15th century. Troubled times. The papal legates made every effort to persuade the Orthodox believers who inhabited the Principality of Lithuania to accept Catholicism. Some of the boyars and most of the peasants do not want to betray their faith. Prince Belsky remained faithful to Orthodoxy. His faithful military leader Timothy also remained faithful to Orthodoxy. Andrei Belsky with his household and a small detachment of soldiers, with only a few servants, left the Principality of Lithuania and moved to Moscow. His warrior Timothy was so amazed by the strength of faith of the local residents, the number of churches, and the abundance of icons that he left worldly life. He gave away all his savings and became a novice in a monastery. When he was tonsured, he received the name Tikhon.
The monk tried to escape from the world as best he could. He traveled to remote monasteries, and then decided to lead the life of a hermit. But he did not remain alone for long. 2 more monks joined him. And when the Moscow prince granted Andrei Belsky (1498) Kostroma lands, he allocated a plot for the monastery, on the banks of the Lukha River.
Tikhon preached complete renunciation of the world, poverty and prayer. He refused to become a priest and did not accept the post of rector. Seriously ill, he harnessed himself to the yoke and plowed the land, because there were no horses in the monastery.
The elder knew about his death in advance, gave instructions to his disciples, said goodbye to the brethren and departed to the Lord on June 16, 1503.
When the saint died, there was nothing to bury him in. The Bishop of Suzdal sent clothes and a coffin.
In 1566, during work, the coffin was opened and they saw that Tikhon’s relics were missing
succumbed to decay. They were put in a shrine and kept under a bushel. From that moment miracles and healings began. The Life of Tikhon (1649) contains a detailed description of miracles; almost two-thirds of the book is devoted to them.
In 1570 Tikhon was canonized. The monastery, previously called Nikolsky, became Tikhon’s Hermitage.
It was closed after the revolution, the icons were chopped up, and the utensils were stolen. What happened to the relics is unknown.
The monastery came back to life in 1995.
Memorial Days
June 29
February 5
June 20
July 9
Charity FundndHoly Land
Investment in the Soul!
