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Nicholas of Japan

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[[Image:nj3.jpg|thumb|left|St. Nicholas, [[Equal-to-the-Apostles|equal to the Apostles]] and [[enlightener]] of Japan]]Nicholas was born Ivan Kasatkin in Berezovsky village, Volsk district, in the province of Smolensk. There his father, Dmitri, served as a [[deacon]]. His mother died when he was five. The deacon's family was big and very poor. Despite that, young Ivan was sent to the Belsk Theological School and later to the Smolensk Theological [[Seminary]].
In 1857, Ivan, one of the best students, was sent to study in the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy]], where he demonstrated remarkable talents. When Ivan was about to finish his studies, his future [[mission ]] — to preach the Orthodox faith in Japan — was revealed by Divine Providence.
The Russian consul in Japan sent a request to the [[Holy Synod]] (later forwarded to the Academy), asking for a pastor "who would be useful both as a spiritual director and a scholar, and whose private life would give a good idea of our [[clergy]] not only to Japanese, but also to foreigners." He filed a petition to [[Bishop]] Nectarius, the [[rector]], asking to profess him and to appoint him to the Russian Consulate in Japan.
On [[June 24]], 1860, Bishop Nectarius professed Ivan Kasatkin with the name of Nicholas in the academic church of the Twelve [[Apostles]]. On [[June 29]], the day of Apostles [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul|Paul]], [[monk]] Nicholas was [[ordination|ordained]] [[hierodeacon]], and on [[June 30]], when the [[Synaxis]] of the Twelve Apostles was celebrated, he became [[hieromonk]].
The bishop's words of blessing of the young monk's new [[mission ]] were remarkable: "You are supposed to live your [[asceticism|ascetic life]] outside the [[monastery]]. You will have to leave your homeland and to serve God in a country that is distant and unfaithful. Along with the cross of an ascetic you must take your staff of a pilgrim, along with [[monasticism|monastic]] exploits you must embark on an apostolic [[mission]]!"
== Early years in Japan ==
[[Hieromonk]] Nicholas attended popular gatherings to listen to visiting storytellers and Buddhist preachers. By 1868, Fr Nicholas had already mastered spoken Japanese. His knowledge of the history of Japan was deeper than that of many Japanese. In the meantime, he also learned English, which was becoming an international language. By that time Fr Nicholas' [[congregation]] numbered about 20 men and women.
In late 1869, hieromonk Nicholas came to St. Petersburg to report on the results of his work to the Synod. A decision was made "to set up a special Russian Ecclesiastical [[Mission ]] to preach God's Word among [[paganism|pagans]]." Fr Nicholas was promoted to the rank of [[archimandrite]] and appointed head of the [[Mission]].
Upon his return to Japan, the prospective [[bishop]] turned over his Hakodate congregation to hieromonk [[Anatoly Tikhai|Anatole]], his new associate, and relocated the [[missionary]] centre to Tokyo.
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