Prokopiusz (born Pyotr Semyonovich Titov in 1877) was an Eastern Orthodox bishop who served as the Archbishop of Kherson and Mykolaiv. Born into a priestly family in Novokuznetsk, he pursued extensive theological studies before being ordained a monk and priest in 1901. He held various teaching and administrative positions within the church throughout his career. During the revolutionary period, he famously defended the Alexander Nevsky Lavra against seizure. Following years of service and various arrests, he was eventually killed in 1937, leading to his recognition as a hieromartyr.
Ecclesiastical career
After completing his studies at the Kazan Theological Academy, Prokopiusz served as a teacher and administrator in several dioceses. He was consecrated as a bishop in 1914. In 1917, he acted as the rector of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where he pledged to protect the monastery until his death. He later served as the Bishop of Odessa and Kherson, though political instability and Soviet authorities frequently interrupted his ministry through arrests and exile.
Martyrdom and veneration
Prokopiusz faced repeated persecution for his resistance to the removal of church valuables and his opposition to the Renovationist movement. After being exiled to Moscow, he continued to maintain spiritual ties with his flock in Kherson through clandestine networks. He was killed in 1937 during the Soviet era. He was canonized as a hieromartyr by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000.