Changes

Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Tikhon of Moscow''' (Russian: Святитель Тихон, Патриарх Московский и всея Руси) (1865–1925), [[Enlightener]] of North America, was Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1917–1925). "He  While in America, he established his cathedral in New York City, and presided over a vast [[Archdiocesearchdiocese]], encouraging and authorizing many publications in the English language. Among these, he encouraged the translation of the Eastern [[liturgy]] into English by [[Isabel Hapgood|Isabel Florence Hapgood]], and he wrote an extensive [[catechism]] based on the [[Nicene Creed]] and the [[Lord's Prayer|Our Father]]. For the [[Western Rite]], he established the corrected and authorized version of the eucharistic liturgy from the American Book of Common Prayer for Orthodox worship." [http://www.westernorthodox.com/connely] His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[April 7]] by [[New Calendar]] churches, on [[March 25]] by [[Old Calendar]] churches, and ; his [[glorification]] is celebrated on [[October 9September 26]], and he is also commemorated on the feast of the [[New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia]], celebrated on the Sunday nearest to [[January 25]], which was the date of the martyrdom of Metropolitan [[Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Kiev and Gallich|Vladimir of Kiev]], the first Bishop of the new martyrs.

St. Tikhon (''né'' Vasily Ivanovich Belavin; ''Russian:'' '''Василий Иванович Белавин''') was born on [[January 19]], 1865. His father was Ioann Belavin, a rural [[priest]] of the Toropetz district of the Pskov diocese. "From his early years he displayed a particular religious disposition, love for the Church as well as rare meekness and humility. ... From 1878 to 1883, Vasily studied at the [[Pskov ]] Theological Seminary. ... His fellow students liked and respected him for his piety, brilliant progress in studies, and constant readiness to help comrades, who often turned to him for explanations of lessons, especially for help in drawing up and correcting numerous compositions. Vasily was called 'bishop' and 'patriarch' by his classmates." [http://www.oca.org/HSbiotikhon.asp?SID=7]

"Following graduation from the Pskov Seminary and St Petersburg Theological [[Academy]], he becomes an instructor first at Pskov Seminary (1888-91), then Kholm Seminary (1891-97), where he quickly became [[Rector]]. Just prior to his transfer to Kholm he was tonsured a monk with the name Tikhon and ordained." [http://ocaphoto.oca.org/MiscEventViewer.asp?EID=888&IID=14365]

After returning to Russia in 1907, he continued to win the affection of thousands with his humble piety and loving affection. During World War I, he charitably aided displaced citizens, who flocked to him. He was also honored in August of on [[November 5]], 1917 by being elected [[Patriarch]] of the Russian [[Orthodox Church]]. St. Tikhon had to overcome much disunity within the Church.

From 1922 to 1923, Patriarch Tikhon was imprisoned in [[Donskoy Monastery (Moscow)|Donskoy Monastery]] after he openly opposed the government's decree of being able to confiscate Church property. Thousands of Russian believers were shot. Upon being released, he assured the regime of his loyalty in an apparent attempt to relieve the harsh pressures on the Church. Despite his declaration of loyalty, he continued to enjoy the trust of the Orthodox community in Russia.

As persecution continued, he began to feel overwhelmed, and his strength and health declined. On Sunday [[April 5]], 1925 he served his last Liturgy. He died giving the Sign of the Cross, saying, "Glory to Thee, O [[Lord]], glory to Thee." He only crossed himself two times, dying before he could complete the third. After his death, he was considered a [[martyr]] for the faith.

title=[[Orthodox_Church_in_America|Bishop of the Aleutian Islands and Alaska]]|

before=Adrian?|title=Archbishop of Yaroslavl|years=1907-1914|after=?}}{{succession|before=?|title=Archbishop of Vilnius|years=1914-1917|after=?}}{{succession|before=Macarius II|title=[[List of primates of Russia|Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia]]|

after=[[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow|Serguis Sergius I (Stragorodsky)]]}}