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Leonid AntoshenkoBishop of Mari. He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2002.
Date of Birth: 06.08.1872
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Content:
- Early Life and Monasticism
- Pre-Revolutionary Service
- Persecution and Imprisonment
- Archpastoral Service
- Martyrdom
- Canonization
Early Life and Monasticism
Bishop Leonid was born into a peasant family and entered a monastery at the age of 16. He received monastic tonsure at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and became the treasurer of the Chudov Monastery in Moscow.
Pre-Revolutionary Service
From 1908, Leonid served as the head of the Beijing Mission's branch office in Petersburg, and in 1911, he oversaw the construction of the mission's church in Petersburg. During World War I, he was tasked with building a church in Harbin, a project halted by the revolution.
Persecution and Imprisonment
In 1922, Leonid was arrested for a month by the Cheka. In 1927, he was consecrated as bishop, but in 1930, he was arrested and sentenced to five years in Pinyugskie labor camps for counter-revolutionary activity. Despite harsh conditions and manual labor, Leonid spiritually nurtured fellow prisoners and performed secret monastic tonsures.
Archpastoral Service
In 1932, after his release, Leonid served as bishop of Alexandrov and Vladimir. Exiled in 1932, he was freed in 1934. He was appointed bishop of Kungur and Sverdlovsk but was not allowed to assume these posts. In March 1937, he became bishop of Marii.
Martyrdom
On December 21, 1937, Leonid was arrested and accused of counter-revolutionary activities. He was condemned by the NKVD on December 29 and executed by firing squad on January 7, 1938.
Canonization
In 2002, Leonid was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as a new martyr and confessor of the 20th century. His memory is venerated along with other Marii church figures such as Protopriest Adrian Alexandrovich Troitsky, Priest Mikhail Alexandrovich Berezin, and Protopriest Sergiy Strelnikov, who were also victims of the Soviet persecution.
