When it is said
St Tikhon gave it for any time someone hurts you, by what they say or by what they do.
His advice was not to be angry with the person but to forgive them from the heart. Then step away and pray these words for them.
If your heart does not want to forgive, his counsel is to make yourself pray them anyway, and later it will come easily.
Where it comes from
Author known
Who was St Tikhon of Zadonsk?
St Tikhon of Zadonsk lived from 1724 to 1783. He was the bishop of Voronezh in Russia, and then he retired to the monastery at Zadonsk and stayed there until he died. The Russian Orthodox Church made him a saint in 1861.
Where the words come from
St Tikhon wrote a short guide to living as a Christian, set out as numbered rules, and the prayer comes from the eighth. His reason for forgiving is Christ’s own saying, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).
Written for one woman
Tradition holds that St Tikhon wrote the guide for one woman in his spiritual care. A handwritten copy was printed in the journal Strannik in 1861. That copy also carries a note to her. Her father had asked him to write it for her, and he had done it as well as he could.
The editors’ note to the guide, Collected Works, volume 1 (Moscow, 2008)
The Scripture in it
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Russian
Господи, остави ему (или ей).