From his youth, Igor felt drawn to the Church, and loved to read books and periodicals on religion and morals. From a young age, around 6 or 7, he knew that he wanted to become a priest. He went to Holy Trinity Church in Spirit River, part of ROCOR and composed of ethnic Ukrainians. Services were held monthly or bi-monthly, and often Archbishop Panteleimon would celebrate these services. Abp Panteleimon was revered by Igor, and he was told by Abp Panteleimon that "someday you will be a priest"[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enart_mhinterviewpriesthood.html].

In 1967, when Igor Kapral was 19 years old, he entered the [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Theological Seminary]] in Jordanville, NY, USA. While here, he was able to learn Russian, as well as sing on the kliros and serve in the altar, learning the order of divine services.

From his second year at seminary, Igor was tasked with typesetting Orthodox Life in English, under the editorship of Archimandrite [[Konstantin (Zaitsev)]]; Igor soon succeeded him as editor. After some time, Hieromonk Ignaty (who was in charge of the printery) asked him to do the Russian typesetting as well.

On graduating from the Seminary in 1972, Igor entered the [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]] as a [[novice]] (''poslushnik''). On [[December 2]], 1974 he was tonsured a [[Monastic Ranks|rassaphore]] [[monk]] with the name Hilarion, in honor of Venerable Schema-monk Hilarion of the Kiev Caves, the famous Metropolitan of Kiev. On [[December 4]], 1975, Archbishop Averky (Taushev, +1976), for whom the future Vladyka served as a cell-attendant, [[ordination|ordained]] him a hiero[[deacon]].

Fr Hilarion served as a priestmonk at the monastery, continuing his work at the printing press. He was often sent to parishes, replacing absent priests, often traveling to Cleveland and Pennsylvania.