Hilary of Galeata

Saint Hilary of Galeata
Saint Hilary of Galeata
	Hilary’s tomb
Born	476; Tuscia
Died	15 May 558 (aged 81–82); Lugo[citation needed]
Venerated in	Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church;
Major shrine	Monastery of Sant'Ellero, Galeata
Feast	15 May
Patronage	Lugo; Galeata; invoked against backache

Saint Hilary of Galeata (Italian: Sant'Ilaro or Sant'Ellero; 476 – 15 May 558)

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. His feast day is 15 May.^[2]

Life

According to tradition, he was born in

Ronco River.^[1] At the age of twenty, he freed a local nobleman, Olibrius, from a demon. In gratitude, Olibrius had his entire family christened by Hilary, and donated to the saint lands and money.^[1]

In addition, two of Olibrius’ sons joined Hilary in the religious life.

Around 496, then, this became the nucleus of the monastery of

Saint Pachomius. Numerous miracles are attributed to Hilary. Hilary transformed a grape into a serpent in order to teach a lazy monk named Glicerio a lesson.^[1] Hilary also managed to impress Theodoric, who had originally been harassing the monks and who had been building a palace near Galeata, into donating land and goods.^[1]

Veneration

The author of Hilary’s Vita claims that he is a disciple and eyewitness to the events of the saint’s life. Scholars have declared it to be written contemporaneously with the life of Hilary.

Abercius, Vitus, etc.).^[1]

Hilary’s following was diffused across

abbey of Farfa.^[1]

In 1488 Sant'Ellero di Galeata became a Camaldolese monastery.^[3]

Hilary is the principal patron saint of Lugo, in the Diocese of Imola.^[4]