Orthodox Christian Saint. He was a Russian Orthodox priest living in Paris. Born in Russia, his family fled first to Turkey then settled in France. During World War II he would provide baptismal certificates to Jews and others who came to him for help to escape the Nazis. He worked together with Maria Skobtsova, St. Maria of Paris, using her rented home in Paris as a refuge and stopping point for those fleeing the country. He would later be arrested. Questioned by the SS, he was promised release from the Gestapo if he would promise to not aid the Jews. His reply was "I can say no such thing. I am a Christian and I must act as I must." Fr. Dmitri was confined to prison, where he continued his ministry to the poor, sick and suffering. After a year he was sent to Buchenwald, then on to Camp Dora. Suffering from pneumonia and broken health, he died of February 9, 1944. His body was burned in the crematory at the Buchenwald concentration camp. On January 16, 2004, Father Dimtri, Mother Maria, her son Yuri and associate Elia Fondaminski were all glorified as martyr/saints of the Orthodox Church by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Their memory is celebrated each year on their feast day of July 20.
Orthodox Christian Saint. He was a Russian Orthodox priest living in Paris. Born in Russia, his family fled first to Turkey then settled in France. During World War II he would provide baptismal certificates to Jews and others who came to him for help to escape the Nazis. He worked together with Maria Skobtsova, St. Maria of Paris, using her rented home in Paris as a refuge and stopping point for those fleeing the country. He would later be arrested. Questioned by the SS, he was promised release from the Gestapo if he would promise to not aid the Jews. His reply was "I can say no such thing. I am a Christian and I must act as I must." Fr. Dmitri was confined to prison, where he continued his ministry to the poor, sick and suffering. After a year he was sent to Buchenwald, then on to Camp Dora. Suffering from pneumonia and broken health, he died of February 9, 1944. His body was burned in the crematory at the Buchenwald concentration camp. On January 16, 2004, Father Dimtri, Mother Maria, her son Yuri and associate Elia Fondaminski were all glorified as martyr/saints of the Orthodox Church by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Their memory is celebrated each year on their feast day of July 20.
Bio by: Robert C. Peurifoy
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