Hilarion of Zographou

Holy Venerable Martyr Hilarion of Zographou is numbered among the twenty-⁠six martyrs of the Athonite monastery of Zographou, who let themselves be burned in the tower for the Orthodox faith, between 1274 and 1284. The calendar names him only in the list of the monks.

After, in 1274, Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos made the union with Rome, most Athonite monasteries refused to betray Orthodoxy and rebuked those who had abandoned it. For this the Holy Mountain was struck by Latin troops and mercenaries, who tormented many monks. The monastery of Zographou, inhabited by Bulgarians, was more exposed, for the emperor did not wish to upset the Greeks and poured out his anger on monasteries of another nation. Learning wonderfully of the soldiers' approach, Hegumen Thomas told the brethren that whoever wished to escape must flee, and whoever desired martyrdom should stay. Twenty-⁠six remained: Hegumen Thomas, the monks Barsanuphius, Cyril, Micah, Simon, Hilarion, two Jameses, Job, Cyprian, Savva, Martinian, Cosmas, Sergius, Mena, Joasaph, Joannicius, Paul, Anthony, Euthymius, Domentian, Parthenius and four lay labourers with no name known. They shut themselves in the monastery tower. The Latin soldiers set it on fire, and the martyrs, while the tower burned, sang psalms and the akathist to the Mother of God and gave their souls to God on 10 October.

He is commemorated on 4 July (new style, a movable day), in the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of Athos.