Nicholas Gorsky

Holy Righteous Nicholas Gorsky was a priest in the village of Nagornoye, near Reshma, in the Ivanovo region, and he departed to the Lord in peace in the year 1920.

He was born in 1864 in the town of Galich, where his father was a cathedral priest and supervisor of the theological school. At three he fell so gravely ill that the doctors no longer hoped for his recovery. His mother, a pious Christian, prayed to the Lord with tears to heal him and promised that, if he recovered, she would dedicate him to God. Her prayer was heard. From his youth an inclination to serve God and His Holy Church showed in him. After the theological school and seminary he married K. Vorobyova, a girl of a noble family. Thanks to the connections of his father and his wife's relatives, he could hope for a rich parish, but his heart did not aim at this.

He began his service at the church of Saint Nicholas in the village of Kuzmino, in the Nerekhta district, and after a few years came to Reshma, to the church of the Resurrection in the village of Nagornoye, where he served until his death. The parish was divided and disordered because of the frequent change of pastors and the roughness of manners. Father Nicholas found the way to the souls of the people and, by disregard of gain and readiness to come to help at the first call, won their love and trust. People at first far from the faith he taught to run to the Lord in every difficulty. He celebrated the services with deep reverence and often with tears. He was not content with priestly service, being a teacher of religion and head of the school, organiser of religious and moral readings and elected to various offices. In the time of war he cared much for refugees. As a family man he had all the qualities of a good husband and father, and each member of the family sought comfort in him. He saw much grief and want, but never showed how hard it was for him.

He died in peace in 1920. In the illness before his death he was wonderfully consoled by an appearance of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, as is attested in the obituary written on that occasion. His whole life was a following of Christ, a daily labour of love for God and neighbour. The people of Reshma honour him as a local righteous man. His memory is kept on 20 June, in the new style.