Presbyter
The Holy Martyr Peter (Pyotr Vasilyevich Belyaev) was born in 1874. After graduating from the Vladimir Theological Seminary in 1895, he was appointed as a church reader at the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the village of Karakharovo. In 1897, he was ordained to the priesthood. He later served at the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in the women's religious community at the Kasli Ironworks in Perm Province. From August 17, 1905, he also served at the Church of the Dormition. Father Peter became widely known as a devoted priest who endured every trial of life with patience, humility, and love.
In September 1905, he was appointed director of the Bashkir Orphanage in Kasli, an institution established to provide Russian-language education to the children of Muslim families. Despite many challenges, Father Peter and his assistant distinguished themselves as dedicated and gifted educators, while in 1907 they were officially recognized for their outstanding work. In 1915, he was appointed a member of the Diocesan Committee for the Kasli Ironworks.
On April 18, 1918, the Bolsheviks organized a public gathering during which many members of the clergy were attacked. On Bright Tuesday, April 23, a procession was held to the Chapel of Saint George the Victory-Bearer, where further attacks took place against the faithful.
During the persecutions, Father Peter remained defenseless before the authorities. On June 3, 1918, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, he was arrested and executed during the following night. His body was recovered after Kasli was liberated from Bolshevik control. On July 7, his funeral was celebrated together with those of other victims of the Bolshevik persecutions. A great multitude gathered for the procession, accompanying the departed with profound reverence and deep sorrow.
