THE HOLY PATRIARCH TIKH0N (And The Cost of Discipleship)

On the March 25th/April 7th the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the 25th anniversary of the mysterious and sorrowful departure from this life of the Holy Patriarch Tikhon. He was elected to the patriarchal throne, which had remained vacant about 200 years, amidst the tumult and horrors of the October Revolution. These were already symbolic of the conditions under which he had to exercise his difficult duties and responsibilities as head of the Russian Orthodox Church. They were also a forecast of the fate of our Church under the new rulers, implacable and fanatical enemies of every religion in general and of Orthodoxy in particular, because of the important part the Orthodox Church had been playing for centuries in the Russian Empire.

The newly elected Patriarch Tikhon had to face the first fierce attacks on the Russian Orthodox Church and to parry them. He did this in full accordance with the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ and the practice of the Church. He immediately exhorted the Orthodox of the country to stand firm in their faith, and to follow him along the path of martyrdom, if legal means of defending the Church should fail. During the first year of his reign, be anathematized the bolsheviks. He also bad the superhuman courage to enumerate in his first epistle all the crimes and villanies of the red rulers. This he did at the time when torrents of blood were being shed by the Tcheka throughout the country.

Being inspired is a lot like falling in love. I wonder if it's the same for married people? They seem to have forgotten what's it's like to be inspired by their bride or their husband. They seem spent, or worse, ironic. Lord save us single people from the abusing pall of the ironic couple.

I found this piece on the Noble Patriarch because of the mention he gets in this piece which sent the G/P shivers down my red, white and blue, spine

Less prattle and more essay:

Of course, his uprightness, courage and firmness were duly appreciated by the enemies of the Church ruling over Russia and for a certain period be was kept in jail awaiting a trial, while the sentence of a death penalty was already announced by the soviet press. But at that time, the soviet government was not strong enough to dictate its orders to other countries, as it does now, so the interference of the USA, where the Holy Patriarch had spent five years as Archbishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the famous memorandum of Curson, put an end to the imprisonment of the Patriarch.
After many months spent in prison, he was released, and immediately resumed his duties. But release from prison did not end his martyrdom, and did not mean that be was not subjected to close surveillance, most painful restrictions, and continual interrogatories by Tcheka. His relations not only with the outer world, but with his bishops, were complicated to such a degree that often he could not obtain full and true information about some event, although his decisions or instructions on the subject were greatly required. This sometimes led to misunderstand ings which were gladly seized upon by his enemies. The constant pressure of the Tcheka on his mind was a severe added burden to his troubles. One can only wonder at his endurance.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.