This day in Russian history — Today we commemorate the memory of Blessed Ilarion of Optina and remember Protodeacon Michael Mitrotsky.translated

Blessed Ilarion (in the world Rodion Nikitich Ponomarev) was born on the night of Pascha, April 8, 1805, in the family of Nikita and Evfimia Ponomarevs. His childhood and youth were spent in his parents' home in the Novohoporsk district of Voronezh province.