Saint Hilarion the Great was born in 292 AD at Tabatha, a town near Gaza in Palestine. His family were pagans. He converted to Christianity and was baptized after studying in Alexandria. While he was in Egypt he became a disciple of St. Anthony the Great, an event which inspired him to devote himself entirely to the ascetic life. St. Hilarion departed from this world in 372 AD at age of 80.