Saint Hilarion the New Martyr of Crete

St. Hilarion was born in Heraklion, Crete, from pious Orthodox parents. As a young man Hilarion went to live with his uncle in Constantinople in order to provide him education. He lived there for 10 years and worked as a clerk with a merchant. One day the merchant accused Hilarion of taking money and threatened him that if he did not return the money there would be consequences. Though he was innocent he went to the palace of the Sultan to seek assistance from the mother of the Sultan. There he met the Ethiopian eunuch, Mertzan Aga, and asked him what he should do. He counseled him to become a Muslim and to become immune to any punishment. Hilarion accepted his proposal and became a Muslim. But after 3 days, he realized his sin and sought an opportunity to escape his situation. After 12 days he left the palace and boarded a ship for Crimea, where he stayed 10 months. He returned to Constantinople and seeked advice from spiritual fathers. They advised him to go to Mount Athos and enter Iveron Monastery. While at Iveron Monastery he was tonsured a monk and told his Elder that he was ready to return to Constantinople and confess Christ. When Hilarion arrived in Constantinople, he went to the palace and told the Ethiopian eunuch that he had returned to Christian faith and anathematized Islam. This angered the eunuch and had him beaten and tortured and finally beheaded in 1804. His feast day is on September 20.