Michael Markov

Saint Michael Markov, martyr, was a psalm-⁠reader of the Russian Church and died in prison, in a camp, on 12 March 1938. He was canonized by decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of 27 December 2005, on the proposal of the diocese of Moscow. He is commemorated in the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia and on the day of his death, 12 March (27 February by the old calendar).

Michael Dmitrievich Markov was born in the family of Dmitry Markov, a peasant of the village of Glukhino, in the Moscow governorate. His parents farmed and also made lumber. After finishing the village school, Michael helped his parents; in time he learned the cooper's trade and made barrels for sale. In the 1930s he was twice brought to account for failing to meet the firm assignment.

For many years he was in the church council and served as psalm-⁠reader at the Tikhvin church. The authorities considered this a crime: on 14 November 1937 he was arrested and held in Taganka prison in Moscow. He was interrogated the next day but did not admit guilt. The investigation was brief and ended on 16 November, and on 19 November the NKVD troika sentenced him to ten years in a labour camp, on a charge of counter-⁠revolutionary agitation.

On 31 December 1937 he arrived at one of the Mariinsk camps of Siblag (Kemerovo region) and died of hunger on 12 March 1938 in the Mariinsk distribution camp of Siblag. The place of his burial is not known.