Presbyter
Priest Vasily Pokrovsky was born on December 16, 1879, in the village of Baevka, Sengileevsky district of the Simbirsk province. He graduated from the Simbirsk Theological Seminary and was ordained as a deacon in 1903, and later as a priest. He served in various villages of the Simbirsk province and was arrested in 1929 for tax evasion. In 1941, the authorities of the city of Alatyr closed the last church, after which arrests of priests followed. Father Vasily was arrested on July 24, 1941, and interrogated on charges of anti-Soviet agitation, but he did not confess to any wrongdoing. On October 10, 1941, he and other priests were formally charged, and on October 18, they were sentenced to death by shooting. Father Vasily was executed on December 26, 1941.
Holy Martyr Emilian Kireev was born on June 31, 1903, in the village of Kuzminki, Ardatovsky district of the Simbirsk province. From an early age, he showed interest in church service. In 1922, after the closure of the monastery, he returned home and worked on his farm. In 1932, he was ordained as a priest and served in various churches. Father Emilian also faced persecution from the authorities but remained faithful to his beliefs. He was arrested on July 25, 1941, and interrogated on charges of anti-Soviet agitation. On October 10, 1941, he and other priests were formally charged, and on October 18, they were sentenced to death by shooting. Father Emilian was executed on December 26, 1941. Both priests were canonized as part of the assembly of new martyrs and confessors of Russia.
