Archimandrite
Venerable Leo (Egorov) was born in 1898 in Novgorod province. After his parents' death, he and his two brothers were raised by their uncle, who managed the Alexander Nevsky market in St. Petersburg. Leo graduated from the history-philology faculty of St. Petersburg University and entered the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, which he completed in 1918.
The Egorov brothers received monastic tonsure together in 1915 and became spiritual sons of Hieroschemamonk Seraphim (Muravyov), the future Vyritsa Elder. Until 1922, they labored together in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Hieromonk Leo was one of the leaders of the Petrograd Orthodox brotherhoods. For this reason, he was arrested in 1922 and exiled. In 1924, he returned to Leningrad, was elevated to archimandrite, taught at the Theological-Pastoral School, and managed affairs of the Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood.
In 1926, Archimandrite Leo became rector of the Cathedral of the Fedorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God and remained so until 1932. He taught Russian literature at theological courses, performed over 20 monastic tonsures, corresponded with Metropolitan Joseph (Petrovykh), defending the correctness of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky)'s church policy.
In 1932, over 40 members of the Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood were arrested, including Father Leo. He received a 10-year camp sentence, first in Siblag, then in Novokuznetsk, where his term was extended and he was placed in a penal isolator. In 1937, during mass camp purges, he was sentenced to execution. At his last interrogation, he stated that he did not consider himself guilty and had dedicated his life to serving God and promoting religion.
