Saint Basil Afanasievich Alexandrin was born on 8 February 1872 in the village of Verteleim, in the Insar District of Penza Province. Before the Revolution, he owned a large farm and was highly respected by his fellow villagers. In 1918, he became a cantor at the village church. In 1929, his property was confiscated and he was sent into exile. He returned in 1932 and had his civil rights restored.
In 1934, the authorities decided to convert the church building into a workshop. Saint Basil protested and firmly insisted that it remain a place of worship. He was arrested and held in prison. Later, he resumed his duties at the church and also attended Divine Liturgies in a neighbouring village.
On 17 October 1937, Basil Afanasievich was arrested again and charged with counter-revolutionary activities. During the investigation, the authorities found religious books and a cross among his personal belongings. He never renounced his faith or beliefs. In December 1937, he was sentenced to ten years of forced labour.
From February 1938, he was held at the Unzhen penal camp, where he died on 26 August 1942 as a result of the harsh conditions of imprisonment. In 2000, the Holy Martyr Basil was glorified among the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia by the Russian Orthodox Church.
