Hierarch Saint Meletius (Yakimov), Bishop of Ryazan

Saint Meletius (secular name Mikhail Kuzmich Yakimov) was born on 29 October 1835 in the village of Nema, Vyatka province. Tonsured a monk in 1857, ordained hierodeacon in 1859 and hieromonk in 1862, he was raised to archimandrite in 1874. In 1878 he was consecrated Bishop of Selenginsk, vicar of the Irkutsk diocese, and placed in charge of the Transbaikal Orthodox mission.

For nearly thirty years he labored as a missionary among the Buryat and Yakut peoples of Siberia, converting more than 11,000 people to Orthodoxy and earning the title "Enlightener of Siberia." From 1889 to 1896 he headed the Diocese of Yakutsk. On 14 October 1896 he was appointed Bishop of Ryazan and Zaraisk, arriving at his new see in February 1897, where he continued his missionary and educational work.

He reposed on 14 January 1900 and was buried in the Archangel Cathedral of the Ryazan Kremlin. He was glorified in 1984 as part of the Sobor of Siberian Saints and is also venerated in the Sobor of Ryazan Saints. His incorrupt relics were uncovered on 5 June 1998 and transferred to Ryazan's Holy Trinity Monastery.