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Patriarch Tikhon’s Homily at His Enthronement Delivered in the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, November 21, 1917 (excerpt)

“True, the Patriarchate is being restored in Rus’ during terrible times, amidst storms that tear mountains and crush rocks, amidst fire and death-dealing gunshots. … and at our fainthearted reproach: “O Lord, the sons of Russia have abandoned Thy commandments, destroyed Thine altars, shot at the churches and holy shrines of the Kremlin, and beaten Thy priests”—we can hear the still, small voice of God: “There are yet seven thousand men, who have not bowed their knees to Baal, nor betrayed the true God” (cf. 3 Kings: 19:10–12, 14, 18).

And the Lord as if says to me: Go and search out those for whose sake the Russian land yet stands and holds. But neither abandon the lost sheep condemned to destruction, to the slaughter—truly pitiful sheep. Shepherd them, and to this end take up this staff, the staff of good will (cf. Zach. 11:7). With it seek those who are lost, return those who were driven away, bind the broken, strengthen the sick; but destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them with judgment (cf. Ez. 34:16).” (Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin), from: “In Times of God’s Wrath…”: Epistles, Homilies, and Speeches).

Patriarch Tikhon’s words have a special quality that is prophetic and God-inspired. It was living and relevant not only for his contemporaries, but for the whole Church, throughout all ages.

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