Venerable Alexius Mechev

Holy Righteous Alexius Mechev was born March 17, 1859, in Moscow into a pious family — his father was choir director at the Chudov Monastery. Though he initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, at his mother's insistence he entered the priesthood. For more than forty years Father Alexius served the small parish church of St. Nicholas in Klenniki on Maroseyka Street, where he introduced daily services and gradually gathered a large devoted community. A turning point came shortly after his wife's death in 1902, when he met St. John of Kronstadt, who told him to "leave your cell and go out to the people." From then on Father Alexius became renowned throughout Moscow as a spiritual father and comforter, drawing thousands of visitors from every walk of life. He founded a parish school and an orphanage and formed a whole generation of spiritual children, including his own son, the hieromartyr Sergius Mechev. He reposed on June 9, 1923. He was glorified as a saint in 2000.