In addition to these grace-filled gifts, St. Tikhon also possessed the gift of clairvoyance, which, although it was not revealed in him in such abundance, in such openness and vastness, as is the case with clairvoyants and soothsayers, who attract crowds of people to themselves for a word of blessing or prohibition – nevertheless, it dwelt in it constantly and from time to time revealed itself in it on various occasions. In this way he learned the qualities and dispositions of those who came to him, although sometimes the Lord did not reveal to him the heartfelt thoughts of some of them, such as the captain who deceived him, of whom we have already spoken. Sometimes he knew the spiritual needs of his friends and acquaintances in advance and came to them at the very time when they needed his spiritual help and guidance. Sometimes he saw the distant as near. Thus, in the autumn of 1777 or 1778, the saint, interrupting his soul-saving meditations, to which he indulged himself as he walked along the back porch of his cell, suddenly came to his cell-attendant and ordered him to write down that it was in this year and on this date that there was a great flood in St. Petersburg, which caused great destruction to many houses and people. [97]

Sometimes St. Tikhon saw the future. Thus, once, when he was in Yelets with the Rostovtsevs, and seeing a boy, the grandson of old Rostovtsev, running around the room, he called him to him and, patting him on the head and blessing him, said to him: "Get ready, Sasha, to the heavenly Jerusalem, get ready, my dear, to the heavenly fatherland." Three days later, the hitherto healthy boy died. Sometimes he saw into the thoughts of others. This is shown by the following case. Once he invited Nikandr Alekseevich, who was already in the rassophore, to dine with him. During the meal, the thought occurred to Nikandr: why did the Lord love the saint so much, and enriched him with intellect, faith, piety, and even outwardly adorned him with a handsome face and a full, beautiful beard, and deprived him of this beauty and hair on his beard (he had only two clumps of hair on his beard)? "Servant of God," Tikhon suddenly said to him, "why do you think so? Do you want me to name to you the beardless saints of God?" Nikandr was amazed at such clairvoyance of the saint, and rising from the table, he fell down at his feet, asking forgiveness for his sorrowful thoughts. Having received forgiveness, Nikandr turned to the saint: "How did you, holy master, foresee my thoughts?" – "It is necessary to perfect the inner eyes," the saint answered, – then the external ones will also be opened. For example, throw a handful of wheat into a glass of water, and look – the grains are visible. In the same way, our thoughts are visible to the seer." [98]

As can be seen in general from the entire life of St. Tikhon, he did not even think about acquiring the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, but was zealous for the highest gift, about which Apostle Tikhon. Paul, namely, the gift of love (1 Corinthians 12:31).

From constant exercise in contemplation of God, in the word of God and prayer, the Zadonsk ascetic became more and more inflamed with the fire of divine love, and the deeper he immersed himself in meditation on the love of God, manifested and constantly manifested to the human race, the more ardent his love for God became. "The works of love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and even more so the suffering of Christ, in which His incomprehensible love for us is revealed," writes St. Tikhon, "convince us to love Him in return. He loved us, He loved the unworthy, and we also will love Him, Who is worthy of all love. He is our Creator, He is our Provider, He is our Redeemer, He is our Lover, He is our Father.. Let us love Him as our highest goodness and blessedness, and out of love let us show Him obedience, let us keep His holy commandments, and let us abstain from every sin which He hates..."

So lofty, ardent and perfect was this love of the saint for God, that he desired nothing, sought nothing either on earth or in heaven, except God alone. Not for the sake of blessedness, not for the sake of the blessings promised in heaven to all who love God, did he strive for God, but solely for the sake of communion with Him, for the sake of the mere sight of the sweetest Jesus. "What are we in heaven? and what did God desire from Thee on earth? (Psalm 82:25) – the saint cries out in the words of the Psalmist. Let the earthly ones who philosophize be comforted. Let some be content with gold and silver, some with honor and glory, some with the wisdom of this world, some with luxuries and sweets, others with other treasures: let it be for them the consolation that they desire, that which they set for themselves as treasure. Nothing amuses me. My heart turns away from all this, and not only as it is earthly, but also in heaven I seek and desire nothing but Thee, O my God and my Creator! Thou art all to me, in Thee alone I find all that I do not find in all Thy creatures. Then I will be satisfied when I see You. Then I will cease to desire when I find You. Then I will be comforted when I come to Thee, then I will be satisfied when I appear to Thy face. About! When I come and appear before the face of God!" This time, desired for the saint of God, was approaching and was already near.

Christians are members of Christ, who are perfect in every action of the Lord's commandments or the gift of the Holy Spirit, according to the dignity of the Head, which is Christ.

St. Basil the Great

Chapter 9

The last days of the life of St. Tikhon

Weakening of his health. –Vision. – Perfect solitude. - Communication with acquaintances through letters. –Will. "Another vision. – Preparation for death. – His death and burial. – A funeral oration above him. – His spiritual testament.