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== Early life ==
[[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 [[Theology|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]].
In June 1860, hieromonk Nicholas set off for his duty station in the town of Hakodate, taking along the [[icon]] of Smolensk [[Theotokos|Mother of God]]. On his way to Japan, he met the renowned bishop of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Church]], St [[Innocent of Alaska|Innocent]] (Veniaminov), [[Archbishop]] of Kamchatka, the Kurile and Aleutian Islands (later Metropolitan of Moscow), called the Apostle of America and Siberia. In Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, he learned from the elder missionary's experience all that was necessary to continue his apostolic deeds "even to the end of the earth."
On [[July 2]], 1861 Nicholas arrived in Hakodate. At first, to preach the [[Gospel]] in Japan seemed next to impossible. According to Fr Nicholas' words, "the Japanese of that time regarded foreigners as beasts, and considered Christianity to be a vicious church, to which only notorious evildoers and magicians could belong." It took him eight years to familiarize himself with the country, its people and language, and the customs and traditions of those to whom he had come to preach.
Nicholas learned Japanese culture and language eagerly. Especially after he met Archbp. Innocent (Veniaminov) in September 1861 in Hakodate, his motivation seemed to be accelerated. In Japan, the young Nicholas tried to keep his competence for Western languages and read foreign books. Innocent eventually found him reading Western books and scorned him. According to Innocent, all of Nicholas' efforts should have been toward learning Japanese language, culture and history so that he would be able to make a correct translation of the Scripture. Nicholas was impressed greatly with the words of Archbp. Innocent and meekly submitted and was obedient to him.
[[Image:NikolaiJapan188207.jpg|thumb|left|Bishop Nicholas from group picture of All Japan Council of 1882]]
In 1871, the persecution of Christians began in Japan, which affected many people, including [[Paul Sawabe]], the first Orthodox Japanese, who would later become a famous [[missionary ]] [[priest]].
== Building of the mission ==
It was not until 1873 that the persecution lessened a little and a free propagation of Christianity became possible. In the same year Archimandrite Nicholas started to build a church and a school for fifty people in Tokyo, followed by a theological school, which was transformed into a [[Tokyo Orthodox Seminary (Tokyo, Japan)|seminary]] in 1878.
In 1874, His Eminence Paul, Bishop of Kamchatka, arrived in Tokyo to [[ordination|ordain ]] local candidates recommended by Archimandrite Nicholas. By that time, there were four schools in Tokyo: a catechist school, a seminary, a girls' school, and a clerical school; and two schools in Hakodate, one for boys and one for girls.
In late 1877, the Mission began to publish a magazine, ''The Church Herald'', on a regular basis. By 1878, there were 4115 4,115 Christians in Japan. In public worship and the education of local communities, the vernacular was used. The publication of books on spirituality and [[ethics]] was initiated as well.
In 1880, the Holy Synod decided to increase the staff of the Mission and to elevate the head of it, Archimandrite Nicholas, to the rank of [[bishop]]. On [[March 30]], 1880, Archimandrite Nicholas was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated ]] bishop of Tokyo in the Trinity [[Cathedral]] of [[Alexander Nevsky]] [[Lavra]]. The bishop wrote later: "During the [[sacrament]] of [[Consecration of the Eucharist|consecration]], feelings seem to overwhelm the man against his will, his eyes get wet, his soul embarrassed. His inner being is transformed as soon as [[hierarch]]s place their right hands upon him. He stands up a totally different person than he was before kneeling down in front of the [[altar]]."
[[Image:nj1.jpg|thumb|right|Bishop Nicholas]]
From this moment Bishop Nicholas continued his apostolic labour with even greater zeal. He completed the construction of the [[Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Tokyo, Japan)]] in 1891 and then proceeded with the translation of liturgical books, and composed ''The Orthodox Theological Dictionary'' in Japanese while continuing to attend to the needs of the numerous Orthodox communities.
The Russian-Japanese War of 1905, however, turned out to be the time of ordeals for St Nicholas and his flock. He withstood them with honour, to the great surprise of the Japanese. He found a way to help Russian prisoners of war in their difficult situation. In recognition of this unprecedented effort, he was promoted to the rank of [[archbishop]].
In 1911, after fifty years' missionary work of St Nicholas, the [[Church of Japan]] numbered 266 communities, including 33,017 Orthodox [[laity|laymen]], one archbishop, one bishop, 35 priests, six deacons, 14 teachers of singing, and 116 catechists.
