Nicholas Gorodetsky was born on July 26, 1840 into the family of a nobleman of the city of Oryol. He lost his parents early in his youth, his father when he was four years old and his mother when he was ten. Nicholas was raised by his aunt, who provided him his early education. Nicholas began his secondary education in 1853 upon entering the fourth grade level at the gymnasium in Oryol. Graduating from the gymnasium he entered the law faculty of Moscow University. While attending the law faculty, deep religious feelings instilled during his youth came to fore. During his fourth year he abandoned worldly pursuits and withdrew from the university. Nicholas traveled by foot to the Nicholas-Speshinsky Monastery where he was accepted as a novice performing his obedience in the kitchen and refec