Peter of Moglena

Saint Peter of Moglena (Peter of Maglen) was a priest of the twelfth century, disciple and successor of Bishop Hilarion of Moglena, and is honoured as a saint among the hierarchs. Hilarion fought against the heretics in Moglena in the second half of the twelfth century. Peter is known as a "man virtuous, of noble birth, meek and chaste, like no other". Under Hilarion's guidance he passed through all the grades of ministry and gained already in his life the fame of a righteous man.

Before his death, Hilarion recommended him to the monastic brotherhood of the monastery of the "Holy Apostles" as his replacement, and after Hilarion's death, in 1164, Peter succeeded him as abbot. Under his leadership the monastery flourished. After some years, however, a conflict broke out with some monks dissatisfied with the strict rule in the monastery, and even heretics appeared. Peter, who had a gentle character, taught his flock and avoided conflict, but the rebellious monks remained unyielding. Then Hilarion appeared to them in a dream, exposed their lawless deeds and restored order in the monastery. The main source about Bishop Hilarion and Peter is the long Life of Hilarion, written in the fourteenth century by Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo; the second is the Prologue narrative "The Translation of the Relics of Saint Hilarion, Bishop of Moglena, to the City of Tarnovo", composed in the second quarter of the thirteenth century.