Metropolitan Bishop
Vasily was born on January 1, 1848, in the family of the priest Nikifor Bogoyavlensky. From childhood, he distinguished himself by his modesty and sincerity. He graduated from the Kiev Theological Academy and was appointed a teacher in the seminary. On January 31, 1882, he was ordained a presbyter and appointed the rector of the Trinity Church. After the tragic death of his wife and child, he accepted monastic tonsure with the name Vladimir and became an archimandrite.
On June 3, 1888, he was ordained as the bishop of Starorus. He showed concern for the arrangement of church-parish life and the spiritual enlightenment of the laity. On January 19, 1891, he was appointed to the Samara diocese, where during the cholera epidemic, he was with the people, performing prayers and panikhidas.
From October 18, 1892, he managed the Georgian Exarchate, where he built over a hundred churches and opened more than 300 parish schools. From February 21, 1898, he became the Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna. He assisted Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna in founding a convent.
On November 23, 1912, he was appointed Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg. During this period, he openly condemned Rasputin and fell into disgrace; in November 1915, he was transferred to Kiev. After the October Revolution, he spoke out against the schism and defended the unity of the Church.
On January 25, 1918, he was shot. Before his death, he prayed and blessed his murderers. His martyr's end marked the beginning of persecutions against the Russian Orthodox Church. His honorable relics were found in the summer of 1992 and laid in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
