Born on May 3, 1877, in the village of Fedorovskoye in the Astrakhan district, into the family of a local psalmist, Daniil Zalesky. The family had many children and lived in poverty, but the father provided them with spiritual education. Four sons became priests. Nikolai was the second and most capable child, having graduated from the theological school. After the death of his father, he took on the responsibility of supporting the family.
In 1897, he was appointed as a psalmist at the Catherine Church in the Krasnoyarsk district. From that time on, he served in various churches in this district for almost the rest of his life, winning the love of the local residents. In 1904, he was ordained as a deacon.
In 1907, he was included in the staff of the Ilyinsky Cemetery Church in the city of Krasny Yar. He became a member of the Astrakhan Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood, actively helping to raise funds for the construction of a floating church. In 1918, he accepted the priestly rank and continued to serve despite the civil war.
In the early 1920s, his wife passed away, leaving him a widower with five children. In 1929, he was appointed as a priest in the village of Vatazhnoe, where he faced renovationism. The congregation was small but united, and he devoted all his time and energy to serving.
In 1930, he was arrested on charges of anti-Soviet activity. Along with him, other clergymen were arrested, and all were sentenced to execution on December 17, 1930. On the night of Christmas, he served the morning service in prison, and despite the pressure from the guards, his prayer and faith remained unshaken. He was executed on January 8, 1931.
