It is unknown when exactly he was born or when he died, although some of his texts date from the 12th century.
Ilias the Presbyter was an ekdikos, or a judge at the ecclesiastical court of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, and later became a clergyman.
He can possibly be identified with Ilias, Metropolitan of Crete in the early 12th century, who authored commentaries on St Gregory of Nazianzus and St John Climacus.
[2] Ilias the Presbyter may have known about the writings of St Symeon the New Theologian, as both writers mention themes such as tears and the divine light.
[2] His writings include A Gnomic Anthology, which was later compiled as part of the Philokalia.