Presbyter
Saint Martyr Nicholas (Poretsky) was born in 1865 in the village of Porechye, Tver Province, in the family of a psalmist. There were five children in the family, and all three brothers became priests. Nicholas graduated from the Theological Seminary and married Lyubov Dmitrievna Zvereva, the daughter of a priest. He served in the parish where his father-in-law had served before him and was respected among the parishioners and local authorities.
In 1910, his wife passed away, leaving him a widower with five children. In 1913, he published the book “The Village of Vlakherskoye, the Estate of Prince Golitsyn,” which became a reference for local historians. That same year, he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ministry. However, soon after, his eldest son Nicholas tragically died, which greatly affected his health.
After the revolution, persecutions against the Church began. In 1922, Nicholas was evicted from his home, and soon after, his middle daughter Valentina died. His youngest son Dmitry, having become a soldier, renounced his father. In 1928, the church was closed, and Nicholas was arrested and sentenced to five years of exile in the Northern region.
In exile in Shenkursk, he was relieved from heavy labor, and he was sheltered by two nuns. Nicholas was deprived of the right to correspond, but his daughter Maria and youngest son Dmitry secretly helped him. In 1933, Saint Martyr Nicholas passed away and was buried by the nuns who cared for him.
