St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

Timothy Sokolovsky was a poor sexton’s son who became bishop of Voronezh. After seven years, worn out, he retired to the monastery of Zadonsk, where he wrote On True Christianity and countless letters, and gave all he had to the poor. Dostoevsky drew on him for the elder Zosima. He was famous for his meekness, once bowing to a man who struck him and asking his forgiveness.

• Feast: August 13 (New Calendar)
• Lived: 1724–1783
• Place: Zadonsk