St. Artemius of Verkola, a Youth Month Spotlight

For Youth Month, we remember St. Artemius of Verkola, a righteous child saint. He was born in 1532 in the Russian town of Verkola. His family were peasants. He was obedient to his parents, quiet and kind toward others, and faithful to the Lord.

When he was 12, he was working in a field with his father and was struck by lightning and died at once. Villagers, believing this was punishment for a secret sin, left his body in the forest without a funeral. More than 30 years later, a local deacon saw a light in the woods and found the boy's body incorrupt. Miracles and healings followed for those who venerated his relics, and he was declared a saint. In 1648 the St. Artemius of Verkola Monastery was founded. His relics remained there until they were destroyed by the Bolsheviks in the early 20th century.

He is one of the patrons of the Antiochian Village, the Archdiocese camp, and there is an icon of him in our church.

Come and see that icon when you are next with us for worship.