Presbyter
Saint Anatoly Berzhitsky was born on July 3, 1875, in the Kherson province, into a Russian family of a priest. He initially studied at the Faculty of Law of the University of Yuriev, where he completed his studies in 1902. He also received a strong spiritual education and guidance. After 1917, he himself became a priest.
He was first arrested on July 20, 1921, in the city of Barnaul, where he spent 40 days in prison. His next arrest took place in 1930, when he remained in jail for ten full months. After his release, he moved to the city of Shymkent, where he worked in the regional health department.
He was arrested for the last time on September 10, 1937, accused of hiding his priestly status and his ties to his brother, who had emigrated. He was sentenced to death by the NKVD and was executed on November 19, 1937.
His honor was officially restored on December 12, 1957, when a military court concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges against him.
The Russian Orthodox Church, at the council convened from August 12 to 16, 2000, recognized Presbyter Anatoly Berzhitsky as a saint.
