Deacon
The Holy New Martyr Paul was born in 1878 in Moscow into the family of the deacon Paul Shirokogorov. In 1900, he graduated from the theological seminary and served as a teacher. In 1908, he was appointed as a church reader and chanter at one of the churches in Moscow. In 1918, he was ordained a deacon and served at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul until his arrest. In 1935, he settled in the village of Dedenevo, where his sister used to live together with her family. During this period, he frequently traveled to Moscow to minister to the needs of the Church.
Saint Paul was arrested during the night of 26–27 November 1937. He was imprisoned in Taganka Prison in Moscow and was immediately subjected to interrogation. The investigator, aware of his ministry and unwavering devotion to the Church, repeatedly insisted that he had participated in anti-Soviet activities and had spread counter-revolutionary propaganda. The saint steadfastly maintained his innocence.
The investigation was completed the following day. On 3 December 1937, Saint Paul was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment in a forced labor camp. He reposed in prison on 6 March 1938 and was buried in an unmarked grave.
