Priest Boris Georgievich Gerasimov

(1872-1938)

A prominent scholar and local historian, chairman of the Semey branch of the Russian Geographical Society's West Siberian section, and author of the note "The Flight of Birds Over the City of Semey"

Boris Gerasimov made a significant contribution to the study of Eastern Kazakhstan. He was born in 1872 in a family of exiles in Ust-Kamenogorsk. After graduating from the Tomsk Theological Seminary, he was appointed to a parish. In 1901, the Nikolsky Cathedral was built in Semey, where Boris Gerasimov was appointed as the Abbot. He combined church service with teaching. Boris Georgievich was fluent in Latin, Greek, English, and French, read Russian and foreign classical literature, and was beneficial in the field of education with his extensive knowledge. Gerasimov made an invaluable contribution to the study of his native land. It can be said that with his direct participation, the Semey branch of the Russian Geographical Society was established in 1902. For his contribution to the local studies of Semey Province, Boris Gerasimov was awarded a gold medal in June 1925. Unfortunately, Boris Gerasimov could not escape the wave of repression.

In August 1937, he was arrested on suspicion of counter-revolutionary activities, accused of having formed a spy organization among the clergy. In November 1937, the NKVD sentenced the clergy to the highest punishment – execution. Boris Gerasimov was sentenced to death on the night of January 1, 1938.