Presbyter
Saint Michael was born on October 1, 1871, in the village of Yelan, in the Saratov Governorate. He came from the family of the peasant Stepan Razkin. From 1901 to 1916, he served as a cantor in various churches in the Astrakhan region.
On February 18, 1930, he was ordained a priest. At the church, he faced numerous difficulties, including material shortages and financial hardship, which he brought to the attention of the Archbishop. Despite the persecution of the Church, he remained a faithful shepherd and preacher of the Gospel.
In 1930, after appealing to his parishioners for assistance in meeting the church's tax obligations, he was arrested by the authorities. He was accused of making anti-Soviet statements and engaging in propaganda. On February 3, 1931, he was sentenced to five years in a forced-labour camp. After his return in 1936, he continued to serve despite the ongoing persecution.
On February 27, 1937, he was sent into exile in the city of Astrakhan. On January 20, 1938, he was arrested again and accused of anti-Soviet propaganda. On February 13, 1938, he was sentenced to death. Priest Michael Razkin was executed on March 8, 1938, and buried in an unmarked mass grave.
