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Hieromonk '''Nestor (Savchuk)''' was a [[monk]] during the closing years of the Soviet Union. He was [[martyr]] ed for the Orthodox Faith in Zharky, Russia. His body was found on [[December 31]], 1993.
==Early life==
Nestor was born in Crimea (now in present-day Ukraine) in 1960. As a young man, he concentrated on developing his wrestling, boxing and martial arts abilities. He was always distant from his family, had a keen awareness and stood out above his peers. Neither he nor his family knew at the time, but two of his great-uncles served at [[Pochaev Lavra of the Dormition of the Theotokos|Pochayiv Lavra]] ([[Monastery]]), one as a married [[priest]] and the other as a revered [[monk]].
In the early 1980s, in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, an atheist and communist state, Nestor traveled to Odessa to work as an apprentice to paint religious murals. However, it seems that Nestor was motivated less by spirituality than by the need to work, because it was at this time that his friends, the older artists, would begin to inspire him with stories of righteous [[monastic]]s, spending 1000 years glorifying God in this life. Despite the government of the time, Nestor saw the world's vanity and desired to flee it in order to arrive at ancient Christianity.
==Pochayiv Lavra==
When he made his decision, Nestor left Odessa for Pochayiv Lavra, where he began his [[monasticism|monastic]] life (and met his distant relatives). While the government regulated monasteries and required [[monk]]s monks to be registered, Nestor never registered. In the mid-1980s the government began a persecution of the monastery, with some monks going to prison-camps and others 'disappearing'. Nestor knew that if he was found he would be treated similarly if he was found, but continued living, albeit in hiding, as an illegal monk. He was soon [[ordination}|ordained]] a [[priestmonk]].
Eventually conditions at Pochayiv deteriorated to the extent that the monastery was almost empty: either through monks leaving, being taken to prison camps or being killed. His spiritual father, Elder John Kristiankin, told him to go to Zharky; . Hmk Nestor treated this as divine guidance and departed.
==Priestmonk of Zharky==
Zharky was a small, isolated and desolate village with few believers, surrounded by vast wilderness, and - due to flooded roads - only accessible in summer. The [[parish]] that Hmk Nestor would be serving was old and run-down, but had many ancient [[icon]]s; added to this, a [[prophecy]] had been proclaimed at the church by two [[fool for Christ|fools-for-Christ]], who were also martyred there: "The [[priest]] who shall serve here until the end will be saved". On arrival after his long journey, Hmk Nestor went to his [[church]]. He was unaware of the prophecy, but he loved the ancient icons and the mystical air about the church, and said that he wanted to stay there the rest of his life. The police notified Hmk Nestor about an icon-stealing ring run by the Russian Mafia and that had terrorised local churches in the area. This ring would continually harass the priestmonk, who loved the icons.
Hmk Nestor reminded Russians of their Orthodoxy. His youthful zeal brought new life to Zharky, and he was selflessly charitable, helping all in need, Christian or otherwise, in Zharky or out, often walking from other villages at night, regardless of season. He maintained an austere life of [[prayer]]. He relished his walks from other villages, disdaining a car to be alone with God, immersing himself in prayer. When he arrived home he would complete his [[prayer rule]], which was hours more of [[chant]]ing and tearful prayer.
===Hooligans===
