When the ungodly Bolshevik regime took control of the country, Church property was confiscated and the Russian Orthodox Church had to endure much repression. St. Tikhon openly condemned the killings of
Czar's family in 1918 and protested against violent attacks by the Bolsheviks on the
Church. At this time, he called Russian Orthodox Christians to unite and strengthen their practices. To avoid further persecution, he issued a message that clergy were not to make any political statements.
From 1922 to 1923, Patriarch Tikhon was imprisoned in
Donskoy Monastery after he openly opposed the government's decree of being able to confiscate Church property. Thousands of Russian believers were shot. Upon being released, he assured the regime of his loyalty in an apparent attempt to relieve the harsh pressures on the Church. Despite his declaration of loyalty, he continued to enjoy the trust of the Orthodox community in Russia.
As persecution continued, he began to feel overwhelmed, and his strength and health declined. On Sunday
April 5, 1925 he served his last Liturgy. He died giving the Sign of the Cross, saying, "Glory to Thee, O
Lord, glory to Thee." He only crossed himself two times, dying before he could complete the third. After his death, he was considered a
martyr for the faith.
In 1989, Patriarch Tikhon was
glorified by the
Church of Russia. This process is generally considered an example of the thaw in
Church-Soviet relations in the Glasnost era.