Metropolitan Bishop
On April 9, 1877, on the day of the Bright Feast of Pascha, a son named Theodosius was born in the family of a psalmist in the village of Komissarovka, Verkhnedneprovsky district, Yekaterinoslav province, to Nikifor and Maria, named after the holy martyr Theodosius. The father was strict and demanding, while the mother was kind and loving. The upbringing of Theodosius was also influenced by his grandmother Pelagia, who told stories about the holy servants of God. In 1904, he was tonsured into the mantle with the name Nicholas, and in 1905, he was ordained as a hierodeacon, and then as a hieromonk. In 1907, he entered the Moscow Theological Academy, which he successfully graduated from four years later.
In October 1919, Archimandrite Nicholas was consecrated as Bishop of Starodub, vicar of the Chernigov diocese. In 1923, he was appointed Bishop of Kashir, vicar of the Tula diocese, where he faced difficulties due to the seizure of parishes by the Renovationists. On May 8, 1925, he was arrested and spent more than two years in prison. After his release, he was appointed to the Oryol diocese, but soon was arrested again on July 27, 1932.
After the investigation, the hierarch was sent to a correctional labor camp in Sarov, where he experienced joy from being in the holy abode. In 1941, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop. On June 27, 1941, he was arrested again and placed in a prison in Saratov, and then sent to Kazakhstan. Despite the hardships, the hierarch maintained faith and humility, relying on the will of God.
In 1945, he was released and appointed as the administrator of the newly formed Almaty and Kazakhstan diocese. Archbishop Nicholas served with diligence and reverence, especially honoring the Most Holy Theotokos. In 1955, while on his deathbed, he prayed for God's mercy. On October 25, 1955, after his last breath, the hierarch departed to the Lord. On October 28, he was buried in the cathedral of Almaty, and thousands of people came to bid farewell to their beloved hierarch, who was buried with honors.
