Presbyter
Saint Alexander was born on August 8, 1876, in the village of Ocheso-Rudnya of the Gomel district of the Mogilev province in the family of priest Hierofey Saulsky. In 1899, he graduated from the Mogilev Theological Seminary, and in 1903, he was ordained as a deacon and priest, serving in the Trinity Church in the village of Mkhinichi. From 1912 to 1917, he served as a regimental priest, fulfilling his duties at the risk of his life during military actions. For his impeccable service, he was elevated to the rank of protopresbyter and from 1926 served in the Znamenskaya Church in Tikhvin, being the dean of the 1st Tikhvin deanery.
In the early 1930s, he was summoned as a witness in cases against arrested clergy. In 1932, he was called regarding the case of priest Ioann Sarva, who was accused of supporting the side of Metropolitan Joseph. Father Alexander refused their request, and they turned to priest Ioann, who also declined. On January 1, 1934, he was arrested and imprisoned. During the interrogation, he denied guilt, but under pressure, he signed testimonies mentioning political issues discussed among the clergy.
On February 26, 1934, the OGPU troika sentenced him to five years of imprisonment in a concentration camp, and on March 7, he was sent to Sevvostoklag. Arrested in early 1938, he responded this time that he knew nothing about the existence of a counter-revolutionary group and did not engage in anti-Soviet agitation.
