Saint Nikephoros was born on March 23, 1884, in the village of Pupki in the Ruza district of the Moscow province. His parents were engaged in agriculture. He was an educated and hardworking man, a member of the church council, and a chanter in the church choir. He was drafted into the army during World War I, after which he returned to his agricultural work.
He was actively involved in church life, encouraging his fellow villagers to remain steadfast in prayer and faith. Despite the changes brought about by the new regime, he held firmly to his principles. He always began his daily labor with prayer and worship. In 1937, during the widespread persecution of believers, Saint Nikephoros was arrested for his religious convictions and statements.
During interrogations, he firmly declared that he had never engaged in counter-revolutionary activity, but only expressed his views on religious matters. On November 11, 1937, the NKVD sentenced him to eight years of imprisonment in a corrective labor camp. Saint Nikephoros died on May 21, 1942, and was buried in an unmarked grave.
