Podosinovets, Kirov Province, Russia, July 8, 2021
Remains believed to belong to New Martyr Nikolai Podyakov (+1918) were discovered during excavations at a church in the Kirov Province three years ago. Following the examination of the remains, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill blessed them for the veneration of the faithful last month, reports the Diocese of Yaransk.
St. Nikolai was shot by a detachment of Red Guards on September 24, 1918. He was canonized as a New Martyr of the Russian Church in 2000 at the Jubilee Bishops’ Council.
His remains were uncovered in August 2018 during archaeological work at the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the village of Podosinovets. Eyewitness testimony that he was buried next to the altar has been preserved.
Examinations conducted by the Russian Center for Forensic Medical Examination confirmed that the remains belong to the New Martyr Nikolai Podyakov.
With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Paisy of Yaransk and Luza, the relics of St. Nikolai will permanently reside in the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, where they were discovered. Celebrations in honor of the saint will be held there on September 23-24.
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St. Nikolai was born in 1867. His father was the priest of the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, where his relics are now kept.
After graduating from the St. Nicholas Theological School and the Vologda Theological Seminary, he was ordained to the priesthood. On July 2, 1889, he was appointed rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Podosinovets.
St. Nikolai had five sons and two daughters, whom he raised on his own after his matushka died. He was active in church and social activities, serving as dean of the local deanery and teaching at various local and diocesan schools.
In 1918, the local district came under martial law. To prevent any possible public protests, the Bolsheviks organized actions against the local clergy to intimidate them.
On September 24, 1918, St. Nikolai was shot by the Red Guards.
His body was initially buried in a hole dug by the Red Guards, but in the spring of 1919, his children obtained permission to rebury him in the church yard in Podosinovets.
He was canonized by the Russian Bishops’ Council in 2000.
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