HILARION, Saint, a hermit of Palestine, said to have been the first to introduce monasti cism into Palestine: b. Tabatha, 291; d. Cyprus, 371. He studied at Alexandria, and then be came a hermit under. Saint Anthony. Inspired by the example of that hermit, he returned to Palestine and began to live his solitary life in a little hut in the vicinity of Majuma, the port of Gaza. He spent his days weaving of rushes to keep himself alive, and practising the most vigorous asceticism. The wonders he accomplished inspired many others to emulation, and in this way the hermetical life became established in Palestine. In 356 he revisited Egypt, and with his disciple, Hesychius, lived at Sicily for a time. The story of his great piety and his power of healing so extended his popularity in the island that the crowds who flocked about him soon became unendurable, and he went further into Epidaurus in Dalmatia. He
spent his last days at Cyprus, but it is said that his remains were removed to the place of his first isolation by his faithful disciple. The chief source of information concerning Saint Hilarion is the biography by Jerome baled on a eulogistic letter, now disappeared, written by Epiphanus of Salamis. The facts are somewhat obscure and are difficult to establish. Saint Hilarion's day is celebrated on the 21st of October. Con sult Migne (Vol. III) for the original source; and also Israel, W., (Die Vita S. Hilaronis des Hieronymus als Quelle fiir die Anffinge des Monchthums kritisch untersucht) (in Zeitschrift iiir erissenschaftliche Theologie, Jena 1880) ; and Zocider, 0., in 'Nene jahrbficher fur deutsche Theologie) (Vol. III, 1894).