Saint
Hillarion
Venerable Hillarion of Optina
New Calendar September 18 Old Calendar October 1
Why they are a saint
Venerable Hillarion of Optina is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on September 18. Venerated as a monastic saint, honored for a life of prayer and asceticism; little else about his life has come down to us.
Limited historical information is available about this saint.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Hillarion as a patron when they bear the name Hillarion at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on September 18. As a monastic, he is also asked for help in prayer, fasting, and repentance.
Prayer
O holy Hillarion, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.