Hierarch Tikhon of Zadonsk

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (born Timofei Savelyevich Sokolov) was born in 1724 in the village of Korotsko, Valday district, Novgorod province, into the poor family of a church reader. Left fatherless early, he grew up in extreme poverty and narrowly escaped being sent into state coachman service, but instead entered the Novgorod Theological Seminary, where he became an instructor after graduating in 1754. In 1758 he took monastic vows as Tikhon, and in 1761 was consecrated Bishop of Keksholm and Ladoga, vicar of the Novgorod diocese. From 1763 to 1767 he governed the Diocese of Voronezh, combating remnants of paganism, promoting clergy education, and building new churches. Ill health forced his retirement in 1767, first to Tolshevsky Monastery and then to the Zadonsk Theotokos Monastery, where he spent his last sixteen years in prayer, fasting, and writing, producing classics of Russian spiritual literature such as "Spiritual Treasure Gathered from the World." He reposed on August 13/26, 1783. His incorrupt relics were uncovered in 1861, when he was glorified as a saint. He is venerated as one of the greatest Russian spiritual writers and teachers of piety.