Venedikt Matveev

Venedikt Matveev was a Russian schemamonk, born in 1830 into a peasant family in the village of Dalmatovka, Novgorod province. He reposed on 25 June 1904. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.

Named Vasily Matveevich in the world, he lost his father at three, and his mother raised him in love of God and of people. From childhood he dreamed of devoting himself to God, but the landowner would not release him. One day the landowner's small son fell so gravely ill that the doctors gave up, and at his request the father gave him leave, which fulfilled his dream. He became a monk on Athos. A saying of his is remembered: we cannot prove anything to those who do not believe; the only thing we believers can do is live so that our own holiness proves God's existence, and then perhaps the merciful God will turn them to faith. He reposed on 25 June 1904.