Hilarion of Kiev
Encyclopedia
Hilarion or Ilarion was the first non-Greek
Metropolitan
of Kiev
. While there is not much verifiable information regarding Ilarion's biography, there are several aspects of his life which have come to be generally accepted.
According to the Primary Chronicle
Ilarion served as a priest
or monk
in the princely residence of Berestovo (Berestov) near the Rus' capital of Kiev
. He acquired the reputation of well-educated scholar and upon the death of Metropolitan Theopemptus in 1049, Ilarion was proclaimed the metropolitan of Kiev by Yaroslav the Wise
, the Grand prince
of Kiev, who thus challenged the old Byzantine
tradition of placing Greeks on the episcopal see
s.
Hilarion's appointment met with stiff opposition from Luka Zhidiata
, Bishop of Novgorod (r.1035-1060). Zhidyata openly opposed probably because it was the prerogative of the Patriarch of Constantinople to appoint the Kievan metropolitan and thus Ilarion's appointment was uncanonical. For his opposition, Luka was confined in the Kievan Caves Monastery
for three years until his death, at which time his remains were taken back to Novgorod and buried in the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom
there.
It appears as though Ilarion did not serve an extended term as the Kievan metropolitan, as some chronicles began mentioning Metropolitan Yefrem in 1055. Nevertheless, Ilarion remains the best known of all the ancient Kievan metropolitans, not only because he was the first native to ascend to that position, but also because of his writings.
Ilarion is credited as the author of four works:
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. While there is not much verifiable information regarding Ilarion's biography, there are several aspects of his life which have come to be generally accepted.
According to the Primary Chronicle
Primary Chronicle
The Primary Chronicle , Ruthenian Primary Chronicle or Russian Primary Chronicle, is a history of Kievan Rus' from about 850 to 1110, originally compiled in Kiev about 1113.- Three editions :...
Ilarion served as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
or monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
in the princely residence of Berestovo (Berestov) near the Rus' capital of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. He acquired the reputation of well-educated scholar and upon the death of Metropolitan Theopemptus in 1049, Ilarion was proclaimed the metropolitan of Kiev by Yaroslav the Wise
Yaroslav I the Wise
Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, known as Yaroslav the Wise Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, known as Yaroslav the Wise Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, known as Yaroslav the Wise (Old Norse: Jarizleifr; ; Old East Slavic and Russian: Ярослав Мудрый; Ukrainian: Ярослав Мудрий; c...
, the Grand prince
Grand Prince
The title grand prince or great prince ranked in honour below emperor and tsar and above a sovereign prince .Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns...
of Kiev, who thus challenged the old Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
tradition of placing Greeks on the episcopal see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
s.
Hilarion's appointment met with stiff opposition from Luka Zhidiata
Luka Zhidiata
Luka Zhidiata was the second bishop of Novgorod the Great . He replaced Efrem, who was not consecrated bishop, but who administered the eparchy from the death of Ioakim Korsunianin until Luka's appointment....
, Bishop of Novgorod (r.1035-1060). Zhidyata openly opposed probably because it was the prerogative of the Patriarch of Constantinople to appoint the Kievan metropolitan and thus Ilarion's appointment was uncanonical. For his opposition, Luka was confined in the Kievan Caves Monastery
Kiev Pechersk Lavra
Kiev Pechersk Lavra or Kyiv Pechersk Lavra , also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine....
for three years until his death, at which time his remains were taken back to Novgorod and buried in the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod
The Cathedral of St. Sophia in the Kremlin in Veliky Novgorod is the cathedral church of the Archbishop of Novgorod and the mother church of the Novgorodian Eparchy.-History:...
there.
It appears as though Ilarion did not serve an extended term as the Kievan metropolitan, as some chronicles began mentioning Metropolitan Yefrem in 1055. Nevertheless, Ilarion remains the best known of all the ancient Kievan metropolitans, not only because he was the first native to ascend to that position, but also because of his writings.
Ilarion is credited as the author of four works:
- Sermon on Law and GraceSermon on Law and GraceThe Sermon on Law and Grace is a sermon written between 1037 and 1051 by the Kievan Metropolitan Hilarion. It is one of the earliest Slavonic texts available, having been written several decades before the Primary Chronicle...
, - Confession of Faith
- Sermon on Spiritual Benefit to All Christians
- a short collection of instructions for priests called "Слово к брату столпнику" (A word to brother stylites)
External links
- Ilarion, Metropolitan in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine
- Hilarion at list of biographies and "ХРОНОС"
- Hilarion, the Metropolitan of Kiev at the Rulex.ru Portal
- Hilarion of Kiev by Alexander MenAlexander MenFather Alexander Vladimirovich Men was a Russian Orthodox theologian, Biblical scholar and writer.Father Alexander wrote dozen of books ; baptized hundreds if not thousands; founded an Orthodox Open University; opened one of the first Sunday Schools in...
- Hilarion, the Metropolitan of Kiev, by Sergey Perevezentsev
- Sermon on Law and Grace by Hilarion with notes and comments by M. Maslin, from the online library of Russian Classics