Hieromonk
Venerable Alexius of Goloseyev was born on April 14, 1840, into a large noble family, being mute. After being healed, he was sent for upbringing to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, where he received an excellent education and was guided by the Venerable Parthenius of Kiev. In 1872, he was tonsured into monasticism with the name Alexius.
Father Alexius lived for more than 38 years in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, and then left it to live in the Goloseyev Desert for more than 20 years, fulfilling the duties of a spiritual father and sacristan. During this time, he became a well-known elder, endowed with the gift of discernment, to whom spiritual children and laypeople came.
In 1896, participating in the celebrations after the opening of the relics of Saint Theodosius of Chernigov, he was honored to see the servant of God. Venerable Alexius performed the proscomidia, remembering all his spiritual children and those asking for his prayers.
He continued to receive people even in a sick state, expressing that he could not abandon those who were suffering. At the beginning of 1916, he became seriously ill but relied on God's help. Eight days before his death, he confessed and distributed his possessions.
On the evening of March 11/24, 1917, prepared for the divine service, he surrendered his spirit into the hands of God. The funeral and burial took place on March 13/26, with many people present, weeping over the loss. Venerable Alexius was glorified in 1994 as a locally venerated saint, and on November 30, 2017, he was glorified universally with the establishment of the commemoration date on March 24.
