Today the church honors St. Demetrius Mikhailovich Benevolenskii, Martyr.
Ora pro nobis.
Demetrius Mikhailovich Benevolenskii was born on October 10, 1883 in Vishny Volochyok, Tver province. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1911, he was assigned to the Church of the Great Martyr Demetrius in the village of Ostrovno and, in 1919, to the Church of All the Afflicted in the village of Panoshino [today Udomlya]. He later served at the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in the village of Sinev in the Dubrovo Sonkovskii District of the Tver region.
As a result of his intense dedication to his pastoral duties, he had been arrested and imprisoned several times by the Soviet Socialist regime. After his final arrest, he was shot on November 27, 1937. On September 19, 1999, after the fall of the Soviet Socialist state, he was numbered among the new martyrs and confessors of Russia.
Almighty God, who gave to your servant Demetrius boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
