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Saint Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kiev: Teacher and Shepherd · Saints and Scripture

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  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Saints and Scripture Podcast.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today is Wednesday, october twenty first, twenty twenty six.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we remember Saint Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kiev.
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  SPEAKER_00: He lived during the time of the great Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who was the son of Saint Vladimir.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion is known as the first Russian to be made metropolitan by a council of Russian bishops.
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  SPEAKER_00: Before him, the Metropolitans of Kiev were Greeks appointed by Constantinople.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion was a priest in the village of Beristovo near Kiev.
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  SPEAKER_00: He was a spiritual father and close companion of Prince Yaroslav.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Nestor the Chronicler tells us that Prince Yaroslav loved Beristovo and built the Church of the Holy Apostles there.
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  SPEAKER_00: Among the priests honored by the prince was Hilarion, described as a man of virtue, knowledge, and fasting.
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  SPEAKER_00: Hilarion spent time in prayer and solitude near the Kiev Caves monastery, where he dug a shallow cave and chanted the hours.
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  SPEAKER_00: He was not only learned, but also deeply spiritual and gifted in preaching.
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  SPEAKER_00: When Metropolitan Theopimtus died, the Russian Church was at war with Byzantium.
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  SPEAKER_00: The Russian bishops decided to establish a metropolitanate in Kiev that would not be subject to Constantinople.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion was chosen by the council and installed as metropolitan in ten fifty one at the Holy Wisdom Cathedral.
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  SPEAKER_00: He was later confirmed by the Patriarch of Constantinople.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion's time as metropolitan was short.
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  SPEAKER_00: He likely died in ten fifty three, before Prince Yaroslav's death in ten fifty four.
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  SPEAKER_00: A new Metropolitan arrived in Kiev in ten fifty five.
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  SPEAKER_00: One of Saint Hilarion's most important works is the Discourse Concerning Law and Grace.
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  SPEAKER_00: In this work he explains the place of the Russian Church in God's plan of salvation.
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  SPEAKER_00: He teaches about the superiority of Christianity over Judaism, a key issue at the time.
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  SPEAKER_00: He uses the example of the two wives of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, to explain how the old covenant was fulfilled and replaced by the new covenant through Jesus Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion writes that the law given to Moses was like the moon's light which fades when the sun shines.
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  SPEAKER_00: Grace brought by Christ is like the sun that warms the earth.
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  SPEAKER_00: The burden of the law is lifted, and people now walk freely in grace.
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  SPEAKER_00: He rejoices that the grace of Christ has reached the Russian people.
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  SPEAKER_00: He praises Saint Vladimir, who baptized the people of Rus and commanded them to glorify the Holy Trinity.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion calls Saint Vladimir blessed among the equals to the apostles.
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  SPEAKER_00: Besides the discourse, Saint Hilarion wrote an episcopal confession, which became a model for bishops' vows in the Russian Church.
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  SPEAKER_00: A prayer attributed to him was read in many cities during the sixteenth century.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion was buried in the Kiev Caves.
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  SPEAKER_00: He is remembered as a saint and wonder worker in the church.
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  SPEAKER_00: He is commemorated in the services for the Fathers of the Kiev Caves, both on September 28th and the second Sunday of Great Lent.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Hilarion's life and works continue to inspire the faithful, reminding us of the importance of deep faith, learning, and service to the church.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord, grant us the grace to follow the example of Saint Hilarion to grow in knowledge and love of you.
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  SPEAKER_00: Help us to walk in your grace and truth every day.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.