Hieromonk
Venerable Martyr Cyril (in the world, Kuzma Trofimovich Vyaznikov) was born in 1872 in the village of Staro-Nikolskoye, Usman District, Voronezh Province. In 1915 he became a novice at the Ascension David Hermitage and in the same year received monastic tonsure with the name Cyril. He fulfilled the obedience of a church sexton and was later ordained a hieromonk.
In 1926 Hieromonk Cyril returned to the Voronezh region and began serving in one of the churches of the Boguchar District. In 1929 he moved to his native village of Staro-Nikolskoye, settled in his sister’s house, and earned his living by tailoring.
In February–March 1930 he was arrested together with a group of clergy of the Voronezh region in the so-called “Buevtsy case.” During interrogation Father Cyril clearly stated that he led a strictly monastic life and did not enter into any conflict with the existing political system. Despite this, he was convicted and sentenced to the supreme penalty.
Venerable Martyr Cyril (Vyaznikov) was executed by shooting on August 2, 1930, near Voronezh, together with other condemned prisoners.
He was numbered among the saints as one of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in August 2000, at the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Days of commemoration: August 2 (July 20 according to the Old Style), in the Synaxis of the Saints of the Voronezh Metropolis and in the Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church.
