Mikhail (Kudryavtsev)

In 1875 he graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Theological College ^[2] . In 1878 he graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary in the first category ^[3] . In 1885 he graduated from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy with a degree of candidate of theology ^[4]

On February 16, 1886, Bishop Modest (Strelbitsky) was ordained a priest and appointed to the parish of the Sretensky Church of Nizhny Novgorod. He paid much attention to the issues of education and enlightenment of his parishioners ^[5] .

Seven months after the ordination, he was awarded a plait . A year later, he received gratitude from the diocesan authorities "for vigilant activity in setting up a church-teacher school and for personal care in building a house for a parish school." On Easter 1889 he received an official blessing from the Holy Synod "in retribution of diligent pastoral service." A year later, he was awarded the purple velvet skufyu . On January 20, 1894, by a decree of the Spiritual Consistory, "he expressed his archpastoral gratitude for the gratuitous work incurred in organizing a craft school," and the Holy Synod awarded him with a camille . In 1897 he was awarded the synodal golden pectoral cross . On May 6, 1900, “for merits in the Spiritual Department,” he was awarded the rank of Archpriest ^[5] .

After serving in the Sretensky Church for fourteen years, on a personal request, he was transferred to the Ascension Church of Nizhny Novgorod, where his father had previously served. In this temple he served for the next twenty years ^[5] .

In addition to all the above-mentioned awards, Father Michael was awarded the Order of St. Anna of the 3rd and 2nd degrees, as well as the Order of St. Vladimir of the 4th degree.

He participated in the work of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1917-1918, elected by clergy of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese ^[6] .

By the decree of the Holy Synod of April 11 (24), 1918, elections to the chair of the ruling bishop were appointed in Nizhny Novgorod. He was one of 29 candidates in this election. As a result, Metropolitan of Tiflis Kirill (Smirnov) was elected to the Nizhny Novgorod department ^[7] .

In February 1920, he was tonsured a monk with the name Mikhail , elevated to the rank of archimandrite and consecrated bishop of Arzamas , vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese ^[2] .

June 19, 1922 recognized the update of the All- Union Central Council . July 30, 1923 brought repentance to Patriarch Tikhon ^[2] .

He sent a question to Patriarch Tikhon about the time of transition to a new style, to which the Patriarch wrote on October 13, 1923: “October 4, after the Intercession - P. T.”, but soon Patriarch Tikhon abandoned the new style ^[8] .

Under Bishop Michael, the religious life of the Arzamas district at the time of the most vague for the Church was steadily directed in the direction of Orthodoxy. Bishop Michael was loved by both clergy and laity ^[9] .

Actively struggled with the renovationist split . Entire parishes of neighboring bishops and deaneries came under the care of Bishop Michael. Bishop Michael left a deep mark in the religious life of the Arzamas region in the first Soviet decade ^[9] .

Arrested and repressed in 1928 . In the same year he was put to rest ^[10] .

He died on August 7, 1929 . He was buried at the Bugrovsky cemetery of Nizhny Novgorod ^[1] .

The funds of the GKU GANO of Arzamas contain the minutes of meetings of the Deanery Council, meetings of citizens, reports of Bishop Michael, cases of ordination, removal, dismissal and rewarding of clergy, petitions and reports of clergy, clerical records of the churches of Arzamas district 1916-1927 ^[11] .

• Mikhail (Kudryavtsev) on the site "Russian Orthodoxy"