First Arrest By Soviet Authorities (1938)
After the Kiev Pechersk Lavra was closed by the decision of Soviet Ukraine officials, father Kuksha served at the church at Voskresenksaya Slobodka. In 1938, he was sentenced by the Soviet authorities as a "cult servant" to 5 years of concentration camps in the town of Vilma, in Molotov Oblast (today Perm Oblast), Ural. And after this term ended, Kuksha was convicted to 3 years of exile. This way at the age of 63, Kuksha happened to be at hard wood cutting labours working 14 hours a day, in cruel frosts, receiving miserable and bad meals. Many priests and monks were imprisoned together with Kuksha. At that time, the post of Kiev metropolitan was occupied by vladyka Anthony, who, along with pieces of dry breads, sent the particles of blessed Eucharist Gifts. In this way, hundreds of convicted priests and monks took communion.
Kuksha was freed from the Vilma camp in the spring of 1943 on the feast of Saint George and was exiled to a village nearby Kungur in Solikamsk Oblast (today northern part of Perm Oblast). After being blessed by the bishop of Solikamsk, he often conducted church services in the nearby village. In 1947 the exile term ended.
Read more about this topic: Kuksha Of Odessa
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