Saint Alexander was born on February 11, 1872 in the town of Kremenetz in Donetsk. He was born into a pious family. His father was a priest and rector of the Donetsk Theological Seminary. When Saint Alexander grew up, he entered the Petersburg Theological Academy and in 1895 he graduated with a master's degree. He was then sent to a diocese in North America. He was a reader at St. Nicholas Church in New York, then a deacon. Before becoming a deacon, he married Maria Sherpohena, and a year later he became a priest at the diocesan cathedral in San Francisco. A week later he returned to New York to become pastor of St. Nicholas Church.
During the period in which Saint Alexander was in America, it was a period of remarkable evangelism. He played a major role in the establishment of many Orthodox parishes. He was the editor of the American Orthodox Messenger newspaper, and actively participated in the establishment of a cooperative society. He was among those who tried to build a cathedral instead of the parish, which was completed in 1903. Thus, for more than 18 years he served in America. But he missed his country and wanted to return to be martyred there, so he returned to Russia on February 26, 1914.
Russia and Martyrdom: After his arrival in Russia, he defended against Lutheran expansion, and after the Bolshevik coup, October 1917, it was one of the most difficult times for the church, so he tried with all his might to defend the church and tried to get money to help the church. Father Alexander was one of the fighters against the Bolshevik coup, so he was arrested for short periods in May 1920 and November 1921. In 1922, the next period of hostility to the church occurred, as icons were confiscated and Saint Tikhon was forced to give money, so it was a very terrible period. In the same year, Saint Alexander was arrested, but a year later he was granted amnesty, and less than a year later, in 1924, he was exiled for three years to the northern region. After returning from exile, he became a bishop of the city of Sergius. In 1937, he was arrested again and died a martyr for Orthodoxy, and his burial place is unknown.
The Church commemorates him on December 4.
Through the intercession of our righteous father, martyr Alexander Hotovitzky, missionary to America, and through the intercessions of all the saints, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
