Bishop
Saint Nikitas (born Fyodor Petrovich Delektorsky) was born on December 22, 1876, in the town of Pokrov, in the Vladimir province. His father was a priest. From an early age, he was introduced to the Christian faith and cultivated his virtues.
In 1897, he graduated from the Theological School and was appointed to the Yuzhskoye school, where he was teaching the word of the Gospel. In 1898, he married Antonina Nikolaevna Florinskaya. On August 3, 1898, he was ordained as a priest at the Church of the Saint Nicholas Women’s Monastery. From 1901 to 1907, he served as chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Pereslavl Theological School. In 1907, his wife left him, while he himself resigned from his duties. On August 31, 1909, he enrolled in the Moscow Theological Academy, from which he graduated in 1915. From October 1, 1915, to December 27, 1916, he served as assistant secretary in the administration. On December 27, 1916, he was appointed rector of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in the Perm province. In 1919, he was elevated to the rank of archpriest and was awarded a gold cross.
From that time, he resolved to dedicate himself fully to the ministry of the Church of Christ, renouncing worldly life. He thus became a monk. In 1922, he returned to the Vladimir province and was appointed rector of the Cathedral of the Saviour. On May 9, 1924, he received the monastic tonsure and was given the name Nikitas. At the same time, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. On May 12, he was consecrated Bishop of Bugulma.
Upon his arrival there, he was arrested by the authorities. However, he was soon released. In 1925, he was arrested again for conducting the Divine Liturgy without state authorization. In 1926, he was appointed Bishop of Orekhovo-Zuyevo. In 1927, he was dismissed but remained in the area, where he lived an ascetic life. In 1930, he was arrested and sentenced to three years of forced labor. In 1934, he returned, remaining there until October 13, 1937, when he was arrested once again and got imprisoned.
On November 17, he was sentenced to death and was executed on November 19, 1937.
