Ilarion was born as Ivan Fomich Prikhodko (Russian: Ива́н Фо́мич Прихо́дько) in the village of Alenovka in the Unechsky District, Bryansk Oblast.
After the war, his mother blessed his new path; his father was deeply upset, but did not prevent Ivan from entering the monastery.
The monastery strictly operated according to the Athonite rule: all property was held in common, and no monk had personal possessions.
[2] Unfortunately, with the renewed religious persecution under Nikita Khrushchev, the Glinsk Hermitage was closed, and Fr.
He served for several years in parishes in Belgorod Oblast, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1961.
He attempted to study at Moscow Theological Academy, and then join the brotherhood of the Pskov-Caves Monastery, but failed both times due to government restrictions.
Ilarion stayed at the Academy for some years as a lecturer, and then attempted to join the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
[7] Archimandrite Ilarion is now considered a candidate for canonization by the Russian Orthodox Church.