Archbishop
Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Veliky Ustyug, was born in 1873 in the Kostroma province into a priest's family. After graduating from the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy in 1899, he became a teacher of logic and Latin. In 1904, he was ordained as a priest and served in various churches in Saint Petersburg. In 1919, he was awarded the title of protodeacon and appointed rector of the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
In 1922, he was arrested in the case of 'the confiscation of church valuables,' sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment, but released after 9 months. In 1924, with the blessing of Patriarch Tikhon, he accepted monasticism and was ordained to the episcopal rank. He actively opposed the Renovationists and enlightened his flock.
In 1925, he was arrested and sent to Siberia. After serving his term, he settled in Tver, and in 1931 returned to Leningrad. Unable to obtain registration, he moved to Tikhvin, where he also could not be registered. Metropolitan Sergius appointed him Bishop of Nikolsk.
In 1934, he was awarded the title of archbishop. In 1935, he was arrested as part of a 'counter-revolutionary group' and sentenced to 5 years of exile. While in exile, Archbishop Nicholas was arrested on December 23, 1937, and on December 30, he was sentenced to the highest measure of punishment and executed.
