St. Tikhon Enlightener of North America
The Icon
Feast Day - April 7th and October 9th
In the center of the icon, we see St. Tikhon clothed in Patriarchal vestments. The surrounding smaller icons highlight various events in his life. They are:
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Born on Jan. 19, 1865, Vasily Ivanovich Belavin was the son of a rural priest in Russia
A theological student, he was loved for his caring disposition & humility
At 21, he was tonsured to the monastic life and given he name of Tikhon
He was consecrated Bishop of Lublin in 1897
He came to NY in 1898 and accepted his new diocese of N. America
He learned of the zealous missionary work of his co-workers
He visited all the areas of his diocese to strengthen his people in the faith
He established a seminary in Minneapolis (1905)
He established the first Orthodox monastery in N.America and dedicated it to St. Tikhon of Zadonsk.
He presided over the first All-American Council in Mayfield, Pa. (1907)
He was called to return to his troubled homeland and elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1917)
He bravely admonished the Godless powers
He was placed under house arrest and accepted dishonor and humiliation
The holy churches were desecrated by the Godless
The funeral of St. Tikhon in 1925
The glorification of St. Tikhon at St. Tikhon's Monastery in 1989.
Relic box of St. Tikhon.
Troparion in tone 8
From your youth you have loved Christ, O blessed one.
You have been an example for all by word, life, love, spirit, faith, purity and humility.
Therefore, you now abide in the heavenly mansions,
Where you stand before the Throne of the all-holy Trinity.
Holy hierarch Tikhon, pray for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion in tone 8
Successor of the Apostles, adornment of the hierarchy, teacher
of the Orthodox Church.
Pray to the Master of all that peace be granted to all the world,
And great mercy to our souls!
For information concerning the life of St. Tikhon Enlightener of North America please click here