Hierarch Hilary, Bishop of Arles

Holy Hierarch Hilary was born around 401-403 into a noble Gallo-Roman family in southern Gaul. As a young man he managed the family estate until his kinsman St. Honoratus, founder of the Lérins community, converted him to the ascetic life. Hilary sold his inheritance, distributed the proceeds to the poor, and entered Lérins Monastery (c. 426), where he received holy orders.

When Honoratus became Bishop of Arles (426/427), Hilary assisted him, then withdrew again to Lérins; after Honoratus's death (429) the people of Arles sought him out and compelled him to accept the episcopate (tradition holds that a dove alighted on his head as a sign of his election).

As bishop and metropolitan of the Viennese province and primate of Gaul, he became renowned for eloquent preaching, learning, and strict personal asceticism combined with pastoral service. He founded monastic communities, built churches, fought Pelagianism together with St. Germanus of Auxerre, and was noted for his care of the poor — selling church vessels to ransom captives taken in Germanic raids.

CONFLICT WITH ST. LEO THE GREAT (443-445): Hilary deposed Bishop Chelidonius of Besançon as canonically unfit (he had married a widow and, as a former magistrate, had pronounced death sentences), appointing Bishop Projectus in his place — irregularly. Chelidonius appealed to Rome; Pope Leo the Great overturned the deposition and accused Hilary of exceeding his authority. According to tradition, Hilary traveled to Rome on foot in winter to defend his decision, but failed to persuade Leo. Relying on an edict of Emperor Valentinian III (445), the pope stripped Hilary of the Gallican vicariate — his rights to consecrate bishops, convene councils, and oversee the province — transferring metropolitan authority to the Bishop of Vienne. Hilary submitted to Rome's ruling without causing a schism.

Author of the "Life of St. Honoratus" and a poetic paraphrase of the Book of Genesis ("Metrum in Genesin"). He died peacefully in Arles on May 5, 449, mourned, according to tradition, even by the local Jewish community for his charity; he was buried in the suburban basilica of St. Genesius. He was later entered into the Roman Martyrology.