Martyr Efim (Euthymius) Nikiforovich Grebenshchikov was born in 1904 in the village of Platava, Korotoyak District, Voronezh Province, into a peasant family. In January 1930, together with Peter Vyaznikov, he led a peasant uprising in his native village in defense of the local Church of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica and against collectivization.
In March 1930 Efim Nikiforovich was arrested; from April he was held in the Voronezh prison and became involved in the group case known as “The Case of Bishop Alexei (Buy), Voronezh 1930.” The martyr was accused of belonging to a “church-monarchist organization” and was sentenced to death. He did not admit any guilt.
Efim Grebenshchikov was executed by shooting on August 2, 1930, near Voronezh, together with other condemned prisoners.
Martyr Peter Mikhailovich Vyaznikov was born in 1876 in the village of Platava, Korotoyak District, Voronezh Province, into a peasant family. He was an independent peasant farmer and became one of the leaders of the mass peasant uprising in his native village.
In January 1930 Peter Mikhailovich was arrested, and in April he was imprisoned in Voronezh. The martyr was convicted in the group case “The Case of Bishop Alexei (Buy), Voronezh 1930” and sentenced to the supreme penalty. He did not acknowledge himself guilty.
On August 2, 1930, in the vicinity of Voronezh, Peter Vyaznikov suffered a martyr’s death by execution together with other condemned prisoners.
Martyrs Efim Grebenshchikov and Peter Vyaznikov were numbered among the saints as New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in August 2000, at the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
