Presbyter
Philaret Ioannidis Velikanov was born on 14 May 1873 into the family of a deacon from the town of Verkhny Lomov. He graduated from the Penza Theological School and was appointed as a cantor at the Cathedral in Nizhny Lomov. From 18 October 1895, he served as a teacher at the local school. Following his ordination as a deacon on 25 May 1896, he began serving at the Church of the Saviour in the village of Surkino. In 1901, he was appointed to the Krasnoslobodsk Theological School.
On 10 October 1918, he was arrested on false charges and got imprisoned. While in custody, his health deteriorated. His death was recorded in the journal of the Kazan Theological Academy on 31 October 1918.
In 2000, he was glorified among the Holy Martyrs of the Russian Orthodox Church. His memory is celebrated on 29 October/11 November, as well as on the Feast of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.
