Orthodox Icon of St. Hilary the Great

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October 21st
Troparion (Tone 1)
Illumined in mind by the light of abstinence, thou wast radiant with miracles, O Father Hilary: thou didst become a shining pillar of godliness and enlighten the faithful who came to thee. Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee; glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

St. Hilary was born to pagan parents in the village of Tabatha near Gaza in Palestine. His parents sent him to Alexandria to further his studies when he was a youth. He excelled in secular learning, but it was there that he came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. He was baptized and sought to serve the Lord with his whole heart. He went out to the desert and became a disciple of St. Anthony the Great. Then he returned to Palestine and with the same aeseticism and spiritual discipline he established monasticism there in Maiuma, near Gaza. He was a wonderworker and a persuasive teacher. Even pagans respected him and came to him for advice. He so feared the praise of men, that he fled from place to place in order to seek to work out his salvation alone with God. So he spent time in Egypt, Sicily, Dalmatia, and finally Crete. He reposed there in 372 at about 80 years of age. His relics were taken back to a monastery he had founded in Palestine by one of his disciples named Ezekiel, where they continued to work wonders. The name Hilary or Hilarion means "of good cheer" or "cheerful".

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. It is from the private collection of Hilary Coulter. It is also available as a laminated Prayer Card.

Order #inp-153