Orthodoxy in America owes much to this courageous priest who labored under difficult circumstances to product a bountiful harvest of souls.
No American saint is as closely associated with St. Tikhon's Monastery as St. Alexis. A widowed priest arriving in American from Slovakia/Ruthenia in 1889 he encountered the prejudice of the Roman Cathoilc hierarch in America who would not allow him to minister to Eastern Rite Catholics in the Minnesota area. The next year, he and other Eastern Rite priests who met similar persecution decided to contact Russian Orthodox Bishop Vladimir and in 1891, led a large number of new souls into the Orthodox Church.
Serving in Wilkes-Barr, Pennsylvania beginning in 1993, he was sent throughout the country to strengthen the Church and help bring more than 20,000 infor the Orthodox Church before his falling asleep in 1909. He was present at the founding of St. Tikhon's Monastery in 1905 and his relics remain there today for veneration of the faithful.
Here is a glimpse of the hardships and temptations he faced when he became Orthodox:
"I did not obey [Roman Catholic authorities], refusing because I was now Orthodox... I received no salary. I was terribly in need. From Presov I received a request to leave Minneapolis and temporarily accept a pastorship at some other parish [Eastern Catholic] in America, then return and everything would be forgotten and the action undertaken would not reflect upon the future of my priestly career. I lived through very difficult days. But regardless of the difficult situation and privations, I did not rescind from my temporary thorny road. The Lord gave me strength to overcome the difficulties of being scorned and disdained as a slave of my past connections. All this trouble with its many uncalled for offenses against me, I was able with the help of God to overcome. Glory be to God in His great mercy."
Learn more about St. Alexis:
Description of the Icon with Scenes from His Life
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