This week the memory of the holy martyr Andrei Zimin († January 18, 1920)

Archpriest Andrei Semenovich Zimin was born in 1872 in a Trans-Baikal Cossack family, graduated from the Blagoveshchensk Theological Seminary, and married the daughter of the merchant Lydia Alexandrovna Shmarova. In 1894, Andrei Semenovich was ordained a priest, served in the Cathedral of Blagoveshchensk, was a catechist, and taught at a public school. In 1899, the Vladivostok diocese was formed, where the opening of parishes began. In 1900, Father Andrei agreed to move to the village of Chernigovka, where he became rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon arrival at the new place of service, the pastor began enlightening activities. Residents of Chernihiv under the leadership of Fr. Andrei built the stone buildings of a four-year school and a one-class ministerial school. The holy martyr was engaged in the construction of churches in the surrounding villages, he was a regular author of the Vladivostok Diocesan Vedomosti, on the pages of which he discussed modern events, denounced drunkenness and abortion. Through the efforts of the saint, in the Chernigovka and in Altinovka, the Brotherhood of sobriety was opened. In 1913, Father Andrei was elevated to the rank of archpriest, in 1913 and 1916. awarded the Order of St. Anna III and II degree. According to the recollections of the inhabitants of Chernihivka, the shepherd was a man of amazing responsiveness and generosity, tried to help everyone in need. The personal life of the righteous shepherd, in whose family there were 10 children, was also happy.  After the Bolshevik revolution, the region plunged into chaos. Although normal life was soon restored, apart from the railroads, the red partisan detachments were atrocious. In June 1919, they raided Chernihiv. 2,000 pounds of flour and 16 horses were taken from the peasants. The abbot of the temple was also taken to the taiga. Bullying lasted about a month, then the saint was released, and he returned to the ministry in Chernigovka. However, father Andrei knew that he would die soon. He told his relative, priest John Konoplev, that he saw in a dream his future suffering. The saint wrote down his dream and sealed it in an envelope, allowing it to be opened after death. Everything happened as it was revealed to the righteous. On the night of January 18, 1920, partisans burst into the house of the shepherd. They brutally killed him.