Bishop
He was born on January 1, 1892, in the village of Sadovoe, Kherson province, in the family of a priest, Alexander Pankeev, and was baptized with the name Vasily. In 1912, he graduated from the Odessa Theological Seminary and entered the Kyiv Theological Academy. In 1915, he was tonsured into monasticism with the name Antoniy and soon went to the front for spiritual service to wounded soldiers. In 1917, he graduated from the academy and was awarded the Order of Saint Anna of the 3rd degree for impeccable fulfillment of pastoral duties at the front.
After the revolution, he served in Odessa, where he began teaching at the Theological Seminary until its closure in 1920.
In 1924, after repentance, he was consecrated as Bishop of Mariupol. In 1926, he was arrested and sentenced to three years in the Solovetsky camp, and in 1929 – to three years of exile in Yeniseisk. After returning from exile in 1933, he was appointed to the Belgorod diocese. At this time, the godless authorities were closing churches, and Bishop Antoniy actively defended the rights of believers and demanded the return of churches.
On February 25, 1935, he was arrested on false charges brought by the Renovationists and other opponents. During the interrogations, he maintained courage and did not admit guilt. On September 10, 1935, a trial took place, where he again declared his innocence and belonging to the church current led by Metropolitan Sergius. On the same day, he was sentenced along with other priests.
