With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, on April 6, 2025, the bringing of the ark with the relics of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, began from the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow, which will cover 90 major cities of Russia and Belarus, and will end on October 9.
The offering will be accompanied by various solemn events, such as concerts, round tables, lectures, and scientific conferences dedicated to the feat of the New Martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church.
Patriarch Tikhon became the eleventh Patriarch and was elected at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1917-1918.
After three rounds of voting, the Council elected three bishops, including Metropolitan Tikhon of Moscow, as candidates for the Primatial Throne. The patriarch was to be chosen by lot, and he chose Metropolitan Tikhon. The enthronement took place on November 21 in the Patriarchal Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
Remaining on the Patriarchal throne until his death on April 7, 1925, His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon was repeatedly subjected to criminal prosecution, arrests and assassination attempts.
On the initiative of St. Tikhon, it was established to celebrate the feast to All the saints who shone forth in the lands of Russia, and the host of new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church is led by St. Tikhon himself.
Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), later Patriarch, said of Patriarch Tikhon: "He alone fearlessly followed the direct path of service to Christ and His Church. He alone has borne the brunt of the Church in recent years."
On November 1, 1981, by a decision of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Patriarch Tikhon was canonized as a confessor, with the inclusion of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in the Council.
On October 9, 1989, the year of the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the Patriarchate in Russia, St. Tikhon was glorified by the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In November 1991, a fire broke out in the Small Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery; during restoration work, the relics of St. Tikhon, who was buried here in 1925, were discovered. On February 22, 1992, the holy relics of Patriarch Tikhon were found. They currently rest in the Great Cathedral of the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow.
The saint is commemorated on September 26 / October 9 (day of glorification); October 5/18 (Cathedral of the Moscow Saints); November 5/18 (election to the Patriarchal Throne); January 25 / February 7 (Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia), if it is a Sunday, if not, then on the next Sunday to February 7; February 9/22 (the day of the finding of the holy relics); March 25 / April 7 (the day of the repose).
Bringing the relics of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon will give many residents of Russia and Belarus the opportunity to strengthen their prayers to him.
Russians Russian Orthodox Church's Commission for the Development of Pilgrimage and the Sacrifice of Shrines, with the assistance of the leadership of the Russian regions and the organizational support of the World Russian People's Council and the Tsargrad Charitable Foundation, is organizing the offering of the ark with the relics of St. Tikhon with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.