Presbyter
Saint Martyr Vasily was born on January 28, 1887, in the village of Babka, Voronezh province, in the family of peasant Nikita Maksimov. At the age of 14, he was sent to a spiritual school in Shadrinsk, where he met his future wife, Yulia. In 1914, Vasily Nikitich was ordained as a priest and served in various churches, including in Moscow. For his zealous service, he was elevated to the rank of protopresbyter and awarded a mitre.
In 1927, his wife passed away, leaving behind three children. Father Vasily, despite the hardships, continued to serve and preach, for which he was greatly respected by the parishioners. In 1937, during the height of repression, he was arrested and sentenced to death. Protopresbyter Vasily was shot on September 23, 1937, and buried in an unmarked grave at the Butovo shooting range near Moscow. His children, unaware of his fate, tried to preserve his legacy and spiritual teachings.
