Votkinsk, Udmurt Republic, Russia, August 20, 2018
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An historic event in the life of the Udmurt Metropolitanate took place yesterday on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, when the rite of glorification of Hieromartyr Nikolai Chernishev and his daughter Barbara was celebrated in the Annunciation Cathedral in the city of Votkinsk, reports the site of the Diocese of Izhevsk and Udmurtia.
Fr. Nikolai and Barbara were glorified by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church during its March 7 session, along with two other saints.
The church was not chosen by chance, but was the cathedral in which Fr. Nikolai served for many years. The Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Transfiguration and the rite of glorification were celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Viktorin of Izhevsk and Udmurtia along with three other bishops and clergy from throughout the metropolitanate.
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During the Liturgy, prayers for the souls of Fr. Nikolai and his daughter Barbara were offered up for the last time, after which an icon of the holy New Martyrs was brought out for veneration. Their life was then read as well as the resolution of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to number them among the saints. The magnification was then sung to them, thus officially numbering them among the saints.
Following the Liturgy, the first moleben to them was served. Met. Viktorin then congratulated all those present for the historic event and noted that this was the first glorification of saints to be celebrated in the Udmurt Republic. He also explained that the rite of glorification was served exactly 100 years after the workers’ uprising against the Bolsheviks that led to St. Nikolai’s and Barbara’s martyrdom.
“It was in this month, in August, exactly 100 years ago that the saints consciously took up their Cross and consciously went to this Golgotha, and the Lord granted them crowns. On the feast of the Transfiguration, in 1918, the workers of the Votkinsk plant rebelled against the Bolshevik government, gaining the first victory over the Red troops… I am sure that from the ambo of this church Fr. Nikolai pastorally exhorted and strengthened all the workers who came to the defense of the Motherland. Unfortunately, such commotion later spilled over into a terrible fratricidal civil war,” the archpastor explained.
The bishop also preached on the theme of the Transfiguration, noting that the saints, such as the newly-glorified Sts. Nikolai and Barbara, are lights for us on our spiritual path.
After the sermon, all were given icon of the Votkinsk New Martyrs.
udmeparhia.cerkov.ru
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Archpriest Nikolai Chernishev and his daughter Barbara
Archpriest Nikolai Chernishev served as a priest of what is today known as Udmurtia, east of Kazan, from 1914 until his death in 1919. He was repeatedly awarded by diocesan authorities for his impeccable service to the Orthodox Church. He founded the local Sobriety Society with the blessing of St. John of Kronstadt.
Fr. Nikolai had four children. Having been widowed at a young age, he lived with his youngest daughter Barbara who intentionally did not marry so as to remain with her father.
In August 1918, many workers of the area rose up against the Soviet authorities, but, despite the danger, Fr. Nikolai remained at his parish, admonishing the perishing, and inspiring his flock. His daughter Barbara meanwhile served the suffering as a sister of mercy.
The revolt was put down by the Red Army. An anti-religious debate was soon held in the local cathedral, with Fr. Nikolai giving a defense of the faith. He was arrested the next day. His daughter clung to him so tightly that she had to be arrested with him as well. Witnesses attest that Fr. Nikolai remained calm, prayerful, and faithful while in prison. He even asked for a stole to be brought to him so he could hear the confessions of his fellow prisoners.
Archpriest Nikolai and his daughter Barbara were shot on January 2, 1919 (new style). Before his execution, Fr. Nikolai was required to move his cross, but he objected, “I am going to die, then you can remove it.” They were both buried in the cemetery at the Transfiguration Cathedral. Their graves have become a place of veneration and there are instances of miraculous help by the prayers of Fr. Nikolai for overcoming alcoholism.
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