Tikhon of Moscow

Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, confessor and enlightener of North America.

Tikhon was born Vasily Belavin in 1865, the son of a village priest. As a young bishop he headed the Russian mission in North America, founding parishes and seminaries across the continent, before returning to serve as bishop in Yaroslavl and Vilnius.

In 1917 he was elected Patriarch of Moscow, the first in two centuries, and led the Church through the first years of Bolshevik persecution, enduring house arrest and constant pressure. He reposed in 1925 and was glorified as a confessor.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Tikhon of Moscow is commemorated on April 7. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 20 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on April 7

• 

  George of Mytilene

  Hierarch, Γεώργιος

  St. George the Confessor, Bishop of Mytilene.

  Name days: George, Georgios, Yiorgos

• Kalliopios the Martyr

  Martyr, Καλλιόπιος

  Holy Martyr Kalliopios of Perge, crucified for Christ at Pompeiopolis in Cilicia.

  Name days: Kalliopios, Calliopius

• Rufinus, Aquilina and the 200 Soldiers of Sinope

  Martyr, Ρουφίνος, Ακυλίνα και οι Διακόσιοι Μάρτυρες

  Holy Martyrs Rufinus the Deacon, Aquilina and two hundred soldiers who believed through them, at Sinope.

• Gerasimos the Byzantine

  Venerable, Γεράσιμος ο Βυζάντιος

  Venerable Gerasimos the Byzantine, Athonite ascetic and hymnographer.

• Daniel of Pereslavl

  Venerable, Δανιήλ ο Θαυματουργός

  Venerable Daniel, abbot of Pereslavl-Zalessky and founder of the Trinity Monastery there.