilarion to continue his senile activity, entrusting many of his spiritual children to his spiritual guidance, thereby emphasizing the success of St. Hilarion in inner work.

Having accepted this obedience from his elder, reverend elder Hilarion carried him until the last day of his life.

On April 8 / 21, 1863, a new obedience was assigned to Elder Hilarion: he was appointed head of the skete and general confessor of the monastery. true shepherd the Monk Elder Hilarion was kind: at all times, even in the last days of his severe terminal illness, he took care of his children and was always ready to help their spiritual and worldly needs. When studying with the brotherhood of the monastery, the elder did not refuse any of the outside visitors. Burning with love for the holy Orthodox faith, the elder of every infidel or schismatic who came to the monastery admonished and turned to the mother of our Orthodox Church.

Faithfulness and love for our Merciful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, selfless adherence to the path of His gospel commandments made the heart of the humble old man a receptacle for many gifts of the Holy Spirit, which were poured out in abundance on those who resorted to his help. Along with the blessed gift of spiritual reasoning, the Monk Hilarion had the gift of clairvoyance, he was a man of teaching, leading a truly ascetic life. However, not only reverence and love fell to his lot, but sometimes blasphemy and slander had to endure the reverend. But he endured all this with great humility and condescension to all human infirmities.

Brief Life of St. Hilarion of Optina

The Monk Hilarion (in the world Rodion Nikitich Ponomarev) was born on Easter night from April 8 to April 9, 1805, into the family of Nikita Filimonovich and Evfemia Nikiforovna Ponomarev. His father was a pious man and was engaged in tailoring. Subsequently, following his son, he also took monastic vows in Optina Hermitage with the name Nifont, worked at the skete apiary, and died in 1849.

Rodion's mother predicted monasticism from the age of seven. Since childhood, he felt the desire to become a monk and thought that tailoring would be useful to him in monastic life.

In 1829, being 24 years old, Rodion moved with his family to the city of Saratov, where he spent nine years of his life. Being a zealot of piety, he relentlessly followed the statutes of the Orthodox Church and fatherly edified for morality and the steady fulfillment of Christian duties by the workers of his artel. Rodion Nikitich taught his workers church singing and reading, idle talk and obscene jokes during work were forbidden in every possible way. Rodion himself was extremely gentle, meek and peaceful.

In Saratov, under the patronage of His Grace Jacob, Rodion Nikitich courageously fought against schismatics of various persuasions for the purity of Orthodoxy.

Gradually, with spiritual maturity, comes the final determination to leave everything and follow Christ. Still not knowing which monastery to choose, Rodion spends part of 1837 and all of 1838 on trips to the most remarkable monasteries in Russia. Having visited many monasteries, he calmed down in spirit only in the Kozelskaya Optina Hermitage, having found what he had been looking for for almost two years - senile care and spirit-bearing men who, with God's help, were able to make him a worthy heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. On March 13, 1839, Rodion entered the skete as a novice in the name of St. John the Baptist at Optina Hermitage.

At that time, the blessed elders Leonid and. Rodion was settled in the neighborhood of the cell of the former Valaam hegumen father Varlaam, who had a beneficial effect on the future elder. The brothers confessed at the Monk Macarius, at the same time Rodion went daily to the revelation of thoughts to the monastery to the elder Leonid. After the appointment on December 1, 1839, of the Monk Macarius as the head of the skete, Rodion was elected by him to his cell-attendant and remained in this obedience for twenty years, that is, until the day of the blessed death of Elder Macarius in 1860.

On August 13, 1849, Rodion was tonsured a monk and became monk Hilarion. On February 10, 1853, Father Hilarion was ordained a hierodeacon, and on April 21, 1857, a priest.

Taking upon himself the saving cross of obedience, growing in inner deeds, the Monk Hilarion forced himself in every possible way to bear bodily labors. For the needs of the skete brethren and household, Saint Hilarion was a gardener, a gardener, he cooked kvass, baked bread, and took care of bees in the apiary.

In the last days of his life, Elder Macarius blessed Saint Hilarion to continue his senile activity, entrusting him with the spiritual guidance of many of his spiritual children, thereby emphasizing the success of Saint Hilarion in inner work. Having accepted this obedience from his elder, the Monk Elder Hilarion carried it until the last day of his life.

On April 8, 1863, a new obedience was entrusted to Elder Hilarion: he was appointed head of the skete and general confessor of the monastery. The Monk Elder Hilarion was a true good shepherd: at all times, even in the last days of his severe near-death illness, he took care of his children and was always ready to help their spiritual and worldly needs. When studying with the brotherhood of the monastery, the elder did not refuse any of the outside visitors. Burning with love for the holy Orthodox faith, the elder of every infidel or schismatic who came to the monastery admonished and turned to the mother of our Orthodox Church.

In 1870, the elder's health deteriorated, but despite this he attended all services.

On March 4, 1872, the Saturday of Great Lent, the elder served the last Liturgy. On Sunday, March 5, the elder finally took to his bed, and on March 9 he was tonsured into the schema, retaining the name Hilarion.

For four weeks, the monk predicted the day of his death. Finally, on September 18/October 1, 1873, having communed the Holy Mysteries, the elder peacefully rested in the Lord at half past five in the morning at fully conscious and memory. Those who saw St. Hilarion on his deathbed saw before them an example of amazing humility, meekness and patience.

Complete Life of St. Hilarion of Optina

The Optina Elder Reverend Hilarion... He did not live the best long life- sixty-eight years, of which thirty-four years - in Optina Hermitage. But over the years he managed to become the closest disciple, cell-mate and cell-attendant of the Optina elder, and then from a student to turn into a mentor and elder, take over the baton of the Optina eldership and pass it on. In Elder Hilarion, the grace-filled gifts of clairvoyance, reasoning, and the “gift of confession” were combined (the discovery of hidden or forgotten vices in a person, their exposure and subsequent healing). aching soul) and the experience, the rich experience of a pastor-confessor, who even in the world began to work in the field of the salvation of erring souls. Saint Hilarion was a mentor leading a truly ascetic life. What was his way to Optina? It started in childhood.

Childhood of the future elder

The Monk Hilarion, in the world Rodion Nikitich Ponomarev, was born in the village of Klyuchi, Voronezh Province, in 1805, on the Paschal night of April 9, and was named Herodion in Holy Baptism, in honor of the Apostle Herodion. He was the third son of Nikita Filimonovich Ponomarev and his wife Evfimiya Nikiforovna, and there were four sons in the family. Nikita Filimonovich was a well-known tailor in the district, he was often away, fulfilling numerous orders, and therefore the supervision of the family and household lay with Evfimiya Nikiforovna, a venerable and God-fearing woman. Rodion grew up quiet and silent, focused and impressionable, with a clear desire for contemplation and deepening into his inner world. Without a doubt, not without a wise and good purpose, the Lord provided for him, educating and preparing the future spiritual mentor of monastics and laity.

Following the commandments of the Lord from infancy has become an immutable law for Rodion. Here is a characteristic episode from the adolescence of the future Optina ascetic. Once, while picking berries in the forest with his mother, the boy came across a particularly fruitful place and began to call his village peers who were nearby. The mother tried to resist this: “Do not call them, we ourselves will tear here, and let them go to another place.” But her young son, in the sincerity and purity of his childish heart, answered this way: “Why? After all, God did not give us alone, and gave birth to berries for everyone!"...

The mother predicted her son's future monasticism at the age of seven. Yes, and the boy himself from childhood felt the desire to become a monk. His first encounters with monastic life took place at the age of thirteen and seventeen, during a pilgrimage with his mother to the shrines of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Reasonable young man

In 1820, Rodion moved with his parents to the Voronezh province, where he lived until the age of twenty, studying tailoring in the house of his father, a famous tailor. The sensible young man, thinking about monasticism, decided that this profession would be useful to him in the monastery. To improve his craft, he went to Moscow. It was then that the conviction was established in him that every business should be treated in good faith: what you do, you must try to do it well. And this is precisely the very rule that the holy fathers point out to both novice monks and monks who have grown in spiritual life as necessary condition for salvation, and which they call in their writings "the guardianship of conscience"...

First temptation for godliness

In Moscow, the young man had to work in several workshops and go through various life temptations. Later, Father Hilarion recalled his life and work in one of these workshops: “When we lived at Zahnftleben, food was prepared for us quickly, fasting and fasting days, Wednesdays and heel, were not observed. The whole artel of about forty people ate a modest meal; only I didn’t eat fast food, and one Kursk fellow, and two pious cooks, who, although they cooked meat for the artel, themselves observed fasting days. The owner didn’t reprimand me for this lean, he didn’t get angry, it just happened to tell me: “You know, old faith hold on; this is karasho!" I used to go to the priest in the parish of the saint, we lived in his parish. The priest was a very pious elder, during confession I told him that by mistake or temptation we sometimes ate fast days humble. He entered into my situation, came to the owner, severely remarked to him, threatening that he would inform on him for corrupting the Orthodox and that he would be taken to the outpost for this. The threats had an effect, the owner got scared and stopped fast food on fast days. So the next day the whole artel rebelled against me: such and such, they say, in fact, through you we lost this food! This was my first temptation for piety.”

The Lord helped my will

The young man firmly decided to lead a pious and virtuous life, despite various temptations, and the Lord helped his will and protected the pure soul of Rodion. He recalled one of the temptations: “One master was good to me, but when he went home in the evenings or on holidays, he led a very unedifying life. I often had to go or go to his apartment when the owner sent me for him. The whole situation of his home life was by no means consistent with good morals. And in my trips to him I had to come across things and scenes that could very much damage my arrangement, but by the grace of God I firmly adhered to the rule not to stay with him more than necessary, in order to avoid temptations. I’ll tell him what I used to need from the owner, but right away I’ll go home again from there. The Lord helped my will and kept it in the midst of these temptations. Later, when the young man himself becomes the master and owner of the artel, he will take care of his workers, protect them from temptations.

Life in the fear of God

Being twenty-four years old, Rodion moved with his parents to live in Saratov. A zealous executor of the statutes of the Orthodox Church, even at home he tried to lead a strictly pious life, living in the fear of God and paternally observing the steady fulfillment of Christian duties by the artel of his workers.

Rodion looked at the artel, consisting of about thirty people, as if they were his children, for whom it would be necessary to give an account to God. He kept them well and strictly observed their morality. Brought up in the fear of God from a young age, sincerely devoted to the Orthodox Church and strictly observing its statutes, he led that on Sundays and holidays the whole artel certainly visited the church for the vigil and mass. In addition, with the help of an acquaintance of the deacon of the Intercession Church, he taught his workers church singing, and at work they sang spiritual songs instead of secular songs.

In all his actions, Rodion was distinguished by his extreme gentleness, meekness and peacefulness, and he acted on the workers not with threats or punishments, but with various mild persuasive ways that influenced their moral disposition ...

In the fate of God, something else was predetermined about him

During Rodion Nikitich's stay in Saratov, there were two marriage proposals concerning him; but in the destinies of God something else was predetermined about him. Both of these assumptions did not take place: one due to the special action of the Providence of God after the unexpected, after a fleeting illness, death of the girl, and the other due to the reluctance in this case of Rodion himself.

The young man was young, smart, had prosperity and a good reputation, and if he only wanted to, many of the rich merchant daughters of Saratov would have willingly married him. But Rodion Nikitich, having met the bride, preferred the rich white-handed girl, capable of activity, willing and able to work. When the matter was already coordinated, the girl went to her mother, who had her own house and household in Penza, in order to dispose of her property and, having collected what she could, return to Saratov for the wedding. But soon after her arrival in Penza, she fell ill and after a short illness she died, the Lord accepted the bride of Rodion Nikitich, who after this decided to devote himself in virginity to serving his neighbors.

Subsequently, there was another case of matchmaking. Wanting to see their son married, the parents found Rodion Nikitich in a wealthy merchant family an intelligent and beautiful bride. Giving all justice to the virtues of the bride, Rodion Nikitich, however, and being surprised himself, did not in the least dispose of his heart to her and, on the contrary, tried in every possible way to find an obstacle to this marriage. Through close acquaintances, the reason was revealed why Rodion Nikitich's heart was not disposed to get closer to the bride and her family. It turned out that they secretly adhered to some kind of false doctrine, from which the bride, out of obscurity, did not want to give up; Rodion Nikitich rejoiced at this circumstance as a sufficient reason to end this matchmaking. Thus, the emotional disturbances and temptations usually associated with such a state did not remain unknown and untested for Rodion Nikitich, and when it was time for him to enter the higher path pleasing God, he was not like "one who wears fetters on his hands and feet."

Missionary service

During these years, Saratov was flooded with many schismatics. The sects were at enmity with each other, agreeing on only one thing: in hatred for the Orthodox, who were fewer in comparison with them. In addition, many of the Orthodox, having been among the schismatics for a long time, remained in a state of duplicity and doubt.

It was during this period that the Lord opened to Rodion a new opportunity for serving people - missionary, apostolic service, which contributed to the return to the bosom of the Mother Church of many, many souls of schismatics who had gone astray and fatally fallen away from her. The elder Semyon Klimych, well-known in the Saratov province, advised the pious youth to engage in interviews with schismatics in order to encourage them to join the Orthodox Church...

Rodion began to talk about faith, based solely on the Word of God and on the explanations of it by the holy fathers of the Church. Gradually, he led those who fell away from the true faith to the realization that, by challenging the Holy Scriptures and the patristic interpretation, they turned into opponents of Christ, His words and teachings, that is, into “antichrists.” This new turn, which the interviews took, set the schismatics in motion. ", puzzled them and in many ways contributed to the conviction of the truth. The schismatics now and then either came to their opponents themselves, or invited them to talk to them. The future elder began to study with them a lot and successfully ...

The brotherhood, headed by Rodion, became known far beyond Saratov. Seeing that the Lord blessed the initial labors with success, His Grace James asked the Holy Synod for permission to establish a mission in his diocese for the conversion of schismatics. Reliable information has been preserved that Rodion Ponomarev was one of the most zealous and active missionaries. But, later telling about this period of Saratov life in Optina Hermitage, Elder Hilarion always left his personal participation in the affairs of the mission in the shadows, showing modesty and humility so characteristic of him.

Monks live better than us

So nine years passed. “Although we tried to live pleasing to God,” Father Hilarion recalled in Optina Hermitage, “and it seemed as if we were doing pious deeds, I felt that we still did not live as we should, that the monks live better than we do.”

The monastic life is already in early youth attracted him, and now, thirty-three years old, he seriously wondered if the time had come for him to embark on this path. The echo of first impressions from long-standing pilgrimages to the Kiev-Pechersk shrines gave rise in his soul to a desire to take a closer look at monastic life and monasteries. For nine months he got acquainted with wonderful Russian monasteries: Sarov, Suzdal, Rostov the Great, Belozersk, Tikhvin, visited Solovki, Pochaev, Valaam, Glinskaya and Ploschanskaya deserts. It was on these trips that Rodion received a blessing to visit the Optina elders Leo and Macarius. So for the first time, through ascetics from other monasteries, the will of God was visibly revealed to Rodion, directing his steps to Optina Hermitage.

What the soul was looking for

Arriving in Optina, he found in the elders Leo and Macarius what his soul was looking for. Father Macarius talked a lot with the future monk, visited him at the hotel, bringing with him some book to clarify the questions he proposed.

Returning to Saratov and having dealt with all worldly affairs, he soon again came to Optina Hermitage to embark on the difficult path of ascetic life. So, in the thirty-fourth year from birth, on March thirteenth, 1839, Rodion, by the Providence of God, was determined to live in the Optina John the Baptist Skete, in a cell next to the cell of Abbot Varlaam, who had just arrived from Valaam. Along with the guidance of the elders and Macarius, Rodion found at the very first time of his skete life and another experienced mentor - the Valaam ascetic, who had a beneficial effect on the spiritual prosperity of the novice.

Cell attendant of the elder

Assuming in 1839 the position of head of the skete, the Monk Macarius chose Rodion as his cell-attendant, who on August thirteenth, 1849, was tonsured into a mantle and became monk Hilarion. His monastic name “Hilarion”, which means “quiet” and “joyful” in Greek, revealed the main thing that was characteristic of this ascetic of faith and piety: a quiet, humble meekness of heart and a constant stay of the soul in Paschal joy in the Risen Lord.

The position of cell-attendant, which Fr. Hilarion corrected for twenty years, put him in constant close contact with the elder, which was especially conducive to the achievement of a firm, lasting cut-off of self-will, tested by many temptations. According to his faith, Father Hilarion used the example of the charitable life of Elder Macarius, full of love, humility, meekness and simplicity, to a great extent.

How great was the devotion of Father Hilarion to his elder, one incident testifies. One day Saint Macarius left the monastery to visit his spiritual children. On the way, the carriage overturned into a ditch, and the elder received dislocations and severe bruises, which was reported to Optina Pustyn. At this time Father Hilarion was seriously ill. However, having received this news, he immediately, forgetting his own morbid condition, hurried with the doctor to his spiritual father, having traveled about three hundred versts on the crossroads along a bad autumn road.

The unfading fruit of obedience and love

Monk Hilarion also had one more obedience - gardening and floriculture. After the rule, at dawn, when all the brethren had already dispersed to their cells, monk Hilarion was doing work in the garden: he was grafting trees, daubing apple trees, planting flowers. Fans of floriculture had something to admire when visiting the skete covered with fragrant flower beds - it was hard to believe that all this was the work of one person's zeal, the unfading fruit of obedience and love for his mentor...

Life full of work

In 1853 Father Hilarion was ordained a hierodeacon. As a deacon, Fr. Hilarion used the time set for rest and sleep mainly for reading patristic writings. Until his death, he set aside no more than four hours a day for sleep. With the blessing of the elder, Father Hilarion started a first-aid kit at home and was engaged in the treatment of the brethren of the monastery and the skete, for which he went to the sick and often performed the work of a paramedic. In late autumn and winter, he was also engaged in spoon needlework ...

The beginning of eldership

Elder Macarius kept Father Hilarion in the shadows until his death, and he had no obvious spiritual children, although some of the children during the life of the elder and at his will secretly confessed to Father Hilarion. This was the beginning of his spiritual path, benefited by the succession of elders. Secretly, in the silence of the skete, far from this world, the growth of a humble monk into a man of high spiritual standard, capable of leading others as well, took place.

The external working life of Father Hilarion was visible to everyone, but his labors and success in internal work were completely impossible to evaluate, they were so hidden. However, these works had an attentive and experienced connoisseur: they were seen by the eye of the wise mentor, Elder Macarius, enlightened by the spiritual mind. In the last days of his terminal illness, he handed over to Father Hilarion, who became a hieromonk on April 21, 1857, the continuation of his senile activity, and handed it over to the spiritual guidance of many of his spiritual children.

Don't leave abbesses!

In response to the questions of Abbess Pavlina of Belev: “Who are you leaving us to, father?” Elder Macarius pointed to the Reverend Fathers Hilarion and immediately called Father Hilarion from another room, saying: “Don’t leave the abbesses!” To Father Hilarion’s words: “Father, I am unworthy and I don’t know anything myself,” the elder answered him: “Don’t leave her!” Mother abbess bowed at Father Hilarion's feet. Already after the death of Elder Macarius, on April 8, 1863, Father Hilarion assumed the position of head of the skete and confessor of the monastery.

Immediately after the death of the elder, the spiritual leadership of Fr. Hilarion, apart from Abbess Pavlina of Belev with most of the sisters of her convent, several other closest disciples of the late elder, the sisters of the Sevsky Monastery, among whom were the nieces of Fr. Macarius, betrayed themselves to the spiritual leadership. Mother Abbess Palladia of Velikiye Lutsk with many sisters, Mother Superior of the Kashira community Mother Macarius with her sisters, Abbess Mother Nazareth of Veliky Ustyug with many sisters and some others became his children.

Of the worldly persons who betrayed themselves to the spiritual guidance of Father Hilarion, one should also mention the devoted spiritual daughter of the late elder Macarius, the philanthropist Natalya Petrovna Kireevskaya.

A worthy successor of the Optina eldership traditions

Elder Hilarion became a worthy successor to the sacred Optina traditions of eldership. In a visible way and in its natural order, the beginning of eldership is confession, which in Optina was not limited to confession, but was combined with the revelation of thoughts. Having been a close disciple of Elder Macarius for a long time, Father Hilarion, having become a skete chief and spiritual father, tried both in administration and in spirituality to maintain the order that had been established by his dear teacher.

Five times a year (that is, once during fasts, during Great Lent twice) he made confession to all the brethren who belonged to him; confession is not general, but with a detailed questioning of each confessor about everything related to his inner life and dispensation. Each, according to his need, received instruction for further activity.

Despite such labor, the elder still stood through all the church services, as you know, especially long during the first and seventh weeks of Great Lent. Then began the confession of women in a hut: the sisters of the monastery barnyard, nuns or laymen. The men confessed to him especially in the waiting room of his cell. Confession often continued until the reading of the rule for the coming dream. On Saturdays and before the feasts, clergymen, hieromonks and hierodeacons, came for confession.

In addition to confession during Lent, there was confession at any other time to all the visitors and pilgrims who arrived and wished for it, of which there were many, and the elder never refused anyone at any time.

Mostly after the evening meal, and senior monks or those who had a special need and at any time (and many almost daily) came to the elder to cleanse their conscience by revelation of thoughts, repentance and to receive guidance and advice from the elder in accordance with the dispensation of each.

A feature of the senile discourse of Father Hilarion was that the elder spoke for the most part not from himself, but cited words and examples from Holy Scripture or recalled that in such cases Father Macarius used to say, advise or order. The words of Elder Hilarion's instructions were brief, clear, simple, and had the power of persuasiveness, because he himself was the first to do what he advised the brethren, and he himself had already experienced various cases, about which the brethren had to be instructed.

In humble refraining from his own judgments and opinions, in constant appeal to the authority of his elder and teacher, the Monk Hilarion, following Elder Macarius, paves the way for the tradition of Optina apprenticeship and obedience, on the foundation of which alone eldership can stand. Subsequently, the most humble disciple Saint Ambrose- old man.

Here is a picture of such a confession

In the front corner of the hut, in front of the icons of Christ the Savior and the Holy Apostle Peter, there hung a lamp and stood a lectern with a cross, a confession book, and an epitrachelion, so that those who wished could immediately proceed to confession. Many of the visitors came to the monastery for this purpose, in order to convey to the elder Father Hilarion about their spiritual needs, as an experienced mentor. After the usual greetings, the elder, with skillful questions, evoked a frank explanation of the visitor about the purpose of his visit and formed an idea about his state of mind. When he found it necessary, he offered the visitor to prepare for the cleansing of his conscience by confession, appointing at least three days for this. It was necessary to reconsider all one's previous life from the age of seven, to recall and find in oneself mostly forgotten sins for which no repentance was brought and in which the cause of mental illness often lurked. If for some reason the visitor did not achieve this, then the elder himself at confession would clarify with skillful questions what was the matter, calling the visitor to remember the unrepentant sin, which, through inattention, turned into a habit.

It can be said, using the expression of the Glinsky Schema-Archimandrite of the father, that the Monk Hilarion "possessed the gift of prayer to influence a person in such a way that he, feeling the invisible presence of the Almighty Lord, with all frankness confessed to the elder the most secret movements of his heart."

Having aroused consciousness and contrition for sins, the elder sometimes, according to their degree and importance, imposed penances on the penitents, in accordance with the type of life, rank, condition, occupation, health, years. Moreover, he demanded that the penitent fulfill it exactly and irrevocably. Penance consisted of prayers, the Canon of Penitence, reading kathismas, prostrations, distribution of alms, forgiveness of insults and insults, reconciliation with those who offended, return of debts or misappropriated, leaving skills, amusements and pleasures indecent for a Christian, idle pastime. Here is a picture of such a confession. At the end of confession, Father Hilarion allowed the repentant to receive the Holy Mysteries. Many, having received tangible spiritual benefits from the elder at confession, continued to live according to the elder’s instructions, corrected themselves from mental illnesses and lived piously and prosperously at the prayers of the elder, and already had him as their constant spiritual father and mentor.

Spiritual Gifts of Elder Hilarion

Gift of Healing

The gift of healing spiritual ailments, which the Lord endowed all the venerable Optina elders, was fully assimilated by St. Hilarion. The elder recognized the various causes of these illnesses not only through questioning the suffering, but also in other ways, known to him alone, and made his conclusion. Irreconcilable enmity, family strife, grave unrepentant sins were most often the causes of diseases, and therefore the elder of the sick, with the help of God, healed the grace of the Sacrament of Penance, at home he gave them Epiphany water, artos and oil from lamps that burned on the graves of the deceased venerable elders and Macarius.

The gift of the elder for the healing of the soul and bodily ailments most visibly manifested precisely when both kinds of ailments were interconnected; getting sick

Hilarion (Ponomarev) (1805-1873), hieroschemamonk, Optina elder, reverend.

In the world, Rodion Nikitich Ponomarev was born on Easter night from April 8 to April 9, 1805 in the family of Nikita Filimonovich and Evfemia Nikiforovna Ponomarev. His father was a pious man and was engaged in tailoring. Subsequently, following his son, he also took monastic vows in Optina Hermitage with the name Nifont, worked at the skete apiary, and died in 1849.

Rodion's mother predicted monasticism from the age of seven. Since childhood, he felt the desire to become a monk and thought that tailoring would be useful to him in monastic life.

In Saratov, under the patronage of His Grace Jacob, Rodion Nikitich courageously fought against schismatics of various persuasions for the purity of Orthodoxy.

At that time, the blessed elders Leonid and Macarius were staying in the monastery. Rodion was settled in the neighborhood of the cell of the former Valaam hegumen father Varlaam, who had a beneficial effect on the future elder. The brothers confessed at the Monk Macarius, at the same time Rodion went daily to the revelation of thoughts to the monastery to the elder Leonid. After the appointment on December 1, 1839, of the Monk Macarius as the head of the skete, Rodion was elected by him to his cell-attendant and remained in this obedience for twenty years, that is, until the day of the blessed death of Elder Macarius in 1860. Taking upon himself the saving cross of obedience, growing in inner deeds, the Monk Hilarion forced himself in every possible way to bear bodily labors. In addition to the obediences that Saint Hilarion carried as a cell-attendant of his elder, he also, for the needs of the skete brethren and household, was a gardener, a gardener, cooked kvass, baked bread, and took care of bees in the apiary.

Having accepted this obedience from his elder, the Monk Elder Hilarion carried it until the last day of his life.

On April 8, 1863, a new obedience was entrusted to Elder Hilarion: he was appointed head of the skete and general confessor of the monastery.

The Monk Elder Hilarion was a true good shepherd: at all times, even in the last days of his severe near-death illness, he took care of his children and was always ready to help their spiritual and worldly needs. When studying with the brotherhood of the monastery, the elder did not refuse any of the outside visitors.

Along with the blessed gift of spiritual reasoning, the Monk Hilarion had the gift of clairvoyance, he was a man of teaching, leading a truly ascetic life. However, not only reverence and love fell to his lot, but sometimes blasphemy and slander had to endure the reverend. But he endured all this with great humility and condescension to all human infirmities.

In 1870, the elder's health deteriorated, but despite this he attended all services.

For four weeks, the monk predicted the day of his death. Finally, on September 18, 1873, having communed the Holy Mysteries, the elder peacefully reposed in the Lord at half past six in the morning, in full consciousness and memory. Those who saw St. Hilarion on his deathbed saw before them an example of amazing humility, meekness and patience.

A new book

The publishing house of our monastery published A new book — "The Life of the Hieromartyr Benjamin (Kazan), Metropolitan of Petrograd and Gdov, and others like him who suffered the Monk Martyr Sergius (Shein), Martyrs Yuri Novitsky and John Kovsharov » .

In the new book of the famous Russian hagiographer, Archimandrite Damaskin (Orlovsky), the reader is offered the life of Metropolitan Veniamin (Kazansky) of Petrograd, one of the first holy martyrs, who did not sin in his soul or conscience during the persecution that began and gave his life for Christ and His Church .

E if a person endures grief with a verity in God-le-she, is-ve-du-being in his sins, then through this from -bav-la-et-sya from cha-go-you-eternal mu-che-ny. In a way, it’s better to endure here nep-ri-yat-nos-ti, no matter how hard they are, raising their sadness to the Lord -yes, and praying to Him with humble-re-ni-em, yes, from-ba-wit us from ma-lo-soul-shiya and from-cha-i-niya, some of them are even worse- some sins.

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Akathist to Our Holy and God-bearing Father Hilarion, Elder of Optina

His edge: Hilarion the Elder sings true

Designed for intimate reading Download in DOC

Under consideration by the Akathist Commission under the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church

Kondak 1

Rev. Hilarion Optinsky

And to the chosen shepherd of the sheep of Christ, to the zealous chaser of the mental wolves, to the God-wise elder of Optina, let us offer praiseworthy songs. But you, father, deliver your flock from the cruel falls, and in the pasture of grace raise up those who call you:

Ikos 1

Thy mother, Father Hilarion, filled the joys of Paschal, when thou wast born of her on the night of the luminous Resurrection. By the same sign, the Lord has revealed that your soul cannot taste death forever. We, in the canopy of death, we cry to you:

Rejoice, fruit of Easter joy.

Rejoice, child of the radiant day.

Rejoice, I intercede with your parent of blessedness.

Rejoice, faithful representative of yours.

Rejoice before death dead thou hast changed.

Rejoice, before the resurrection thou didst dwell with the saints.

Rejoice, insensibility is like a tombstone that rolls away from your heart.

Rejoice, enlightening your soul with the light-angelic voice of conscience.

Rejoice, mortification of passions.

Rejoice, rebirth of the virtues.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 2

You were apostolicly jealous of the Orthodox faith, reverend father, when you settled in the Saratov region, where there are many schismatics, you enlightened the darkness of their false teachings with Orthodox dogmas, unceasingly crying out to God in the Trinity: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Thou, Father Hilarion, was inflamed with jealousy of Ilina, and Thou didst clarify the purity of the right faith, Thou didst betray the studish false teachers to a righteous court. But we, wondering about such your love for the purity of the teachings of the Church of Christ, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, flame of divine jealousy.

Rejoice, source of fatherly teaching.

Rejoice, pillar unshakable by heretical winds.

Rejoice, cleverly skilful at a schismatic assembly.

Rejoice, slicing through false knowledge like a spider web.

Rejoice Orthodox teaching exude like an abyss.

Rejoice, double-edged sword of God's Word.

Rejoice, fiery arrow of the Church verb.

Rejoice, right-thinking affirmation.

Rejoice, disgrace to those who are wise.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 3

Thou wished to imitate the monastic life, Father Hilarion, the same in Optina Hermitage to the God-wise elders, Thou hast flowed, even seeing thee with piety, lightly adorned, gratefully chanting to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Abandon all earthly cares, you were honored to receive the angelic title from the angelic elders of the saints, from them you also learned angelic doings, how it is fitting for God to work. We cry out to you for your greater prosperity:

Rejoice, life of an angelic imitator.

Rejoice, high lordship to the seeker.

Rejoice, cutting off earthly passions.

Rejoice, guardian of the commandments of the saints.

Rejoice, quick-winged novice of Leo and Macarius.

Rejoice, compassion for the sorrows of Ambrose.

Rejoice, partaker of the Angelic Likostoyaniye.

Rejoice, ascetic of monastic struggles.

Rejoice, monastic angel warrior.

Rejoice, unwise man.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 4

Thou hast chosen the God-wise elders of Optina as mentors for himself, who, through their prayers and God-imitating life, breathed many gifts into you. You, like a God-pleasing vessel, appeared to Father Hilarion, singing with grateful voices to Christ: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Thou didst receive a line of elders, Father Hilarion, from the God-wise elders of Optina Leo and Macarius, whom Thou faithfully served with Ambrose and was honored with the gift of grace of sonship, for this sake we cry out to you:

Rejoice, vessel of unspeakable grace.

Rejoice, son-like line of elder service.

Rejoice from strength ascend to strength.

Rejoice, thou who adorned the soul with many gifts.

Rejoice, co-worker of Ambrose in the spiritual field.

Rejoice, blessed branch of Leo and Macarius.

Rejoice, unforgettable remembrance of the fatherly instructions.

Rejoice, luminiferous candle of senile sayings.

Rejoice, for thou hast ascended from earth to heaven as a chariot.

Rejoice, for thou hast accepted the senile service of Ilyin.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 5

Thou hast dispelled the sinful Father Hilarion, the lamp of conscience has burned inside your soul, and you have understood that there is the grace of the All-Holy Spirit. For this reason, with a frank face, look at the glory of God, thankfully sang to God who enlightened you: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Adamant, the firmest faith of yours appeared to Father Hilarion, even if you crushed the wisdom of schismatics like idols, and honestly golden was your spiritual kindness, like you received many talents from God. For this sake, as a gospel merchant, we praise thee:

Rejoice, grower of Christ's grapes.

Rejoice, full of joyful hope.

Rejoice, laborer who bore the heat and the daytime var.

Rejoice, aggravating this gift from God.

Rejoice, winepress of the gospel word.

Rejoice, wine of the consolation of Christ.

Rejoice, wise merchant who acquired spiritual beads.

Rejoice, good marketer who multiplies the master's money.

Rejoice, for the sake of impoverishing the treasures of hell.

Rejoice, for the sake of it the breadbasket of the word is filled.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 6

You were a faithful follower of the traditions of the fatherly and monastic charters, for this reason, as if the exact measure of the scales of your life, you showed Father Hilarion, not deviating by the right hand from the traditions of the fathers, gratefully singing to the God of your fathers: Hallelujah.

Ikos 6

You have acquired the gospel father’s wisdom and kept the eye of your mind purely according to the word of Christ, for this sake, from sinful darkness, you delivered the blinded spiritual eyes, even chanting to you the praises of sitz:

Rejoice, vision of invisible things.

Rejoice, discovery of forgotten sins.

Rejoice, enlightener of spiritual darkness.

Rejoice, deliver us from the charm of the enemy.

Rejoice, voice of immaculate conscience.

Rejoice, overshadowing of wisdom in God's fear.

Rejoice, pure vision of the depths of the soul.

Rejoice, clear knowledge of her dispensation.

Rejoice, through whom we improve freedom from sins.

Rejoice, by whom we betroth souls to Christ.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 7

Chastity your soul acquired Father Hilarion like an angelic garment, and with many virtues you inspired your soul. For this sake, you showed your angel-like life to your reverend disciple, angelically glorifying Christ: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

With fasting, you cleansed yourself of the reverend, and you armed yourself with a shield of faith, an unceasing prayer like a double-edged sword we perceive, you defeated invisible enemies by the power of God. For this sake, we bring crowns of victory and sing to you:

Rejoice, champion of the truth.

Rejoice, lie to the eradicator.

Rejoice, destroying the fortress of vices.

Rejoice, builder of the house of virtue.

Rejoice, victorious glory of the monastic ranks.

Rejoice, quick help to those who are in battle.

Rejoice, conqueror of Christ's devil.

Rejoice, call upon the Angels to help us.

Rejoice, for by you we improve the crown of victory.

Rejoice, for by you respite from battles is acceptable.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 8

Having cleansed the heart of passions, you acquired the gospel disposition, Father Hilarion. For this sake of grace, the chosen vessel appeared to you of the All-Holy Spirit, whose action brightly adorned your prayer, inexpressibly crying out to Christ: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

With the oil of goodness, Father God-wise, the lamp has not been extinguished if you have kept your soul, in the darkness of sin, take out the saints and your flock to the Light of the non-evening, attracting the saying of your bright teachings, in their instruction, cry out to you:

Rejoice, godly shepherd's flute.

Rejoice, God-wise instruction in virtues.

Rejoice, expulsion of mental thieves.

Rejoice, protection from the temptations of the brethren.

Rejoice, Tsevnitsa driven by spirit-bearing words.

Rejoice, O psalter proclaim divine revelations.

Rejoice, lyre of fatherly traditions.

Rejoice, cymbal of schismatics frighten.

Rejoice, honey tongue.

Rejoice, sweet mouth.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 9

Work has lifted thou unceasing sobriety in the Lord and the purity of your mind from thoughts of vain protection. For this reason, with a clever prayer, you sought the Lord Jesus in the cell of your heart, incessantly crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

With the sweet name of Jesus, you inflamed your spiritual kindness, even with the flame of Divine love ignited in your heart. For this, for the sake of lovingly, you received Father Hilarion, who came to you, the same consolation and instruction in faith, crying out to you saying:

Rejoice, flame of the apostolic faith.

Rejoice, warmth of the love of Jesus.

Rejoice, ignite frozen hearts.

Rejoice, cool the flame of passions.

Rejoice, lightning of pure contemplation.

Rejoice, breaking hearts with thunder.

Rejoice, for thou hast enlightened the firmament of the heart with sobriety.

Rejoice, as you drive away clouds of thoughts with prayer.

Rejoice, for whose sake we call on the name of Jesus.

Rejoice, we imitate him for the sake of the Angelic work.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 10

As if from the source of the ever-flowing, your gifts exude from the forefather: you healed from the lamp with anointing, you sent to the source to be cleansed, Om sins forgotten, like the root of the disease, you opened your seer eyes. All the same, all who have enjoyed your healing jets thankfully sing to Christ: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

You kept the purity of faith, Father Hilarion, and you clearly recognized the depth of dogma, for this sake, as a student of pure water, your life appeared to quench the thirst of the faithful. We are in the desert of passions, in the heat of the temptations of palimia, crying out to you:

Rejoice, treasure trove of fatherly tradition.

Rejoice, outpouring of healing streams.

Rejoice, water-bearer full of divine consolation.

Rejoice, alabaster myrrh of unfeigned humility.

Rejoice, for you drown our sins with an abyss of tears.

Rejoice, as you revive our souls with joyful weeping.

Rejoice, source of eternal joy.

Rejoice, reconciliation of our conscience with God.

Rejoice, dry up the root of malice.

Rejoice, exude the light of faith.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 11

With the oil of your mercy, anoint us, Father Hilarion, singing your glorious and victorious deeds, adorn your monastery with the image, and give us victory over passions and sins by the grace of God, as if we would magnify Christ who enlightened you, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

The separation of the soul from the body was accepted by the blessed Father Hilarion, I will raise you the feat of illness and fasting, for thirty and three days you ate nothing but imperishable food - the body of Christ was sanctified by him and in the hands of God your spirit betrayed, but left us your body as a source of sanctification , we cry out to you flowing to you:

Rejoice, kivote containing the shrine.

Rejoice, treasure of spiritual blessings.

Rejoice, dwelling place of the All-sanctifying Spirit.

Rejoice, monstrance containing the Holy Mysteries.

Rejoice, healer of mortal diseases.

Rejoice, eradicator of the fear of death.

Rejoice, for thou hast clothed beauty in incorruption.

Rejoice, for you have adorned your cancer with miracles.

Rejoice, through whom we are freed from mortal sins.

Rejoice, imzhe to eternal life we are involved.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 12

In heaven, you have found a reward for yourself, Father Hilarion, from Christ God accept the crown of immortality, see there the beauty of paradise and enjoy the sight of the Lord Jesus Himself. Meanwhile, remember us on earth to bring you singing, so that we get rid of all evils by your intercession, thankfully cry out to Christ: Hallelujah.

Ikos 12

You appeared to the champion of Optina eldership, Father Hilarion, on earth you kept the path of the fathers and kept the tradition like the apple of your eye, from there and shine to us who exist in a sinful night. We are like a guiding star for you, we cry out thankfully to you:

Rejoice, for the darkness of schism has been driven away.

Rejoice, through whom the light of Orthodoxy shines.

Rejoice, sun-shining brilliance of the dogmas of faith.

Rejoice, multi-starry heaven of the virtues of the spirit.

Rejoice, weight and measure of the most accurate reasoning.

Rejoice, crystal-like purity of heart sobriety.

Rejoice, union of conscience and the All-Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, irreconcilable enmity against a heretical assembly.

Rejoice, for our forgotten sins are remembered by you.

Rejoice, for by you the secret of our heart is cleansed.

Rejoice, Hilarion, shepherds are a fair decoration.

Kondak 13

Oh, our God-wise Father Hilarion, brightest lamp of conscience, enlighten our darkened hearts with the light of the knowledge of God, let us see the living sin in us, like a veil of darkness, let us cry out to the abiding Christ who is in us: Light-giver God, enlighten thee who sing: Alleluia.

(This kontakion verbs three times and abie 1 ikos and 1 kontakion)

Prayer to our Reverend Father Hilarion:

Oh, our God-wise Father Hilarion, a true champion of the Orthodox faith and a strong prayer book for our souls before the throne of the Holy Trinity! You were inflamed with green zeal for the Orthodox faith even from your youth, you appeared as a vigilant guardian of our Church, keeping her flock from schismatic teachers. You, like Elijah of old, jealously jealous of your God, and betrayed the student false teachers to a righteous judgment. Thou hast saved many souls from pernicious delusion, and led the deceived to the understanding of the truth. Moreover, for the rightness of your heart, God has given you abundant grace of healing and healing, as if the spirits of evil spirits and I can’t stand you, and I’m moving away from the suffering. You and now, father, as if alive, look at your flock and visit me, and destroy the evil slanders of the spirits with your intercession. And enlighten our minds, do not listen to us spiritually seductive, bringing out enmity in us, and discord, and disagreements, the image is ruined church world and unanimity of the brethren. To her, father, give us health of soul and body, a clean conscience and an unshameful residence. Ask the Lord for peace and prosperity for our country and its people, the right affirmation of faith, and the deposition of heretical ones, may the Holy Russian Church and your abode be strengthened spiritual rebirth grants, in a hedgehog to sing and glorify the magnificent and venerable Name of the consubstantial and inseparable Trinity, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Another prayer to our reverend father Hilarion, composed in the city of Saratov:

Oh, sacred head, reverend and God-bearing Father Hilarion, adornment of the Optina monastery and praise of the Saratov lands! You, during the days of your earthly life, reject anyone who comes to you, for it is good for everyone to see your face and communion with you: you have appeared to those who are suffering, a comforter to those who are grieving, seekers of Truth in everything the teacher is outstanding. To this, the gift in all bewildered circumstances of admonition, in all good learning and bodily and mental ailments of the healer, appear abundantly in you. Now, in heaven, the Lord of all is coming and in the venerable Cathedral of all the Optina elders, triumphing brightly, your soul is lightly rejoicing. Both, if your bright soul now rests in heaven, the crayfish of your relics now abides with us, like a multi-flowing source of grace. By this and by your prayers, holy father, you now dwell in the glorious monastery of Optina, in which you labored gloriously in your life. For this sake we pray to you: Holy Father! Do not leave us sinners with your glorious intercession with Christ our God. Be an excellent assistant to everyone in every good deed, and in every good undertaking with your prayers. Save us from the crafty temptations of this vain age, Orthodox faith exterminate in our country and turn our people away from the Truth with the spirit of flattering teachings. May we truly be a good shepherd and an excellent teacher, instructing us in the Truth of Orthodoxy to walk without fail and be faithful children of the Orthodox Church. Save our country and our people from every evil situation, enemies of the Church of Christ raised up. As in the days of your earthly life, wake up all of you: lift up the fallen, console the faint-hearted, strengthen the weak, unreasonable and carried away by the false teachings of this age, turn away from lies and instruct the path of Truth. Most of all, at the hour of our death, hasten us through our bitter ordeals, so that we will pass without stumble from earth to heaven and there with all the saints we will glorify the Creator and God of our Lord Jesus Christ with His Most Pure Matter and with all the saints forever and ever. Amen.