Peter Artemiev
Encyclopedia
Blessed
Peter Artemiev (d. March 30, 1700 Solovetsky Monastery
, Russia) - was a Russian Orthodox Deacon
, a convert to Byzantine Catholicism, and one of the first martyr
s of the Russian Catholic Church
.
, Vasilsursk
and Suzdal
. In years 1687-1688 he studied at the Slavic Greek Latin Academy
in Moscow. In February 1688, as a "student and a novice" he travelled with Ioannikos Litkhoudis to the Republic of Venice
. In Venice, Artemiev secretly adopted Catholicism. From Venice he travelled to Rome on pilgrimage
and to see the Pope, and at the end of 1688 he returned to Moscow. Here Patriarch Adrian
ordained him to the rank of deacon. While serving in the Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Artemev became friendly with Moscow Jesuits Jerzy David and T. Tikhavski. After their expulsion ( 5 October 1689 ), confessed to the Jesuit missionary Fr. Conrad Terpilovsky, in Moscow on his way from Persia.
In 1698, Deacon Peter began to openly profess and preach reunion with the Holy See
. According to a denunciation of the priest at St. Peter and Paul Church to Patriarch Adrian, he "harbors many who follow his heresies". Summoned from Suzdal, Peter's father could not persuade him to renounce Catholicism. Peter was sent to the Novospassky Monastery
, where the wrote a letter to Patriarch, expressing willingness to accept martyrdom, denouncing the Patriarch and his Greek favorites, and defended the rights of the Old Believers
. (The message has not been preserved, but we know the answer to it, entitled "Unmasking the Fallacies of Deacon Peter").
13 June 1698, according to the decision of Council with the participation of Patriarch Adrian, and other senior hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church
, Artemiev was defrocked, anathematized and banished to a Vazhsky Monastery in Kholmogory
diocese. Orders were given to keep him in strict isolation, do not give him ink and paper for writing and to not allow to attend the church. While imprisoned there between July 5 and 11 September 1698, Deacon Peter remained faithful to Catholic beliefs, continued to denounce the anti-Catholic elements of the Orthodox Church and preaching reunion with Rome. As a result, Bishop Athanasius of Kholmogory imprisoned him in Solovetsky Monastery
, where Deacon Peter Artemiev died.
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Peter Artemiev (d. March 30, 1700 Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery was the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North before being turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp , which served as a prototype for the GULag system. Situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, the monastery braved many changes of fortune...
, Russia) - was a Russian Orthodox Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, a convert to Byzantine Catholicism, and one of the first martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s of the Russian Catholic Church
Russian Catholic Church
The Russian Catholic Church is a Byzantine Rite church sui juris in full union with the Catholic Church. Historically it represents a schism from the Russian Orthodox Church. It is now in full communion with and subject to the authority of the Pope as defined by Eastern canon law...
.
Biography
Born as the son of a Russian Orthodox priest, Peter Artemiev spent his childhood in Nizhny NovgorodNizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
, Vasilsursk
Vasilsursk
Vasilsursk is an urban locality in Vorotynsky District of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the Sura River, not far from its fall into the Volga. Population:...
and Suzdal
Suzdal
Suzdal is a town in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, situated northeast of Moscow, from the city of Vladimir, on the Kamenka River. Population: -History:...
. In years 1687-1688 he studied at the Slavic Greek Latin Academy
Slavic Greek Latin Academy
Slavic Greek Latin Academy was the first higher education establishment in Moscow, Russia.-Beginnings:...
in Moscow. In February 1688, as a "student and a novice" he travelled with Ioannikos Litkhoudis to the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. In Venice, Artemiev secretly adopted Catholicism. From Venice he travelled to Rome on pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
and to see the Pope, and at the end of 1688 he returned to Moscow. Here Patriarch Adrian
Patriarch Adrian
Patriarch Adrian was the last pre-revolutionary Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.Adrian caught the eye of Patriarch Joachim, when he was still an archmandrite at Chudov Monastery. In 1686, Joachim appointed him metropolitan of Kazan and Sviyazhsk. On August 24, 1690, Adrian was chosen to replace...
ordained him to the rank of deacon. While serving in the Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Artemev became friendly with Moscow Jesuits Jerzy David and T. Tikhavski. After their expulsion ( 5 October 1689 ), confessed to the Jesuit missionary Fr. Conrad Terpilovsky, in Moscow on his way from Persia.
In 1698, Deacon Peter began to openly profess and preach reunion with the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. According to a denunciation of the priest at St. Peter and Paul Church to Patriarch Adrian, he "harbors many who follow his heresies". Summoned from Suzdal, Peter's father could not persuade him to renounce Catholicism. Peter was sent to the Novospassky Monastery
Novospassky Monastery
Novospassky Monastery is one of the fortified monasteries surrounding Moscow from south-east.It was the first monastery to be founded in Moscow in the early 14th century. The Saviour Church was its original katholikon...
, where the wrote a letter to Patriarch, expressing willingness to accept martyrdom, denouncing the Patriarch and his Greek favorites, and defended the rights of the Old Believers
Old Believers
In the context of Russian Orthodox church history, the Old Believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652–66...
. (The message has not been preserved, but we know the answer to it, entitled "Unmasking the Fallacies of Deacon Peter").
13 June 1698, according to the decision of Council with the participation of Patriarch Adrian, and other senior hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
, Artemiev was defrocked, anathematized and banished to a Vazhsky Monastery in Kholmogory
Kholmogory
Kholmogory is a historic village and the administrative center of Kholmogorsky District of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on the left bank of the Northern Dvina, along the Kholmogory Highway, 75 km southeast of Arkhangelsk and 90 km north of the Antonievo-Siysky Monastery. The name...
diocese. Orders were given to keep him in strict isolation, do not give him ink and paper for writing and to not allow to attend the church. While imprisoned there between July 5 and 11 September 1698, Deacon Peter remained faithful to Catholic beliefs, continued to denounce the anti-Catholic elements of the Orthodox Church and preaching reunion with Rome. As a result, Bishop Athanasius of Kholmogory imprisoned him in Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery
Solovetsky Monastery was the greatest citadel of Christianity in the Russian North before being turned into a special Soviet prison and labor camp , which served as a prototype for the GULag system. Situated on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, the monastery braved many changes of fortune...
, where Deacon Peter Artemiev died.