Tikhon of Zadonsk

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
Late 18th-century portrait
Bishop of Voronezh, Wonderworker of All Russia
Born	1724 Korotsko
Died	1783 Zadonsk
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	1861 by Holy Governing Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church
Feast	August 13 (Repose) May 14 (Uncovering of Relics)
Attributes	Vested as a bishop, often holding a Gospel Book or scroll, with his right hand raised in blessing

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk (secular name Timofey Savelyevich Sokolov, Russian: Тимофей Савельевич Соколов; 1724–1783) was a Russian Orthodox bishop and spiritual writer who was glorified (canonized) as saint of the Orthodox Church.

He was born in the village of Korotsko, in the Novgorod region, Russia. He was tonsured a monk at the age of thirty-four and later consecrated Bishop of Voronezh. He served as bishop for a little under seven years and retired to the monastery of Zadonsk because of poor health. He lived there until he died.

On May 14, 1846, during the construction of the new cathedral at Zadonsk, Saint Tikhon's relics were uncovered and reported to be incorrupt. His relics were kept in Zadonsk. It was reported that many miracles occurred near his relic, so he was made a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1861. His feast day is celebrated on August 13, Julian calendar (August 26, Gregorian Calendar). As a result, another feast day, the Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk was instituted to be celebrated annually on May 14.

The life and works of St. Tikhon inspired Dostoyevsky and are reflected in the character of Bishop Tikhon in Demons and the characters of Alyosha Karamazov and the Elder Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov.