Bishop
Bishop Ephraim (in the world, Epiphanius Andreevich Kuznetsov) was born in 1876 in a family of Transbaikal Cossacks. In early childhood, he experienced orphanhood and poverty, which taught him humility and compassion. After graduating from the Irkutsk Theological Seminary in 1898, he was ordained as a priest and served in his native stanitsa. After the death of his wife, he continued his ministry, receiving support from Archbishop Eusebius of Vladivostok. In 1903, he graduated from the Kazan Theological Academy and became a candidate of theology, showing interest in missionary work.
From 1904, he began missionary activity in Transbaikal, actively converting pagans, especially Koreans. In 1909, he took monastic vows with the name Ephraim and was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. In 1916, he was ordained as Bishop of Selenginsk, where he demonstrated loyalty to Orthodoxy under persecution. He participated in the Holy Local Council of 1917-1918, signing important documents.
In 1918, after the closure of the Council, he was arrested and showed resilience in captivity. On August 23, 1918, on the feast day of Saint Irenaeus, he was shot at Khodynka Field, accepting death for Christ with peace. His life concluded with a great feat, demonstrating the purity of faith and zeal in the service of the Church.
