{{cleanup}}The righteous Father '''Alexei Mechev''' was [[archpriest]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in Moscow who, after the early death of his wife, became known as a elder in the world. The [[feast day]] of Righteous Priest [[Saint ]] Alexei Mechevis [[June 9]].

by Fr==Life==Alexei Mechev was born on [[March 17]], 1859 in Moscow, the son of a choir director who was in the service of Metropolitan [[Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow|Philaret of Moscow]]. His plans after he finished school were to become a doctor, but his mother wanted to see him as a [[priest]]. Michael Knechten As a youngster, he sang at the Church of the Sign (from http://wwwZnamenka). The [[parish]] priest, Fr.berdyaevGiorgii, was demanding and often treated Alexei cruelly, even to beating him.com/berdiaev/knechten/mechevAll of this Alexei endured, thinking to himself that this priest, serving as his teacher, sees our faults, which we don't see and help us to fight against egotism.html)

On [[March 19]], 1894, Alexei Mechev was born on 17 March 1859 in Moscow. After having finished school he intended to become [[ordination|ordained]] a doctor. But his mother wished to see him priest and was assigned as a the parish priest. So he starts by singing in at the Church church of Saint Nicholas on the Sign Maple (Znamenka)Klennikach} on the street Maroseika 5, near the present Metro Kitaigorod. The parish His start as a priest of this was slow. During the first eight years he celebrated the [[Divine Liturgy]] largely an empty [[church]]. Although his fellow priests were not encouraging to his plight, FrFather Alexei continued serving. GiorgiiThen, people, many people, is frequently cruel and also even beats him. But Alexei endures it all and thinks began to come to himself, this priest serves as his teacherservices. He says: "Such people see our faultsAlso, which we ourselves do not seeFr. They help us Alexei began to fight against egoismgive readings in prisons and small restaurants. He gave religious instruction in the Winkler secondary school for girls."

In 1884 he married Anna Petrovna Molchanova. In As the following years they had six children: Alexandranew century began, SergeiFr. Alexei's wife became sick. On [[August 29]], Petr, Olga, Sofiia 1902 she died. Fr. Alexei was deeply grieved and Annasought out Fr. [[John of Kronstadt|John (Sergiev) of Kronstadt]] to speak about his grief. To deal with his sadness Fr. John advised: "Go to the people and share with their grief!"

On 19 March 1894, Fr. Alexei was ordained and took Fr. John's advise to heart. And now Fr. Alexei became parish priest not only father for his own children, but also for all who came to him. He saw them all as his own family. He began living as a "starets" (religious elder) in the little church world, and he followed the path of Saint Nicholas on the Maple/Klennikach on Good Shepherd Who searches after the street Maroseika 5 one sheep that is missing (near the Metro KitaigorodLuke 15:4). For eight years he celebrated Divine Liturgy in an empty church. That was how long it took, until people finally started coming!

Fr. Alexei began readings in prisons was small of stature. He was baldheaded and had an unkempt beard. His face was marked by deep, intensive eyes. His riasa (cowl) had seen better days. In his little restaurantsstudy there were many books, letters, phosphor (loaves) on a tray, an [[epitrachelion]] (priest's stole), a cross and Gospel book. The chaos showed that this priest never had spare time for himself. He gave religious instruction in There was always somebody waiting to see him. Those who came included simple persons and intelligentsia, poor and rich, believers and atheists, persons with good and bad intentions, Orthodox believers and those of other faiths-confessions and religions. Fr. Alexei was open and welcomed all, and he spoke with them for a long while. Others waited on the staircase or on the courtyard which became full of water when it rained. Fr. Alexei attempted to provide guidance and lead all these different persons on their way. And, especially he wanted to show them the Winkler secondary school for girlsimportance of prayer.

His wife Anna then fell sick. She died on 29 August 1902. Fr. Alexei went to pastoral secret was his knowledge of the heart (now Saintkardiognosia) Frand in compassion. John (Sergiev) of Kronstadt People who came to speak about his griefhim got the feeling that he looked into their inner heart. Fr. John said: "Go Alexei himself had no self-serving egoistic goals and, thus, was able to the people and share with their grief!" distinguish whether a goal was good or bad for a person.

And now FrHe himself saw much grief. Alexei became not only father for his own childrenThus, but also he had compassion for all who came to himother people. He sees carried their burdens (see Gal 6:2). When they left him, they felt that he went spiritually with them all as his own family. He lives as a "starets" His commemoration book (religious elderpomiannik) in the worldcontained hundreds of names. He follows The [[proskomedia]] for the path Divine Liturgy took a long time, because he said remembrances of the Good Shepherd Who goes after the one sheep that is missing (Luke 15:4)all these many names.

Fr. Alexei was small of stature, baldheaded and had an unkempt beard. His face was marked by He associated with the deep, intensive eyes. His riasa Elders Anatolii (cowlPotapov) has yet seen better days. In his little study there are many books, letters, prosphores/loaves on a tray, an epitrachil and Nektarius (priest's stoleTichonov), a cross and Gospel book. The chaos everywhere shows that this priest has never spare time for himself. Always there is somebody waiting to see him. There come simple persons and those of the Intelligentsia, poor and rich, believers and atheists, persons with good and bad intentions, Orthodox and those of other faith-confessions and religion. Fr. Alexei is open and welcoming to all and he speaks with them for a long while. Others wait on the staircase or on the courtyard which becomes full of water when it's raining. Fr. Alexei is attempts to provide guidance and lead all these different persons on their way. And especially he wants to show them the importance of prayer[[Optina Monastery|Optina Pustyn]].

His pastoral secret consists When he saw the demonstrations of unrest in knowledge of the heart (kardiognosia) and Moscow in compassion: People who come to him get the feeling1905 he wept, that because he is looking into their inner heart. Fr. Alexei himself has no self-serving egoistic goals. So he is able to distinguish, if a goal is good or bad for a personforesaw the coming misfortune of Russia.

He himself saw a lot of griefAs father-confessor to [[Nikolai Berdyaev|Nikolai A. So he has compassion for other people and Berdyaev]], he carries their burdens (see Gal 6:2). When they leave counseled himafter the Bolshevik revolution, they feel that he is going spiritually with them. His commemoration book (pomiannik) contains hundreds of nameshad to go into exile, so that the world should hear his words. The proskomidia in Liturgy takes a long time, because he makes remembrance of all these names!

He had contact with Fr. Alexei died on [[June 22]], 1923 in Vereia (west of the starets/elder Anatolii (Potapovcity centre of Moscow). In 1934, when his body was uncovered, it was found uncorrupted: a mark of sainthood. His [[relics]] were then laid in a new grave. His son Sergei, +1922) and who became the starets/elder Nektarii (Tichonovpriest in his father's church of Saint Nicholas after him, +1928) of Opina Pustynwas himself murdered in 1942.

Upon seeing During the demonstrations period of unrest [[August 13]] to [[August 16|16]], 2000 in Moscow in 1905 he weeps, because he foresees the coming misfortune [[Synod]] of [[Bishop]]s of the Russian Orthodox Church gave approval or blessing for the [[glorification]] and canonization of the the Royal Martyrs of Russia, as Passion Bearers, and several hundred new [[martyr]]s and [[confessor]]s. Among these Fr. Alexei was canonized into the ranks of the Saints by the Moscow Church, and his son, Sergei, was declared a New Martyr of the [[eparchy]] of Moscow,

As father==Sources==*[http://www.berdyaev.com/berdiaev/knechten/mechev.html Righteous Priest Saint Alexei Mechev]*[http://www.monachos.net/forum/showthread.php?6705-Otets-Aleksei-confessor to Nikolai AMechev Otets Aleksei Mechev]*[http://www.serfes. Berdyaev, he counselled him, that he must go into exile, so that the world should hear his wordsorg/royal/glorification. htm The Royal Martyrs of Russia]

 Sayings of Fr. Aleksii[[Category: Priests]] (Against envy[[Category:) Wish good to all, and thereby you yourself are saved.  Are we right to despise other people?  We cannot bear the privations, grief and woundings of our egoism, and we don't thank the Lord that He lets our spirit grow on this way.  Don't want to realise big projects, but do that to which the Lord calls you. Saints]]Make the Christian Way real not with the intellect but with the heart!   Fr. Alexei died on 22 June 1923 in Vereia (west of the city centre of Moscow). His body was uncovered intact (undecayed[[Category: a mark of sainthood) in 1934 and laid in a new grave. His son Sergii, born 1892, becomes priest in his father's church of Saint Nicholas. He was himself murdered in 1942.  At the 13-16 August 2000 the Jubilee Synod of the Church of Moscow, Sergei was declared a New Martyr of the eparchy (sobor) of Moscow, and Alexei was canonised into the ranks of the Russian Saints by the Moscow Church. The feastday of Righteous Priest Saint Alexei is on 9/22 June.  Отче Алексие, моли Бога о нас! Fr. Aleksii, Pray God for us!]]