Rev. Martyr Vladimir Volkov

The persecution of Soviet power to the Russian Church was such that it was not to say about their faith, but even silently follow it as a feat. The new martyrs and confessors, glorified in the face of the saints did not come: believed, prayed and meekly went to their Calvarys.

“Polit.ru” recalls those who gave their lives for faith and by whose prayers the Russian Church is alive - even if almost nothing came to us besides the name.

Publications were prepared by Kirill Kharatyan (included by the Russian authorities in the register of foreign agents).

The Rev. Martyr Vladimir was born on April 21, 1878 in the village of Maly tents of the Gzhatsky district of the Smolensk province in the family of a peasant Nile Volkov and in baptism was called George. He received education at home. In 1899, George was drafted into the army and served in it until 1905 - the senior clerk at the military chief of the city of Gzhatsk (now it is Gagarin, Smolensk region). In the army, he came to the decision to leave the world and in 1906 he entered the novice in the deserts of the Paraklit under the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

On July 15, 1909, he was tonsured a monk named Vladimir, the obedience of the bread, synodichny and clerk passed. In 1912, he was transferred to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and appointed the caretaker of the printing house. March 19, 1915 ordained a hierodeacon. After the closing of the Lavra, he served in the church of the great martyr Dimitry Solunsky in the village of Shimanovo, Mozhaysky district of the Moscow region.

In 1930, the Hierodeacon Vladimir was ordained a hieromonk and at the request of parishioners was appointed to serve in the Spassky Church in the village of Islav, Zvenigorodsky district of the Moscow region. In 1931 he was erected to the rank of hegumen, in 1932-to the rank of Archimandrite. In 1936, he was taught the blessing to serve the Divine Liturgy with open royal gates to the Cherubic song.

Since 1931, continuing to serve in the temple, Father Vladimir fulfilled the post of accountant in the editorial office of the journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. In 1935, the magazine was closed, and Father Vladimir was left under the Patriarchate for another year - to sell church objects.

On February 21, 1938, Archbishop Sergius (Voskresensky), the Vicar of the Moscow Diocese, suggested Archimandrite Vladimir to be the confessor of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) and his, but on February 27, 1938, Archimandrite Vladimir was arrested and imprisoned in the Mozhaisk prison.

“You are accused of counter -revolutionary activities, as you were slandering the leaders of the party and Soviet power - in August 1937, at the time of the election to the Supreme Council, and in January 1938,” the investigator said.
“In the accusations of counter -revolutionary activity and slander against the leaders of the CPSU (b) and the Soviet regime, I do not plead guilty,” Archimandrite answered.

On March 7, 1938, the Troika of the NKVD sentenced him to be shot. Archimandrite Vladimir (Volkov) was shot on March 25, 1938 and buried in an unknown common grave at the Butovo training ground.