"St. Tikhon had a great gift of words, artistic and simple at once. He always writes with some amazing transparency. This transparency is the most surprising. In the image of St. Tikhon one is struck by his lightness and clarity, his freedom — and not only from the world, but also in the world. This is the easy feeling of a wanderer and a settler, who is not attracted by anything and is not kept in this world by anything — "and everyone who dwells on earth is a traveler..." <… > In his monastic departure, Tikhon remained a pastor and teacher. He remained in the world with his sensitivity and compassion. He wrote for this world, testified about the Savior to a perishing world, and not seeking salvation. It was an apostolic response to the madness of the free-thinking age. This was the first encounter with the new Russian atheism <... >. Dostoevsky subtly felt this when he wanted to oppose Tikhon to Russian nihilism and in this opposition to reveal the mystical problems of faith and atheism... <… > There is a special persistence and a certain impressionism in Tikhon when he speaks of Humiliation and Passion... <… > And the renewal of Byzantine contemplations is felt all the more powerfully in his experience. These luminous visions, the illuminations of the light of Tabor, the pathos of the Transfiguration, the premonition of Sunday spring... <… > Tikhon Zadonsky's intense composure of spirit was combined with a kind of exceptional power of merciful attention and love. About love for one's neighbor, about social truth and mercy, he speaks no softer and no weaker than Chrysostom... <… > St. Tikhon was a great writer. In his books, this lightness and plasticity of images captivates me. In particular, the book "On True Christianity" was of historical importance. This is not a dogmatic system, but rather mystical ethics, or asceticism. But this was the first experience of living theology, and of experimental theology, in contrast to and in contrast to school erudition, without genuine experience..."

Florovsky "Ways of Russian Theology"

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St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. Brief Moralizing Words

Homily 1: On Testing Yourself

 "Examine yourselves, whether you are in faith; examine yourselves."

(2 Corinthians 13:5)

 Thank God!

Thank God for this and for everything! Truly glorious and magnificent are the Mysteries of Christianity, listeners! It is great and glorious to be a Christian! But let us look around and examine ourselves whether we are true Christians, according to the apostolic admonition: "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). For without faith there can be no Christian. We show the signs of Christianity, as mentioned above, but do we have true Christianity within us? After all, everything external without the internal is nothing, and external signs without the truth itself are lies and hypocrisy. We all boast in faith, but do we do works in accordance with faith, as the Apostle says to everyone: "Show me your faith by your works" (James 2:18)? We are called Christians from Christ, but have we crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts, as befits Christians who believe in the crucified Christ, which the Apostle also teaches: "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts" (Galatians 5:24). Do we feel within ourselves that spiritual joyful anointing of which the Holy Apostle John wrote (1 John 2:27)

And having considered all this, let us correct ourselves, so that we may be Christians not only in name, but also in truth. We have become Christians by the grace of God, and let us try to have true Christianity within us. We were baptized into the one Triune God and received the gift of holiness and justification, and let us try to preserve this heavenly treasure to the end. We believe in the crucified Jesus Christ, let us try to follow Him by faith and, taking up each of us our own cross, follow Him. Let us confess and call upon the heavenly God, and let us also try to please Him with heavenly morals. Let us listen to God's Word, and let us try to live as it teaches us. Looking forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come, let us try to live in this world worthy of the resurrection of the dead and eternal life, and, turning away from the vanity of this world, strive only for eternal blessings. Let us approach the holy and heavenly table of the Mysteries of Christ, let us strive that this Bread, heavenly and life-giving, may bring to us life, sanctification, enlightenment, renewal, joy and spiritual consolation. Thus let us show our faith from our works. So not only in name, but in reality, let us be Christians. "God, be merciful to us and bless us, show us Thy bright face and have mercy on us. That we may know on earth Thy way, Thy salvation, which is manifested before the face of all nations" (Psalm 66:2-3). Amen.