The Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable Hilarion, the Abbot of the Dalmatian Monastery, and Saint Attalus the Wonderworker.
Venerable Hilarion, born in 775 AD in Cappadocia, was raised by devout parents who instilled in him the Orthodox faith from a young age. As an adult, he embraced a monastic life, practicing asceticism in a monastery in Constantinople. He fasted, observed silence, and immersed himself in the study of Scriptures.
Later, he moved to the Dalmatian Monastery, where he served as a humble and dedicated monk. After ten years of tending to the monastery’s garden, his exemplary conduct led to his election as abbot by his fellow ascetics.
During the Iconoclasm controversy, Venerable Hilarion courageously resisted pressure to renounce his beliefs. Despite facing persecution, torture, imprisonment, and exile, he remained steadfast in his faith, trusting in the Holy Spirit for strength. Following the Triumph of Orthodoxy, he returned to the Dalmatian Monastery, where he peacefully passed away at the age of 70 in 845 AD.
Source: Church of Cyprus