Canon to Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Song 1
Irmos: As Israel walked across the dry land, with footsteps across the abyss, seeing the persecutor Pharaoh drowned, we sing a victorious song to God, crying out.
As the red fruit of God’s saving sowing appeared in the Church, to the saint of Christ, the pious parents, Priest John and Anna, becoming a wonderful branch.
The wondrous prophecy in a dream to your father about your future greatness, even to your youth, after many years has passed, it has come true, before you truly appeared as the Great Master of the Russian Church, blessed one.
Revealing an image of meekness, humility and love for the Lord, you were a good helper as your young friend, blessed one: for this reason, even to this youth, I have spoken to you, the bishop of God has prophesied you.
Theotokos: Save us from all troubles, All-merciful Lady Theotokos, and through Your prayers to Your Son and our God, heal our suffering souls from sinful diseases.
Song 3
Irmos: There is nothing holy like You, O Lord my God, who has lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of Your confession.
In spiritual heirlooms, you learned Orthodox theology and the word of God to speak in other languages diligently, blessed one, and this brought good fruit in your church service.
When the Master Lord opened the Father’s arms and, like a beloved son, in Tikhon’s monasticism, received you, then he was pleased to appoint you as a ruler in the spiritual cities of Pskov and Kazan, and teach the Orthodox youths divine wisdom and Christian piety, blessed one.
The Lord Christ has called upon the Kholm flock to guide the flock well, and also make a beginning with your holy feat, so that, strengthened in them, a fair bishop of the All-Russian Church will appear, blessed one.
Theotokos: Our souls will be overcome by many sins. But You, Most Pure Mother of God, through Your prayers to those who were born of You, deliver from this sinful captivity and guide us on the path of salvation.
Sedalen, voice 1
Imitating the good shepherd of the Gospel, you boldly entered the sheepfold, O saint, and calling out your sheep by name, you kept safe within the church fence.
Song 4
Irmos: Christ is my strength, God and Lord, the honest Church sings divinely, crying out from a pure meaning, adoring the Lord.
Following the guidance of God, obeying the command of the Mother Church, you reached the distant American lands and there a new flock - Aleut, Creole, Kenai people - in the fence of the Church of Christ, like a good shepherd, you watched over, Blessed Tikhona.
Rejoice and be merry, faithful children of the Russian Church, which exists in Pennsylvania, California, Florida and other American lands; Saint Tikhon now stands before the Throne of God and prays for the salvation of our souls.
The interlocutor of Kronstadt has been honored by you, O blessed one, who is still the bishop of the city of Yaroslavl, and who has ordained the all-Russian shepherd. In the same way, now standing before the Throne of God with him, pray for our souls to be saved.
Theotokos: It is worthy to glorify Thee, the Lady, who ever saves the Russian land. Behold, St. Tikhon in the Yaroslavl Church of the Dormition of Thy Sovereign Nicholas, as the true Anointed One of God, brought prayers of thanksgiving along with him for the intercession of our fatherland to Thee and Thy Son.
Song 5
Irmos: With God's light, O Blessed One, illumine the souls of You in the morning with love, I pray, lead You to the Word of God, the true God, calling out from the darkness of sin.
When, because of our sins, the Lord allowed the invasion of foreigners, and the Russian land was stained with blood, you, the saint, preached repentance and promoted the healing of the soul and body of the afflicted, helping to stand stronger for the Orthodox Faith, the blessed Tsar and the Holy Fatherland.
Standing before the enemy militia at the walls of the city of Vilna, you reverently carried the celibate relics of the holy martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius from the monastery of the Holy Spirit, O saint, and in the city of Moscow you preserved unharmed from the desecration of foreigners.
By the favor of God and the election of the people of God, the Moscow archpastor was installed, holy, and a worthy successor to the Moscow saints appeared.
Theotokos: The Council of Angels and the human race rejoice in You, O Blessed Mary, Mother of the Inexperienced, for Thou didst contain the inconceivable in her womb and gave birth to the Savior of the world.
Song 6
Irmos: The sea of life, raised in vain by misfortunes and storms, has flowed to Your quiet refuge, crying to You: lift up my belly from aphids, O Most Merciful One.
The desert-dwelling elder prayed fervently before the image of the Lady, and with trepidation drew lots from the reliquary, on which your name, as God’s chosen High Hierarch, was inscribed; For this reason, we now, as then the hierarchy of the Council, silently “axios” to you, our archpastor, crying out, make us also like verbal sheep worthy of being your pasture.
Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom of God! It was the will of the Holy Spirit to appoint you, blessed one, Patriarch of the Russian Church from the hierarchy, so that in the days of the test of faith you testify to your strong standing in it and keep your flock intact from the slander of the enemy.
Oh, the ineffable love and mercy of God! Saint Tikhon is placed at the head of the Russian Church, and many people find a good shepherd and are kept within the church fence.
Theotokos: The people of Russia rejoice and rejoice, Ever-Virgin, Thy Entry into the Temple is celebrated and the elevation of St. Tikhon to the Patriarch of Russia on this same day is gratefully remembered, they earnestly cry out to Thy: O, Sovereign Lady, through the prayers of St. Tikhon, save the Church and the Russian land from all the slander of the enemy and bring all the faithful into the palaces of heaven.
Kontakion, tone 2
Decorated with calmness of disposition, showing meekness and mercy to the repentant, you remained firm and adamant in your confession of the Orthodox faith and love for the Lord, Saint Tikhon of Christ. Pray for us, that we may not be separated from the love of God, which is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Song 7
Irmos: The angel made the venerable furnace a venerable youth, and the Chaldeans were scorched by the command of God, admonishing the tormentor to cry out: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
You foresaw the weeping, groaning and great grief that was coming to the Russian Church. You courageously cried out to the High Hierarch, strengthened by the love of Christ: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers.
In this fierce time, the high priest’s staff received with fear and trembling, O blessed one, you steered the Russian Church like a ship not made by hands, and you taught the faithful to cry out: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers.
You imitated the ancient prophet Elijah, who sought those who would not bend the knee to Baal, the High Hierarch, so that you would seek those who did not bow their necks to seize the godless, even raise up those who had fallen from the depths of sin, and teach the faithful in sorrowful circumstances to cry out to the Lord: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.
Theotokos: Your reliable helper, O Mother of God, many times in sorrowful circumstances you have shown intercession for the people of Russia before your Son.
Song 8
Irmos: From the flames of the saints you poured out dew and burned the righteous sacrifice with water: you did everything, O Christ, only as you wished. We extol You forever.
In the image of your zealous imitation of the service of the High Hierarchs of Moscow, you were worthily clothed in the sacred clothes of those, blessed one, and pray with them for us, so that we too may be worthy to extol the Lord to all ages.
Thou didst boldly accept the rod of High Hierarch Peter, O blessed one, and raise up the image of the primate’s power in the Russian Church. We, knowing God’s mercy to us, exalt the Lord to all ages.
Because our sin has multiplied, the Lord allows fratricide and internecine warfare to exist in the Russian lands. But you, O saint, called upon people who were hostile to repentance and reconciliation, teaching them to exalt Christ forever.
Theotokos: In Thy house, Most Pure Virgin, the Church of Thy Dormition, the installation of Blessed Tikhon as High Hierarch of Russia was accomplished. Likewise, lift up the prayers of him, as Thy faithful chosen servant, to God and save our souls.
Song 9
Irmos: It is impossible for man to see God; the Angels do not dare to look at the Worthless One; By You, O All-Pure One, the Word incarnate as man, Who magnifies Him, with the Heavenly Ones we please You.
The Russian land was filled with weeping and sobbing, the blood of the holy martyr and confessor of Christ flowed through it, the churches of God were desecrated and trampled under foot. Woe to me, my Earth! - You cried out to the saint. Some healing is necessary for you, so that you can get rid of them all.
Alas for me, people of Russia! - You cried, O blessed one. We have forgotten the Lord, we have become fussy in our affairs, and we have no care for our souls. To this, I tell you, we will not find God’s favor unless we try to cleanse our souls with tears of repentance before the Lord.
I languish in prison, O saint, because of the Church you were greatly pained, because the hierarchy and the priests did not step on the path of Judas the traitor and unrighteously seized the power in the Church, their evil deeds, as if they had denounced the good renewal; and thus brought the Russian flock into confusion, and was to blame for the discord in the church.
Neither sorrow, nor oppression, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor even trouble, nor sword, will be able to separate the faithful children of Christ from His love, as you apostolically declared to the saint.
Theotokos: Let us shout praises to You, Most Pure One. With these words we will glorify Your greatness, for You gave birth to the Savior of our souls.
Svetilen
Let us today glorify the High Hierarch Tikhon of Russia, piously honoring his memory, for he, like a bright lamp, shone, and teaches people the zealous service of God by the image of his most luminous life.
