Holy New Martyr Evgeny Rodionov (1977–1996) - May 23

Holy New Martyr Evgeny Rodionov of Chechnya (1977–1996) commemorated on May 23 was martyred by Muslims for refusing to remove his cross from his neck.

Saint Evgeny, the Russian soldier honored throughout the Orthodox world, was beheaded by Chechen Muslims for refusing to remove his cross and thus deny our Lord Jesus Christ. He is a true model of faith and patience for our times. How many of us would refuse to remove our cross to save our earthly life?  By such a simple thing, by a seemingly small confession of faith (but which we poor and unworthy people often do not assume even in days of peace), this young soldier persevered in faithfulness despite torture and acquired the glory of the heavenly crown.

A brief story of the life of the new martyr Evgeny

When he was 11 years old, Evgeny Rodionov received a small cross on a chain from his grandmother. He wanted to wear it to school, but his mother, a convinced atheist, warned him against it because the communist authorities persecuted such Christian attitudes. However, not heeding the risks, Evgeny wore the little cross constantly and refused to ever take it off.

Growing up and reaching the age of youth, he enlisted as a soldier in the Russian army. At only 19 years old, he was taken hostage by Chechen Muslim rebels.  They tortured him and kept him chained by his wrists in a basement. He was left without food for days and was severely beaten. The Muslims ordered Evgeny and several other Russian prisoners to deny Christ, renounce Him, and convert to Islam. Unlike most of his fellow prisoners, Evgeny categorically refused to renounce the Savior and was beheaded by his torturers on May 23, 1996. He did not remove his cross even during the most brutal torture.

Later, the Muslim executioner told the mother of the soldier-confessor: “Your son had a choice to renounce the Cross and Christ and stay alive. He could have converted to Islam, but he did not agree under any circumstances to take off his cross.”  Evgeny's mother then managed to recover her son's body for a Christian burial. Taken to a common grave and seeing her son's boots, she did not believe it was him until she saw his cross still around his neck. The young martyr's head was later found.

Evgeny's father died shortly after the return of her son's body, and his mother, who had never set foot in a church, is now a devout Orthodox Christian, enlightened by the example of her son, the Holy Martyr Evgeny Rodionov.

Veneration of this Saint spread rapidly, and pilgrims came from great distances to worship his miracle-working relics. An icon of St. Evgeny also began to exude myrrh.

 This is what the Church urges us through the example of this New Martyr: let us also learn from the strength, Christian dignity and bravery of Eugene, in order to face and overcome our own daily temptations to betray Christ and to deny Him and His Cross. Let us never be ashamed to carry our little cross on our chest, but let us each take up daily the cross of our soul, the cross of our own life on this earth, ordained by the Good God Himself. Let us be ready at any moment to defend our holy Orthodox Christian faith, living a life as close as possible to the commandments of the Lord.

 asceticism, received from You, our God, the crown of incorruptibility, for having Your power, he defeated the tormentors, and crushed the powerless audacity of the demons. For his prayers, save our souls, Christ our God!" Amen!