Saint Hilarion of Optina

St. Hilarion was born in Kluch in 1805. His family moved to the Novopersk region in 1820 and lived there until he was 20 years old. He gradually acquired the skill as a tailor, but Hilarion desired the monastic life. He went to Moscow in 1825 in order to learn more about being a tailor. He worked with various tailors, but the work was difficult and he became ill. After that he left Moscow and returned home. In 1829 his family moved to Saratov. In 1837 and 1838 he visited monasteries at Sarov, Suzdal, Rostov, Tikhvin, Moscow, Pochaev and finally arrived to Optina. In 1839 Hilarion became the cell attendant of Saint Macarius, the Superior of the Skete. He also tended the flower and vegetable gardens, and worked as a baker and a bee-keeper. After the death of St. Macarius, Hilarion was chosen to be Superior of the Skete and the monastery's Father Confessor. In 1873 Hilarion died after severy illness. His feast day is on September 18.