St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Confessor of the Faith

​St. Tikhon of Moscow and Patriarch of All Russia, is perhaps on e of the most beloved figures in Orthodoxy during the 20th century. Born to a poor rural priest, St Tikhon grew in stature under the tutelage of his parents, being taught the faith from an early age. Vasily as he was then known was called “bishop” by his classmates at the Pskov Theological Seminary and eventually became a teacher before being tonsured a monk. After his time at Kholm ended around 1897 he was sent to the church in North America to bring the heart of Americans to the faith of the Orthodox Church. It was there that St. Tikhon established his cathedral in New York, and opened St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Monastery. He was considered by all the people as an honorary citizen of the United States and was beloved here by the people. He was finally recalled to the land of his birth in 1907, ten years before the revolution that would change the course of church history. St Tikhon, would serve the church in capacity as the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia when the church restored the patriarchy after 200 years of Synodal rule established by Peter I in his attempt to westernize Russia.  With the reestablishment of the Patriarchy, St Tikhon was set to bring unity to the church if only for a brief moment. By 1922 things boiled over with the government under the Soviets and he was imprisoned for his stance against the confiscation of church property. In 1925 he reposed in the Lord having celebrated his last earthly Divine Liturgy. 

It can be said that St Tikhon was the right man at the right time. His ability as a leader to unify the people was something which we have rarely seen since and may not see again in our lifetime. St Tikhon brought the church out from the Imperialist era, to the Communist era, and assured that it would remain intact as it had been for a thousand years. St. Tikhon was also known for his piety and meekness. He called for the Divine Liturgy to be celebrated in English in the United States, the language of the people as the Orthodox Church had done since it’s beginning. He authorized the Hapgood Service Book to be used by churches to accomplish this task. He is also credited with the creation of the Liturgy that bears his name, one of the Divine Liturgies used by the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate.  St Tikhon brought the light of Christ not just to the shores of North America, but to the shores of the world. It can then be said that St Tikhon truly is the enlightener of North America, but in many aspects, the whole world. St. Tikhon was and is a beacon of hope for all who seek the Kingdom of God. Therefore let us humbly ask St. Tikhon for his prayers. 

Let us praise Tikhon, the patriarch of all Russia,
And enlightener of North America
An ardent follower of the Apostolic traditions,
And good pastor of the Church of Christ.
Who was elected by divine providence,
And laid down his life for his sheep.
Let us sing to him with faith and hope,
And ask for his hierarchical intercessions:
Keep the church in Russia in tranquility,
And the church in North America in peace.
Gather her scattered children into one flock,
Bring to repentance those who have renounced the True Faith,
Preserve our lands from civil strife,
And entreat God's peace for all people!