Metropolitan Hilarion of Kyiv: biography (photo)

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The issue of autocephaly of local churches is open to this day. Having plunged into the history of confessional disputes, one can confidently assert that the adoption of autocephaly is not so much a religious process as a political one.

This article will be devoted to the first attempt of the Russian Orthodox Church to obtain such autonomy. Already in the 11th century, it was clear that submission to Constantinople caused significant damage to the Russian state.

Historical and political prerequisites for the election of a metropolitan from Russians

The reason for the conflict, which grew into a real war between the Greeks and Russians during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, was an incident involving merchants from Kievan Rus.

A merchant from Kyiv was killed in Constantinople, while the property that belonged to the deceased was confiscated in favor of the emperor. The news of what happened quickly reached Kyiv and caused a storm of indignation among the ruling elite and, of course, directly from the prince. After all, shortly before that,negotiations stipulating such situations and measures to resolve contentious issues, but the Greeks acted absolutely against the accepted agreements.

Military campaign against the Greeks

Prince Yaroslav sends an expeditionary force to the Eastern Roman Empire, headed by his eldest son, the prince, who is sent by sea. Near the western shores of the Black Sea, the squadron of the Slavs fell into a big storm, losing more than a third of their ships. The rest of the troops, moving by sea, were attacked by Greek ships. After such troubles, some of the ships that were still usable were sent back, landing troops at the same time. On the way back, the prince's ships were again overtaken by the Greek squadron, but this time luck was on the side of the soldiers of Prince Yaroslav. Greek ships were sunk in large numbers.

Six thousand soldiers who managed to land on the shore continued their march, the experienced commander Vyshata led the troops. The news of the destruction of the fleet infuriated Emperor Constantine Monomakh, so the issue of the landing was to be resolved with maximum cruelty, according to the emperor's plan.

After a series of clashes, the voivode Vyshata was surrounded and captured with the remnants of the detachment, in this case the Greeks used a very cruel punishment, which, in principle, has already been used in history, it is enough to recall Vasily II the Bulgar-Slayer. The remaining Russian soldiers were blinded and sent home, of course, such an act on the part of the Greeks did not contributeending the war.

The death of Metropolitan Theognost as a prerequisite for the election of Hilarion

In 1048 Metropolitan Theognost dies. Due to the crisis in Greek-Slavic relations, the new metropolitan cannot come to Russia. It should be noted that before that all the hierarchs were sent from Constantinople. Prince Yaroslav the Wise understands that the situation is critical and it is necessary to act quickly and firmly. Therefore, he decides to appoint a compatriot metropolitan to the post without the permission of Byzantium. The choice falls on the resident of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the future First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, who becomes Hilarion of Kyiv.

Rapprochement of the future metropolitan and prince

Even before his monastic deed, Hilarion of Kyiv was distinguished by his ascetic life, imitating the ancient anchorites.

Sources say that he dug himself a cave in the forest. In it he spent solitary hours in prayer. Subsequently, the monk Anthony, who returned from Athos, settled there. It was from this moment that the spiritual authority of Hilarion began to grow in the eyes of the population of ancient Kyiv. After some time, most likely in the 50s of the 11th century, people begin to resort to various advice from this person. The prince made him the rector of his own church.

Hilarion of Kyiv, Metropolitan: biography

There is not very much information about the life of the future saint and the first Russian metropolitan. It is reliably known that Metropolitan Hilarion of Kyiv and All Kievan Rus was a native of Kyiv. It is undeniable thatwritings that have come down to our time testify to the author's excellent training in theology, canon law, and knowledge of the rules of oratory.

There is an assumption that he knew the Greek language, which he studied on Mount Athos or in Constantinople, perhaps he was in the West, where he got acquainted with Western theology and worship. However, such hypotheses do not have reliable confirmation.

Before his episcopal consecration, Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kyiv, was at first a priest in the village of Berestovoe, located near Kyiv, and served in a church owned by the prince.

Regarding his personal qualities as a shepherd and a person, no evidence has been preserved. However, the fact that he headed the princely parish testifies to a certain spiritual authority that this man won in the eyes of the prince. The only data about Hilarion, the Metropolitan of Kyiv, can be found in the chronicle, which speaks of him as a man of a virtuous life, a faster and a scribe. However, it is difficult to understand what the latter means. Undoubtedly, this refers to his erudition. But whether it is limited to the study of the holy fathers and their works, or to receiving a systematic education, it is difficult to judge. In modern science, disputes regarding this still do not cease.

Cathedral of Russian Bishops

In 1051, Prince Yaroslav the Wise, having gathered local bishops, held a synod, after which, regardless of Constantinople, priest Hilarion was elevated to the throne of Kyiv as a metropolitan.

Based on the analysis of the surviving documents, we can conclude that Metropolitan Hilarion of Kyiv absolutely supported the internal and external political course chosen by Yaroslav the Wise.

The subsequent fate of the Metropolitan

After the death of the Grand Duke, who fought for the independence of the church from Constantinople, this church and political figure was practically removed, instead of him a protege from Byzantium was sent. This event took place in 1055. The further fate of the first Russian metropolitan is unknown, there are several versions:

1. He independently left the pulpit and lived out his days as a resident of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery.
2. The reason for the appearance of a metropolitan from Byzantium was the death of Metropolitan Hilarion of Kyiv, but in this case the question of whether it was natural remains open.
3. He was forcibly removed from the pulpit and imprisoned in a monastery.

Thus, the biography of Metropolitan Hilarion of Kyiv is an illustration of the process of the desire of the young church on the territory of Kievan Rus for autocephaly and the unwillingness of Byzantium to lose leverage on the state and society, giving independence to the newly formed metropolis.

Metropolitan Hilarion's social activities

Many researchers of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, such as Kartashov, Golubinsky, Metropolitan Macarius, Smirnov, often try to give a historical assessment of this phenomenon in the history of the Russian state. A logical question arises: "Hilarion of Kyiv, Metropolitan, what did he do for the state and the church, howdid it influence the development of these two institutions of public life?"

The future saint not only de alt with church affairs, but also participated together with the prince in the formation of the legal system of Kievan Rus. Thanks to his direct participation, the legal system operating on the territory of Kievan Rus was created and systematized.

Participation in the organization of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

He also took an active part in the construction of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Having a very close relationship with the prince, he received the necessary land for the construction of the future center of spiritual culture of the entire Russian state.

In addition, the saint took part in the formation of the library, which was created at the Cathedral of St. Sophia. His authorship belongs to a number of church and literary monuments, which are a real work of art of ancient Slavic writing.

Literary activity of St. Hilarion

The most significant work belonging to him is a literary work that completely turned the view of scientists about the intellectual development of Kievan Rus. Hilarion of Kyiv, Metropolitan, was a highly educated person. "The Word of Law and Grace" indicates that a symphony of power was needed.

The most famous researcher of the literary heritage of Ancient Russia Likhachev D. S. believed that this work was written at a high level. The author built a logically verified text, simplicity of narration anda variety of literary devices testify to the talent of the person who wrote it. Rhythmically correctly spaced speech equates this text with similar literary monuments of Byzantine authors. Metropolitan Hilarion also wrote other works.

Kievan Rus - the state that gave the world such a talented person. In addition to the above-mentioned work, he owns several other works that have survived to our time.

An interesting work is the "Confession of Faith", written on the occasion of episcopal consecration. It is customary for a cleric to be appointed bishop to speak publicly about his theological beliefs so that everyone present can understand that he is not a heretic.

He also owns a prayer called "The Prayer of Our Reverend Father Hilarion, Metropolitan of Russia", which makes an unforgettable impression on the reader with its poetry and abundance of poetic images.

Besides this, he is the author of "Praise" in honor of Yaroslav the Wise, written after he was placed on the throne of the Metropolitan.

Canonization of St. Hilarion

The issue of canonization remains open even now. It is not known for certain when this event took place, it is possible that the Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Russia Hilarion of Kyiv was canonized without the definition of a church council. However, most church historians believe that there was no direct decision of the council on this issue. The reason was the popularreverence. The relics of this saint are in the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Monastery. Memorial Day takes place on October 21.

Until now, there are no reliable images depicting Hilarion of Kyiv, Metropolitan. The photos presented in the article confirm this. Also, in accordance with Russian traditions, the relics are under vestments, they are not shown to the general public. You can only see a photo of the tomb where the relics of the saint are.