Bishop
He was born on July 2, 1887, on the feast of the Placement of the Honorable Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae. His parents, Gregory and Matrona, lived in Vladimir. His father was a privy councilor, and his mother came from peasant origins. From childhood, he showed love for the Church and a desire for monastic service.
His childhood and youth were spent in ancient Vladimir. After the early death of his father, his mother raised him in the spirit of piety. He frequently visited the parish church and dreamed of becoming an archbishop. He easily mastered handicrafts, which proved useful later.
He successfully graduated from the Vladimir Spiritual Seminary and the Moscow Spiritual Academy. He delved into the issues of liturgics and hagiology, writing liturgical hymns and works on church hymnography.
His first spiritual mentor was Archbishop Nikolai of Vladimir. In 1917, he was elected a member of the Local Council of the Russian Church, where he worked in the department for liturgical matters. He began work on the service for All Saints who shone forth in the land of Russia.
After the revolution, he faced persecution against the Church. In 1919, amidst the anti-religious campaign, the bishop organized duty at the Assumption Cathedral to protect the holy relics from desecration. Soon he was appointed the abbot of two monasteries.
In 1921, he was consecrated as Bishop of Kovrov. His main concern became opposing Renovationism, which threatened the unity of the Church. In 1922, he was arrested, and his long years of imprisonment began.
Despite his sufferings, the bishop maintained his faith and prayed for his brothers in faith. His path led through many prisons and camps, where he continued to serve God and comfort other prisoners.
In 1951, his last term of camp trials ended. After his release, he lived in the village of Petushki, where he continued to serve despite restrictions. In 1962, he predicted his own death.
On October 28, 1962, on the feast of Saint John of Suzdal, he quietly departed to the Lord, leaving a bright trace in the hearts of the faithful.
