Nikolai (Ashchepiev)

In the world, Ashchepiev Maxim Pimenovich was born in 1878 in the city of Bobrinets, Ukraine. He was Russian, from a peasant family, and lived in a monastery. He was twice convicted. His first sentence was served by the decision of the OGPU Collegium under Article 58-10 "for participation in a counter-revolutionary group" - for a term of 3 years - from 1930 to 1933. He was held in the Annunciation prison.

The second sentence was by the decision of the NKVD USSR special meeting "for participation in a counter-revolutionary group" - 3 years - from 1935. He was sent to Karlag.

From the indictment materials: "Convicted for counter-revolutionary activities while at large, being a religious fanatic by his social position and ideological beliefs... not only did he not change his convictions, but while in detention, he continued his anti-Soviet activities, conducting counter-revolutionary religious agitation among the camp inmates and spreading provocative fabrications aimed at discrediting the policies of the Soviet government and the Communist Party." He was accused of holding secret prayer meetings.

He did not plead guilty.

On September 20, 1937, the session of the NKVD troika for the Karaganda region decided:

Ashchepiev M. P.
to be executed.

He was canonized among the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia at the Jubilee Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in August 2000 for general church veneration.