Presbyter
Saint Michael was born on October 1, 1871, in the village of Elan' in the Saratov province, into the family of peasant Stepan Razhkin. From 1901 to 1916, he served as a psalmist in various churches of the Astrakhan province. On February 18, 1930, he was ordained as a priest but faced material difficulties, which he wrote about to the archbishop. Despite the persecutions against the Church, he remained a zealous pastor and preacher.
In 1930, after calling on the parishioners for help in paying taxes, he was arrested by the OGPU. He was accused of anti-Soviet speeches and agitation. On February 3, 1931, the OGPU troika sentenced him to five years in a concentration camp. After returning in 1936, he continued to serve amidst persecutions.
On February 27, 1937, he was subjected to administrative exile in the city of Astrakhan. On January 20, 1938, he was arrested again and accused of anti-Soviet agitation. On February 13, 1938, the NKVD troika sentenced him to execution. Priest Michael Razhkin was shot on March 8, 1938, and buried in a common unmarked grave.
