Constantine Shirokinsky

Holy Hieromartyr Constantine Shirokinsky, a priest, was born in 1876 in Perm. His full name was Constantine Grigorievich Shirokinsky. He served at the Holy Trinity church in Sluda, in Perm, was married and had four children.

On 9 September 1918 Father Constantine was arrested as a "monarchist and counter-⁠revolutionary". On 11 September a petition came to the provincial Cheka in the name of his wife and children, asking for the release of Father Constantine, who had made "no counter-⁠revolutionary utterance against Soviet power", and on 12, 13 and 21 September repeated petitions followed. On 24 September a statement of the Perm clergy with more than thirty signatures reached the Cheka, asking that the priest Constantine be released on surety. All these petitions had no effect. On 4 October 1918 Father Constantine Shirokinsky was sentenced to death; the sentence said that "as a monarchist and counter-⁠revolutionary" he was to be declared an outlaw and shot. The sentence was carried out the same day.

He is commemorated on 4 October, the day of his death, on 14 February, with the Synaxis of the Saints of the Perm Metropolis (the date moves), and on 7 February, with the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, in the new style.