Beshpagir, Stavropol Krai, Russia, February 8, 2023
Photo: stavropol-eparhia.ru
Hieromartyr Dmitry Semenov (+1918) has been locally venerated as a saint in the Stavropol Metropolia since 2019, and on August 25, 2022, the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate approved him for Churchwide veneration and added his name to the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church.
On Sunday, February 5, when the Russian Church celebrated the Synaxis, his canonization was liturgically commemorated in the Stavropol village of Beshpagir.
Photo: stavropol-eparhia.ru
The Liturgy at the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross was served by His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and local clergy, reports the Stavropol Metropolia.
The glorification of Hieromartyr Dmitry took place during the Small Entrance. Met. Kirill read out the Synodal resolution on the canonization of St. Dmitry, according to which his feast is to be celebrated on June 14/27. Then the life of the New Martyr was read out, after which Met. Kirill blessed the people with the icon of St. Dmitry as his troparion was being sung.
Photo: stavropol-eparhia.ru
Following the Liturgy, all processed to the site of the future Holy Cross Church, where Met. Kirill served the rite of laying the foundation stone.
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Hieromartyr Dmitry Semenov was born on October 30, 1873, in the Stavropol Governorate in the family of a priest. He graduated from the Stavropol Theological Seminary with a certificate as a public school teacher.
He was ordained a deacon in August 1896, serving in Stavropol, and later in the Tomsk Diocese. He was ordained a priest on May 31, 1909, and zealously educated his people in the faith and piety.
He later returned to Stavropol to take care of his elderly father, where he served until his martyrdom in the summer of 1918. He earned the respect and love of his entire flock.
The Red Guard entered his village on June 27, 1918. When they came to Fr. Dmitry’s house, he fed the soldiers, and half an hour later they arrested him. He was tortured and mocked for a long time, and after offering a final prayer, St. Dmitry was beheaded.
His lifeless body was thrown down a cliff. He was buried only after the Red Army soldiers left the village.
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