On the night of April 18, 1993, three monks of the Russian Orthodox Church were murdered in Optina Pustyn: Hieromonk Vasily (Roslyakov) and monks Ferapont (Pushkaryov) and Trofim (Tatarnikov).

On the evening of April 17, a resident of the Kaluga region, Nikolai Averin, previously accused of rape and deemed insane, went to the Optina Pustyn monastery with a knife, the handle of which was engraved with the number "666." Easter services were taking place at the monastery.

At that time, monks Ferapont (in the world Vladimir Pushkaryov) and Trofim (in the world Leonid Tatarnikov) were at the bell tower ringing the bells in honor of Easter. Averin coldly attacked them and fatally wounded both.

At 6 a.m., Nikolai Averin attacked Hieromonk Vasily (in the world Igor Roslyakov) from behind near the bell tower and inflicted several stab wounds, from which he died on the spot.

After committing the crime, Averin threw away the knife and fled into the forest. He was soon apprehended, and a forensic psychiatric examination deemed him insane, diagnosing schizophrenia. He was then sent to a closed special hospital.

Since then, the murdered monks have been commemorated daily at the Divine Liturgy in the Optina Pustyn monastery. Pilgrims from around the world come to venerate their graves and seek help in spiritual and everyday needs. The fame of these monks spread not only across Russia but also beyond its borders.

In 2008, a chapel was built at the site of their burial.