From among the holy ones commemorated on the 20th of October, we especially remember the Righteous Child Artemius of Verkola,
Holy Righteous Artemius of Verkola was born in the village of Dvina Verkhol around the year 1532. The son of pious
parents, Artemius was a child who was courageous, meek and diligent for every good deed. On June 23, 1545 the twelve-year-old
Artemius and his father were taken by surprise in a field by a thunderstorm. A clap of thunder broke right over their heads,
and the child Artemius fell dead. People thought that this was a sign of God’s judgment, therefore they left the body
in a pine forest without a funeral, and without burial. Some years later, the village reader beheld a light over
the place where the incorrupt body of the Righteous Artemius lay. Taken to the church of Saint Nicholas in 1577, the holy
relics were shown to be a source of numerous healings. In this village a monastery was later built, called the Verkhol. In
1918, the impious Soviets chopped the holy relics into pieces and threw them into a well. The memory of Saint Artemius is
also celebrated on October 20.
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