Presbyter
Saint Nicholas was born on March 2, 1885, in Rzhev, Tver Province. After the death of his mother in 1892 and his father in 1899, he continued his education and was ordained as a deacon in 1913. He served in various churches, including the village of Osul'skoye, where he spent 15 years until 1930.
During this time, significant events were occurring in Russia: the end of the monarchy, the revolution, and persecution of the Church. Despite the oppression, Nicholas continued his ministry and was ordained as a priest in 1930. In 1936, he was transferred to the church in the village of Baranya Gora, where the authorities attempted to close the church.
In 1937, after being invited by the parishioners of the village of Borzyn, he agreed to serve there. However, he was soon arrested by the NKVD for participating in religious celebrations and for urging parishioners to attend church. During interrogations, he denied involvement in counter-revolutionary activities but was accused based on testimonies from local residents.
On October 26, 1937, an indictment was drawn up, and on November 1, the NKVD Troika ruled to execute him. Priest Nicholas Raevsky was shot on November 3, 1937. He was canonized among the ranks of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in August 2000 at the Jubilee Archpastoral Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
