Presbyter
Saint Martyr Alexius was born in 1878 in the village of Neklyudka, Chernigov province. In 1902, he graduated from the teacher's school and became a teacher in a church-parish school. On March 13, 1911, he was ordained as a priest. He served in various churches, including Nizhne-Romanovskoye and Nitsinskoye, where he proved himself to be a zealous pastor.
In 1929, the authorities decided to close the church in Nitsinskoye. Father Alexius, despite the pressure, refused to give up the church and remained with the parishioners who were ready to defend their faith. On January 8, 1930, at a meeting of the parishioners, it was decided not to pay the additional tax, which angered the authorities. Father Alexius urged the faithful to be steadfast in their faith and ready to suffer for Christ.
After the arrest of the church's starosta, Father Alexius and some parishioners stayed in the church overnight, praying and discussing the situation. On January 9, during the morning service, a policeman announced the closure of the church, but the parishioners did not give up. Father Alexius continued to inspire them to be steadfast and faithful.
On January 16, Father Alexius sent the starosta to Irbit to obtain permission for a cross procession, but he was arrested. In the evening, an OGPU officer came to him, trying to persuade him to leave the church, but the priest refused. Ultimately, on April 18, 1930, Father Alexius was shot and buried in an unmarked grave.
