Tikhon of Zadonsk

Who was Tikhon of Zadonsk?

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk was a Russian Orthodox bishop and spiritual writer who was glorified a saint of the Orthodox Church.

He was born in the village of Korotsko, in the Novgorod region, Russia. He was tonsured a monk at the age of thirty-four and later consecrated Bishop of Voronezh. He served as bishop for a little under seven years and retired to the monastery of Zadonsk because of poor health. He lived there until he died.

On May 14, 1846, during the construction of the new cathedral at Zadonsk, Saint Tikhon's relics were uncovered and reported to be incorrupt. His relics were kept in Zadonsk. It was reported that many miracles occurred near his relic, so he was made a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1861. His feast day is celebrated on August 13, Julian calendar. As a result, another feast day, the Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk was instituted to be celebrated annually on May 14.

The life and works of St. Tikhon inspired Dostoyevsky, and are reflected in several of the characters in The Brothers Karamazov.