Cyril Vyaznikov

Holy Venerable Martyr Cyril Vyaznikov, a hieromonk, was shot at Voronezh on the evening of 2 August 1930, together with nine other believers. He was first canonized under his name in the world, Cosmas, but by the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of 7 March 2015 his name in the calendar was brought into line with the facts established by the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints.

At the beginning of 1930 the hieromonks Cyril (Vyaznikov) and George (Pozharov), the priest George Nikitin and the laymen Euthymius Grebenshchikov and Peter Vyaznikov were arrested. Also arrested in Voronezh were Archimandrite Tikhon (Krechkov) of the Alexeyevsky monastery and the priests John Steblin-⁠Kamensky, Sergius Gortinsky, Theodore Yakovlev and Alexander Arkhangelsky, ten believers in all. All of them rejected the false accusations despite pressure, and none admitted guilt.

On 14 July 1930 they were shown the decree closing the investigation, on 23 July the indictment was sent to the OGPU Collegium, and on 28 July the Collegium heard the "case" and sentenced all of them to death by shooting. The feasts of Saint Seraphim of Sarov and of the holy Prophet Elijah had passed. On the evening of 2 August the sentence was read to them, and then they were loaded onto a truck to be taken to the outskirts of Voronezh. At ten o'clock that evening Archimandrite Tikhon, the hieromonks George and Cyril, the priests John, Sergius, Theodore, Alexander and George, and the laymen Euthymius and Peter were shot.

The saint is commemorated on 2 August, the day of his martyrdom, and on 17 September, with the Synaxis of the Saints of the Voronezh Metropolis, and on 7 February with the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, all in the new style.