11 May 1999 – priest ILARION ARGATU
(baptised Ioan), hieromonk and very appreciated father confessor passed
away in Bucharest (buried at Boroaia, county of Suceava). Studies at the
Theological Seminary of Dorohoi, continued at the Faculty of Theology
of Cernăuți; he attended, in parallel, the courses of the Military
School of Bacău, getting the sub-lieutenant degree. Ordained priest (1
December 1940); servant priest for the parishes of Oniveni (1940 – 1941)
and Ruși Ioneasa – Oniceni II (1941 – 1946); transferred to Boroaia
parish (1946 – 1948); followed by the Security forces, he lived hidden
for several years (1948 – 1964); he returned to Boroaia parish (1965 –
1972); tonsured into monasticism with the name Ilarion (1973), then
ordained archimandrite; father confessor at the Monasteries: Antim (1973
– 1977), Căldărușani (1977 – 1979), Cernica (1979 – 1999).
Works
published posthumously: What I think (2001); Rev. Ilarion Argatu speaks
to us. On fasting. On baptism (2003); Rev. Ilarion Argatu speaks to us.
On witness (2003); Rev. Ilarion Argatu speaks to us. On the Holy
Communion. On Preope (2003); 445 spiritual answers of Rev. Ilarion
Argatu to the questions of the faithful (2006).
