Hilarion of Parekhi

Venerable Hilarion of Parekhi (ninth-⁠tenth centuries) was abbot of the Parekhi Monastery, one of the monasteries of the Klarjeti desert, a disciple and fellow-⁠ascetic of the founder of the Klarjeti monasteries, Venerable Gregory of Khandzta. He is venerated as a saint in the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers and Mothers of Klarjeti of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, canonized in October 2002 (by other data in 2003); he is commemorated on 5 October (old calendar).

News of him is preserved in Gregory's Life, written by Venerable George Merchule in 951. His name is mentioned among the four men of the Church of Georgia worthy to write Gregory's life and labours, who did not dare to take up so hard a task. Merchule writes: "I thought that this life would be written by the wise, the perfect fathers of our days: the great Sophronius, the desired father, renewer of the church of Shatberdi, its crown until the end of the ages, the God-⁠bearing father Hilarion of Parekhi, the hierarchs of Christ, the venerable George, bishop of Ancha, and Stephen, first bishop of Tbeti, and others like them. And when the blessed ones fell asleep, then as if I awoke, the unlearned and sinful one, to set about writing the life and the signs, which you will now hear."