Hilarion (Ilarion), Metropolitan of Kyiv (Kiev) from 1051 to 1054 or 1055, is the author of the earliest extant works of original literature in the so-called “Old East Slavic,” or “Rusian” language. These terms designate a group of linguistic varieties in the realm of
Kievan Rus. Kievan Rus of the time of Hilarion should be understood as a domain of Rurikid princes, with the prince of Kiev being the senior prince, and a single Orthodox Church jurisdiction under the rule of the Metropolitan of Kyiv. Literary historians have elevated Hilarion’s most famous work, the Sermon on Law and Grace, to the status of a founding text of literature in East Slavic languages.
Medieval chronicles provide some information about Hilarion’s career. In an entry dated in the year 1051, the Primary
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Citation: Chekin, Leonid S.. "Hilarion of Kyiv". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 June 2024 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=15140, accessed 02 December 2024.]