ST. EUGENE
Evgeny (Eugene) Aleksandrovich Rodionov was born on the 23rd of may 1977 in the village of Satino-Russkoye near Moscow. As a young boy all Eugene wanted to ever do was to become a chef; acquiring the passion from his mother and grandmother.
When he was 11 years old his grandmother gave him a necklace of our crucified Lord which he immediately placed around his neck; wearing it with much pride and faith. Growing up in soviet Russia, any form of religion wasn’t tolerated so his mother (a self-professed atheist) advised her son to remove the necklace when he attended school. However, Eugene refused to remove his necklace and wore it under his clothing.
In 1995 when Eugene was 18 years old, he was enlisted into the armed forces as is custom in most European countries. However, prior to commencing in the armed forces, Eugene went to an orthodox Church on his own accorded for both his parents were atheists and was baptized into the orthodox faith.
Thus, after Eugene completed his training, he was posted in the town of Galashi to patrol the border of Chechnya. The small cabin in which they stood guard had no lighting and the soldiers had no form of communications to their commanders or the outside world in case of an emergency situation. On the evening of the 14th of February 1996 Eugene and three of his comrades where captured by 10 of the Muslim Chechen rebels who were disguised as paramedics.
The Muslim rebels held Eugene and the soldiers in the basement of a small cottage starving them of food and water. Several time they said to Eugene to take his cross off; convert to Islam and they would spare his life. Thus, on the 23rd of May 1996 Eugene strong in his faith refused the rebels offer and when the ransom was not met Eugene was beheaded whilst two of his comrades where set free because they accepted the offer of the rebels to convert to Islam.
When Eugene’s mother found out of her son's death, she wanted her sons' body. However, the rebels demanded that she pay approximately 4,000 dollars in order for her to find out where he was buried. She did not have the money to do so, hence she sold the small house she lived in to pay the rebels to show her where her son was laid.
Thus, after the body Eugene was found, with the help of the orthodox Church in Russia, Eugene and his comrade were returned to their village for a proper orthodox burial.
There are several people and clergymen in Russia whom recognize Eugene as a Martyr of Christ; however, the Church in Russia has not officially canonized him.
The Church in Russia has denied Eugene the recognition of Martyrdom due to the fact that they are extremely selective with whom they choose for canonization due to countless soldiers dying each year protecting their country.
However, the truth be told - “How many of these brave soldiers look at their enemy in the eyes and refuse to take off the symbol of their faith from their necks (Necklace of the cross); refusing to convert to another religion and choosing death as its repercussion?”
Hence, Eugene did not only die in the line of duty protecting his country! Eugene died professing our Lord Jesus Christ as his King and God! Pray for us Holy Martyr that the Lord's mercy be upon us.
ST. FATHER DANIEL
Saint Daniel Sysoev was born in the year 1974 and was Martyred in the year 2009. He was the son of a senior priest in the Cathedral of St John the Theologian in Russia's Yasenevo region. He grew up assisting at the altar and singing in the choir. In the year 1991, he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary after completing his secondary education.
On the 19th of December 1994, he was tonsured a reader and subsequently married Iulia Mikhailovna Brykina on the 22nd of January 1995. On May the 13th, 1995, he was ordained to the rank of deacon by Bishop Eugene of Vereya. After his diaconal ordination, he was assigned to the All-Holy Mother of God's parish in Gonchary.
In the year 2001, he was ordained to the rank of presbyter and assigned to Ss Peter and Paul's parish in Yasenevo. In the year 2005, the Moscow City Government allocated to Fr Daniel a 0.5-hectare tract of land upon which he built the Temple of Holy Prophet Daniel. This Church was conceived as a missionary parish from which to spread the Gospel to the many non-Orthodox sects living in Kantemirovskiy.
Fr Daniel ensured that the Church was always open and that the Priests assisting him were available to answer any questions people might have. He also ensured that Molebens (canons) were often served to convert the many non-Orthodox people living in the locality of Kantemirovskiy and the world.
In 2009, the land upon which the wooden missionary Temple (Church) of Holy Prophet Daniel was rezoned as parkland. However, the community rose up, and there was made an allowance for a Church in the area. Fr Daniel was moved to the Church of Saint Thomas in Moscow, where he coordinated his missionary activities to the greater community.
Saint Daniel was martyred on November 19 in the year of 2009. He was killed by an Islamic terrorist belonging to a group of terrorists from the Northern Caucuses. He was martyred in the Church of Saint Thomas. He was a great witness to the world of the truth of the Gospel, being the truth of the All-Holy Trinity’s love for all. O Holy martyr, pray for us!
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