Andronic Nikolsky

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Andronik Nikolsky refered as Andronic (August 1, 1870-June 7 Julius calender, gregorian June 20, 1918) was a Russian monk and priest of the Eastern Orthodox Church and saint of his church. His name in birth was Vladimir Nikolsky.

Vladimir Nikolsky was born in Povodnevo, a village Myshkin uyezd, Yaroslavl diocese. He was the son of a deacon of the village of Povodnevo. After He finished his studies at the seminary of Yaroslavl in 1891 and allowed to enter the Moscow Theological Academy. In Moscow during his studies he made himself a monk on on August 1, 1893 under the name of Andronic. On July 22, 1895 he entered to the priesthood.

From 1895 he worked as an inspector and later teacher of thological seminaries in Caucasas, first in Kutaisi and later in Ardon. In 1897 a change happend in his life. He was appointed a member of the Russian Orthodox mission in Japan, where Nikolai Kasatkin did his mission since 1861. Nikolsky was shocked with this appontment and felt difficulties to part but he accepted this mission as the God's will at last. He left St. Petersburg on September 21, 1897 and left Odessa with Archimandrite Sergius Stragorodsky on October 26. After stopping some European countries and the U.S.A., he arrived in Japan on December 26. He wrote his journey and published as a book, A Missionary Journey to Japan, Kazan, 1899. Later he backed to Russia some times by reasons.

In 1906 Andronic was appointed the bishop of Kyoto, where the seat of West Japan Bishopric of Japanese Orthodox Church is. He was the first priest which took this office. On November 5 Andronic was consecrated bishop and appointed assistant to Nikolai, the head of the Russian mission in Japan. Though Andronic was the bishop of Kyoto, he lived in Osaka, which was the second largest city in Japan in those days and had the largest population of faithfuls among his bishopric. He was suffered by illness and had difficulties to hold his office. After three monthes service in Osaka, he asked to let himself resign and leave from Japan on May 27, 1907. He returned to Russia and became the deputy of Bishop Eulogius of Kholm on October 26. In 1908 he became the bishop of Tikhvin in Novgorod diocese.

Andronic was a firm supporter of Tsar. From his view it passed the God's will who let him reign the empire, hence an appropriate way for Christians. But it didn't mean he supported tyranny. Tsar should listen to his people. And the monarch and the people both could come to peace.

He was appointed bishop of Perm and Solikamsk on July 30, 1914. 11 days before, on July 19 the World War I had begun. He worked engergetic for one and a half million inhabitants and 570 churches in this region.

In 1916 summer he travelled to army headquarters where the Tsar Nicholas II led the army away from St. Petersburg. The purpose of this travel was to warn the Tsar about Rasputin. He talked with Nicholas II the Tsar but his pursuation failed. His travel ended only to make Nicholas II pleased with his gift, a pair of soldier's boots which the province of Perm provided the army.

In 1917 he became Bishop of Perm and Kungur, and became one of the seven hierarchs in the preconciliar council of the Local Council of the Russian Church in Moscow. From August 1917 till April 1918, the end of the second session of the Council he was very active. On January 25, 1918 he made a written appeal to the faithfuls to defend the heritage of the Church from the aggressors and looters. Such attacks frequently occured after the Revolution has begun.

In February in Perm region Bosheviks started to loot churches and monastries. When the second session of the Council ended, Andronic was in Perm. Patriarch Tikhon made him an archbishop on April 25, the Palm Sunday. On Holy Thursday, April 16, a search was carried out in his residence. He held calm attitude and continued the service of the Holy Week and the Pascha, Easter.

The Borshevik authorities incleased pressure on the church. Finally Andronic was arrested at midnight on July 4(gregorian, July 17). As opposition all the devine service in the region was closed except baptism and the last rites for the dying. Clergies in Perm went on strike from the night he arrested till July 13 (gregorian, July 26). But on July 7, Andronic was already murdered: He was buried alive and shot.

In 2000 Russian Orthodox canonized him as Hieromartyr Andronik, Archbishop Of Perm<!-- precise information is necessary , one of Russian New Martyrs and Confessors.

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