Cheltsov M.P. (1870-1931), Venerable Martyr

Categories / Religion. Church/Personalia
CHELTSOV Mikhail Pavlovich (1870-1931, Leningrad), archpriest, religious and public figure. Graduated from Kazan Theological Academy in 1894. From1898 he lived in St. Petersburg, and worked as a domestic priest and lecturer of theology at the Institute of Civil Engineers from 1903 to 1920. Cheltsov wrote works on church history. From 1919, he chaired the Eparchial Council. In 1920-25, he held the post of the Prior of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, (Izmaylovsky Cathedral). In 1922, he was arrested, and sentenced to death at the trial of Metropolitan Veniamin. However, he was pardoned and spent a year and a half in the House of Preliminary Detention. Afterwards he was arrested five more times, the final time in August 1930, in connection with the case of Countess Zarnekau. The Revolutionary Tribunal sentenced him to capital punishment, and on Christmas of 1931 Cheltsov was executed by firing squad at the House of Preliminary Detention. In 1981, he was canonized by Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Works: “Memoirs of the Death Row Inmate”, St. Petersburg Eparchial Bulletin, 1992, No. 10, Part 1, P. 25-36; Part 2, P. 79-88; “What is the Reason for Church Devastation in 1920 – 1930”,The Past: Historical anthology, Moscow, St. Petersburg, 1994, [No.] 17, P. 411-473; “When the execution was cancelled...: (Letters to my wife written in prison)”, Ibid., 1998, [No.] 24, P. 381-438.

References: Чельцов Г. М., Мастеров А. В., Чельцова Л. П. Протоиерей Михаил Павлович Чельцов: (Жизнь и деятельность) // Журн. Моск. Патриархии. 1993. № 10. С. 36-48.

V. V. Antonov. Cheltsov Mikhail Pavlovich, Protopresbyter
Чельцов Г. М., Мастеров А. В., Чельцова Л. П. Протоиерей Михаил Павлович Чельцов: (Жизнь и деятельность) // Журн. Моск. Патриархии , 1993
Когда отменили расстрел...: (Письма к жене из заключения) // Минувшее: Ист. альм. М., 1998
В чем причина церковной разрухи в 1920-1930 гг. // Минувшее: Ист. альм. М.; СПб., 1994
Воспоминания "смертника" // С.-Петерб. епарх. ведомости, 1992 Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Izmailovsky Life Guards Regiment
House of Preliminary Detention, prison