depicting Rodionov had become popular. His mother has one herself; she has suggested that the icon of her son sometimes emits a perfume which she believes to be holy, to the extent that it actually drips with it. Because of the popular devotion given to the New Martyr Rodionov, the pious faithful sought official canonization from the Moscow Patriarchate. Initially, it refused, which divided the Orthodox Church in Russia. Maksim Maksimov, Secretary of the Canonization Commission, explained the Synod's position in Tserkovny Vestnik (Church Bulletin), the official publication of the Russian Orthodox Church. His arguments can be summarized in three points: The only evidence that the soldier was executed for this faith is the testimony of his mother, who in her love made a god of her son; The Russian Orthodox Church has never canonized anyone killed in war; The period of new martyrs ended with the collapse of the Bolshevik regime. However, he emphasized that the deceased can be honoured without canonization. Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow personally blessed the popular account of Rodionov's life but worried that his cult would balloon into anti-Muslim rage. Opponents of the decision, including Alexander Shargunov, a well-known priest, argued that an outbreak of people's love is enough for the truth and that Rodionov's grave works miracles, curing the sick and reconciling enemies. They also pointed out that the soldier did not die at war but in captivity and that to say that the time of martyrs is over is nearly heresy. References External links "Boy soldier who died for faith made 'saint'", The Daily Telegraph, January 24, 2004 "A Drive to Turn a Soldier Into a Saint", The Moscow Times, October 19, 2004 "From Village Boy to Soldier, Martyr and, Many Say, Saint", The New York Times, November 21, 2003 "The First Saint of the Chechen War", RIAN, October 5, 2004 1977 births 1996 deaths Christians executed for refusing to convert to Islam Islamism-related beheadings Executed Russian people Folk saints People from Penza Oblast People of the Chechen wars Persecution by Muslims Prisoner of war massacres Recipients of the Order of Courage Russian military personnel Russian Orthodox Christians from Russia Russian prisoners of war 20th-century Eastern Orthodox martyrs