Ηegumen / Abbot
The Venerable Martyr Arseny—Alexander Dmitrievich Dmitriev in the world—was born in 1872 in Saint Petersburg into a peasant family. The Vyazhishchi Monastery, located in the village where he grew up, had a profound influence on the future saint.
In 1899, Alexander entered the Monastery of the Mother of God in the town of Tikhvin as a novice. In 1904, he was tonsured a monk, and in 1913 he was ordained a hieromonk. Father Arseny served at the monastery until it was closed in 1924, after which he continued his ministry at the regimental church in Tikhvin.
In the autumn of 1930, Hieromonk Arseny was arrested on charges of “unlawful possession of silver coins.” Twenty-eight other clergymen were arrested with him. He was sentenced to three years of exile.
After returning from exile in 1934, Father Arseny began serving at the Church of Saint Panteleimon in Tikhvin.
On 29 September 1937, he was arrested again on charges of “anti-Soviet agitation.” The confessor admitted no guilt whatsoever. A Soviet court sentenced him to death.
On 3 December 1937, Hieromonk Arseny was executed by firing squad in Tikhvin together with other New Martyrs of Tikhvin.
He was canonised among the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia on 17 July 2002 by a decree of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
