Hierarch
Saint (Hierarch) Hilarion of Moglena
† 1164
Also known as: Свт. Иларион Меглинский, Иларион Мегленский, Иларион Могленский, Иларион Мглинский, Hilarion of Meglin
Twelfth-century Bishop of Moglena who fought the Bogomil heresy; his relics were translated to the Bulgarian capital Tarnovo in the early thirteenth century.
St Hilarion came from a wealthy and noble family, entered a monastery at the age of eighteen and soon became its abbot, urging the brethren not to waste the time given for salvation and fighting drunkenness among them. In 1134 Archbishop Eustathius of Bulgaria consecrated him Bishop of Moglena (Meglin) in Macedonia.
At that time the dualist Bogomil heresy was widespread in Bulgaria. Hilarion tirelessly exposed it and publicly disputed with its leaders, telling them that they were hostile to the Cross of Christ and that vices are overcome not by fasting against 'evil matter' but by humility and spiritual struggle; many returned to the Church. He also opposed Armenian Monophysites. He died in peace in 1164.
When the Bulgarian Tsar Kaloyan took Moglena, he found the saint's relics and carried them to his capital Tarnovo, where they were solemnly received on 21 October (in 1206, according to the OCA); under Tsar John Asen II they were placed in the new church of the Forty Martyrs. The Church commemorates St Hilarion on 21 October.