Presbyter
Saint Nikolai was born on May 14, 1878, in the village of Kuntsevo, Moscow Province. In 1900, he graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary and became a teacher. In 1909, he was ordained a priest at the church of the village of Zavidovo in the Tver diocese, where he carried out pastoral service.
The parishioners loved him for his kindness and responsiveness. He tirelessly helped the sick, even walking long distances on foot. Father Nikolai raised children in love for God and the Church, teaching them to fast and help the needy.
During the revolution, he had to sell his house and move to a dilapidated hovel to support his family. The authorities repeatedly tried to persuade him to abandon his ministry, but he remained faithful to his rank. In 1930, he was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment in a labor camp.
After his release, he returned to service, but the persecutions continued. On February 8, 1938, he was arrested. During the interrogation, he refused to admit his guilt in counter-revolutionary activities. On March 6, the NKVD troika sentenced him to execution. On March 8, 1938, Archpriest Nikolai was shot and buried in an unmarked grave.
