The Venerable hieromartyr Metropolitan Benjamin (Kazansky) of Petrograd and Gdovsk headed the Eparchy of St. Petersburg as the Bolsheviks assumed power in Russia and was executed by them for his firm defense of the Church against the Renovated (Living Church) Church and for his stand against the requisition of the church valuables by the Bolsheviks. Benjamin is remembered on July 31 along with his fellow martyrs Archimandrite Sergius (Shein), and laymen George Novitsky, and John Kovsharov.