Crucea.ro

Protopriest Vladimir Ivanovich Kassenyev served in the village of Bolshie Berezinki, Simbirsk province. He was related through his wife to the poet F.I. Tyutchev and the over-procurator of the Holy Synod, K.N.
Pobedonostsev. The family of Fr. Vladimir was large and friendly – there were nine children. Fr. Vladimir served in the largest church of the village, which had four altars. On great feasts the service encompassed all four altars. Fr. Vladimir read the canons for Christmas and Pascha in twelve languages, which astonished everyone. At his house there assembled congresses of priests.
They came with their families and lived there for weeks. For Christmas and Pascha three tables were laid with places for twelve people on each, and for three days the doors were open for everyone. The intelligentsia also came, and the richer and poorer peasants. The family had two cows, two horses and poultry. Batyushka was friendly with Michurin and had a beautiful garden.
Matushka was good at sewing and cooking, and was an excellent housewife.
They were dekulakized three times: first they took their livestock, then their furniture, then their house. But each time they recovered. The people used to say: “Batyushka is helped by God! Everything with him is not as it is with us!” He was arrested several times on various excuses. In 1932 he was cast into prison in Saransk for refusing to renounce his priesthood. In prison they forcibly cut his hair in Holy Week, and he died on the night of Pascha. His fellow inmates brought matushka his watch and boots and said: “
Batyushka looked at his watch, said: ‘Christ is risen!’ and died.”

Source: Vladimir Moss

Gheorghe Vanau