Hierarch5th century

Saint Tikhon Bishop of Amathus in Cyprus

died 425

Also known as Tychon of Amathus

A bishop of Amathus in Cyprus, raised in piety from childhood, who turned many from idols to Christ and was glorified with the gift of wonders.

June 16New Calendar

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Tikhon the Wonderworker, Bishop of Amathus in Cyprus

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Life

Saint Tikhon (Tychon) was a fifth-century bishop of Amathus, a city on the southern coast of the island of Cyprus, and is commemorated on June 16. According to the synaxarion, he was born at Amathus and raised by his parents in Christian piety and the reading of the sacred texts, and the gift of wonderworking is said to have appeared in him from an early age. He is venerated as one of the wonderworkers of Cyprus and reposed in the year 425.

Tikhon's life is preserved chiefly through the hagiographical tradition associated with his see; according to a widely repeated account, his vita was written by Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, who was himself a native of Amathus. The modern village of Agios Tychonas, near the ruins of ancient Amathus, preserves his name. Three distinct saints named Tikhon are commemorated on the same day, and this Tikhon of Amathus is the bishop and wonderworker among them.

As bishop, Tikhon labored to root out the remnants of paganism that survived on Cyprus, and the tradition relates that he destroyed a pagan temple and spread the Christian Faith among the people. He was raised to the episcopate by the universal agreement of his flock after the death of his predecessor, with Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, presiding at his consecration.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide

KontakionTone 3

(Podoben: “Today the Virgin...”) Through your ascetic labors, you shone forth, O beloved of God,
and received from on high the power of the Comforter
to destroy the idols of delusion,
and to save people,
to cast out demons and to heal the sick.
Therefore, venerable Tikhon,
we honor you as a friend of God.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 3

God called you to the sacred priesthood
as a worthy servant of the Holy Trinity.
You shone forth with the grace of godliness
strengthening the Church by many miracles.
Righteous Tikhon, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

4th c.Born at AmathusBorn in the city of Amathus on Cyprus and raised by his parents in Christian piety and sacred reading.
before his episcopateOrdained reader and deaconAppointed a reader of the church and ordained deacon by Bishop Mnemonios of Amathus.
5th c.Consecrated Bishop of AmathusChosen bishop by universal agreement after the death of Mnemonios, with Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus presiding.
425ReposeReposed at Amathus, venerated as a wonderworker of Cyprus.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Early Life and the Miracle of the Bread

By tradition, Tikhon's father owned a bakery in Amathus. When the youth was left alone to mind the shop, he would give bread freely to those in need; when his father reproached him for the loss, Tikhon answered that he was lending to God. The account relates that when the father went to check the granary, which had been empty, he found it filled to overflowing with wheat. The episode is given in the synaxarion as the first sign of the wonderworking gift that marked his life.

The Blessed Vineyard

A second sign concerns a vineyard. A gardener is said to have brought Tikhon the dried prunings of vines that had been cut away from the vineyard. The saint gathered them, planted them in his own garden, and prayed that the Lord would cause the branches to take root and bear fruit for the health of the people. According to the tradition the branches took root and bore grapes of a particular and very pleasant taste; the fruit of this vine was used, both during the saint's lifetime and after his death, for the making of wine for the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist.

Ordination and Episcopate

The synaxarion records that Tikhon was appointed a reader of the church and was afterward ordained deacon by Bishop Mnemonios of Amathus. After the death of Mnemonios he was chosen as the new bishop of Amathus by the universal agreement of the people, and Saint Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus (commemorated May 12), presided at the consecration. As bishop he gave himself to eradicating the surviving paganism of the island, and the tradition credits him with the destruction of a pagan temple and the spread of the Christian Faith.

Companions2 figuresShowHide

Bishop of Salamis in Cyprus, who presided at Tikhon's consecration as bishop.

Saint EpiphaniusBishop of Cyprus

A native of Amathus, traditionally named as the author of Tikhon's life.

Saint John the MercifulPatriarch of Alexandria

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints