Photo: pravoslavie.ru
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
Hieromartyr Hilarion, the patron-saint and abbot of our (Sretensky) monastery, is rightfully regarded as one of the great Russian theologians of the twentieth century. And people who are being educated theologically and succeeding in theology can certainly turn to him with special prayers for his help and protection, and this is absolutely the right thing to do. The times he lived in were at first quite serene and similar to the times we live in, in the sense that a person born in Russia, especially into a priest’s family, had every chance of studying, receiving a theological education and serving the Church, God and his people. And nothing hindered this, except perhaps his own laziness, unwillingness, or cooling in faith.
There were indeed very many people with academic degrees, and if we compare it now with what happened in the last twenty or thirty years, we will find that Russian theology, the Russian school of Church history, theology, and liturgy had reached their heights at that time. Even in the 1990s, when it again became possible to engage in church publishing, the lion’s share of the books that were published (and are still being published) were reprints from that era. These were textbooks, commentaries on the Holy Scriptures, and history books. Indeed, at that time, Church sciences reached such heights that they are simply unattainable for us today, and the names of the people who taught and wrote at that time are still known not only in our Church, but also abroad.
In all the Local Churches, people who study theology and Church history strive to obtain these books and rely on them in their writings. And there were a huge number of people who graduated from theological academies—there were actually even more of these academies than now; they received academic degrees, and a host of future clergy came from abroad to study.
The Russian Church formed abroad a whole galaxy of archpastors and church pastors who studied in Russia. For example, it was the case in the Balkans and other countries, with most bishops graduating from Russian theological schools. There were many people who were theologically educated, and plenty of high-level spiritual literature was published, with various magazines, memoirs, and so on.
But at some point, the situation changed drastically, and the serene life ended abruptly for church men and academics, and the academic degrees, works, and position in society turned out to be insufficient for very many to remain faithful to the Church.
How many people received higher theological education and then became traitors to the Church! They openly renounced God or mocked holy orders, perverted all this, derided it as a circus, demanding such indulgences and freedoms for themselves that they became ridiculous as Church servants even for atheists who promised them some privileges if they behaved like that. And all these people had diplomas from one or another theological academy. Before the Revolution, they used to write wonderful articles, and many of them used to be ardent preachers—more ardent, eloquent and renowned than those who later proved to be faithful to the Church and did not betray it.
Hieromartyr Hilarion combined a brilliant education, profound knowledge, theology, and Church history with natural and spiritual courage, which prevented him from becoming a traitor. We live in such a time when, by our human nature, we begin to believe that it will always be as serene, quiet and good as it is now. And although we grumble at some difficulties, the Church still lives in freedom now and enjoys this freedom.
But this can change very suddenly and abruptly, and we see what is happening to the Church very close to us [in Ukraine]. Bishops are being arrested, tortured and beaten there, and canonical churches are being seized. Moreover, if we had visited these places a few years ago, we might have been amazed that in some ways it was nicer, better organized, and the people’s faith was stronger [than ours]. Nevertheless, militant atheists are currently taking away churches and holy objects, humiliating the people of God, beating bishops, and putting them into prison.
And the events that are taking place rather tell us that the peak of freedom for the Orthodox Church around the world has been passed and it is unlikely ever to get better. Perhaps for some time the Church will feel quite free and confident in some nations and countries, so we must pray to Hieromartyr Hilarion that the Lord, through his prayers, first of all grant us this courage—the courage to defend the freedom of the Church, to defend the canons, that the Lord grant us the wisdom to understand everything, not to be deceived by our spiritual or hierarchical titles and knowledge, and not to become traitors. This is very important. We remember the example of Judas and others who walked with Christ, witnessed His miracles, His power, and became traitors.
Hieromartyr Hilarion is a unique saint who combined industry, scholarship, and zeal for theology and service of the Church. He was a man whom no temptations of this world could turn away from this path, and he possessed tremendous courage and remained faithful to the Church to the end. Thanks to such people, about whom probably nothing was known for decades, the Church has preserved its purity; the Orthodox faith rests on such people, and we must try to become such people. And you and I, regardless of our background and rank, all turn with prayers and seek help from St. Hilarion, so that he will share with us his courage, steadfastness and unshakeable faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, without which there is no salvation. Amen.
