Sacred Calendar

Third Lesson - Nearly Seventy Years in the Service of Christ

Hilarion was born at Tabatha in Palestine of unbelieving parents and was sent to Alexandria for study. There he flourished in good character and intelligence and, having received the religion of Jesus Christ, advanced wonderfully in faith and charity. He was frequently in church, constant in fasting and prayer, and despised every enticement of pleasure and desire for earthly things. Since the name of Anthony was then most celebrated in Egypt, he hastened into the desert from a desire to see him, and remained with him for two months, learning the whole pattern of his life. Returning home after the death of his parents, he distributed his possessions to the poor and, although not yet fifteen years old, returned to the desert. There he built a small hut which scarcely held him and slept upon the ground. He never washed or changed the sackcloth with which he had once clothed himself, saying that it was needless to seek cleanliness in haircloth. He devoted himself greatly to reading and meditating upon Sacred Scripture. He used a few figs and the juice of herbs for food and did not eat even these before sunset. His continence and humility were incredible. By these and other virtues he overcame the various and dreadful temptations of the devil and cast innumerable demons out of human bodies in many parts of the world. In his eightieth year, after founding many monasteries and becoming renowned for miracles, he fell ill. When the violence of the sickness left him struggling almost for his last breath, he said: "Go forth; why art thou afraid? Go forth, my soul; why dost thou hesitate? For nearly seventy years thou hast served Christ, and dost thou fear death?" With these words he gave up his spirit.