Michael Uspensky

Holy Hieromartyr Michael Uspensky, a priest, was born in 1874 in the village of Kishkino, Mikhnevo volost, Serpukhov district of Moscow province, to the psalm-⁠reader Alexei Uspensky, of peasant stock. Mikhail Alekseevich was taught at home, then passed the examination for reader at the church school and in 1905 was appointed reader at the Protection church in the village of Avdulovo, Kolomna district. On 27 May 1907 he was ordained to the sticharion as reader, and on 2 February 1920 deacon for the same church at Avdulovo. Between 23 September 1916 and 1 September 1917 he did military service.

In 1933 the deacon Michael was ordained a priest for the Protection church, and in the same year he was arrested and sentenced to five years of deprivation of liberty, but after an appeal he was acquitted. His family consisted of his wife Evdokia Pavlovna, a son and two daughters. In Father Michael's house all the needy and persecuted among the servants of the Church found shelter.

On 5 December 1937 Father Michael was arrested and held at Kashira. He did not admit guilt. On 9 December 1937 he was sentenced to death. The priest Michael Uspensky was shot on 19 December 1937 and buried in the unknown common grave at the Butovo range near Moscow. He is commemorated on 20 December, in the new style, with the Synaxis of the New Martyrs of Butovo (a movable day) and with the Synaxis of the Saints of Moscow, on 5 September (a movable day).