A Short Christian Moral Admonition from Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

Editor’s Note: On occasion, an Orthodox Christian will be reading the saints or patristic texts and find concise or pithy spiritual gems which are good to read regularly and have before us. Some post them in our rooms or houses; maybe we have done this or can do this. The Orthodox Ethos team would like to add the common advice that is frequently given from the Athonites: always follow the Wednesday and Friday fasts and always do your Jesus Prayers or prayer rule as it was given to you by your spiritual father—these are essential. Having these in mind and the admonitions which follow will only be helpful in attracting the grace of God and transforming one's heart into a worthy vessel to receive Christ.

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

Remember, O Christian, that God does exist, that He sees not only your actions, but also your very thoughts and intentions, and that you cannot hide yourself from Him in any place or with anything.

Remember that He sustains your life, health and powers, and that if you have any happiness in your life, He has given it all to you.

Therefore, give thanks to Him every hour for the mercy rendered you by Him. Love Him with your whole heart; honor Him, obey Him in all things, and call upon Him for help in each of your activities. When He helps you, all your works and labors will always be beneficial and successful.

Remember that the Heavenly Father sent our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ to earth. Believe in Him and obey His divine teaching, which is revealed to you in the Gospel and is here presented in brief, that you might fulfill the promise which you gave God at Baptism, inherit life eternal, and not call yourself Christian in vain.

Go to church on Sundays and feast days, and falling down before God in reverence, call to mind all the mercies you have received from Him. Thank Him for those mercies with your whole heart, and promise, as a token of your gratitude, to live as He commands you. This is a sacrifice pleasing to God.

Honor the spiritual pastors, the authorities, your father and mother, and all elderly and virtuous people, and obey their profitable instruction.

Strive not only to be virtuous yourself, but instruct also your spouse, children and domestic servants in every good and God-pleasing work. Avoid not only doing evil in their presence, but also evil speech, that they may not grow accustomed to evil. Thus will the blessing of God rest upon your home.

Remember always that you were born into the world that you might in every way do good to all as much as is possible.

Love not only those close to you and those who do you good, but also your very enemies, that in so doing you might pacify, correct, and make them good people.

Therefore, do not fight or quarrel with anyone, but even if someone should offend you, try as much as possible to endure it and to do good to him when the opportunity presents itself.

Be merciful to the flock which God has given you to serve.

Beware not only of impure acts, but also words, that you may be a man pure and undefiled not only in deed, but also in word.

Steal nothing from anyone, nor take anything, but be content with what you acquire by your own labors.

Be industrious and avoid idleness, for as love of work is pleasing to God, so idleness is just the opposite—as the source of every evil it is a sin which is highly offensive to Him.

Never lie, but always tell the truth, for every lie and deceit is the most harmful of all the vices and is the characteristic activity of the devil.

Do not get drunk, for God turns Himself away from the drunkard all the more, for the drunkard more readily does every evil deed than does the sober man.

When you keep these injunctions, the merciful God will not only have compassion on you in this life, but in the life to come He will glorify you with that glory with which He glorifies His saints, and all people will love you.

SOURCE:

Tikhon of Zadonsk, St., Orthodox Life, no.1, (Jordanville, NY: Holy Trinity Monastery, 1977), pp. 11-12.