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Alexander Hotovitzky

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{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
Our [[righteous]] father '''Alexander Hotovitzky''' (or Hotovitsky), [[hieromartyr]] of the Bolshevik yoke, [[Missionary]] of America, was a Russian who came to the United States in the 1890s as a lay missionary and was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood while there. He was active as a missionary among the emigrated [[Uniate]]s in the northeastern United States before returning to Russia in 1914. In Russia he was active among the Orthodox Karelians before his assignment to [[Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Moscow)|Christ the Savior Cathedral]] in Moscow in 1917. After the Bolshevik coup he was subjected to the cruelties by the ungodly revolutionists as he defended the Orthodox faith, his people, and [[church]] property. Subjected to many arrests and exile Father Alexander serviced served his beloved Church as best he could through these tumultuous times until after a final arrest he disappeared from history other than oral reports of his [[martyr]]dom. His [[glorification]] is celebrated on [[December 4]].
==Missionary in the United States==
Alexander Hotovitzky was born on [[February 11]], 1872, in the city of Kremenetz in Volhynia. His father, Alexander, was a priest who was the [[rector]] of the Volhynia Theological [[Seminary]]. Fr. Alexander was educated at the Volhynia Seminary before entering the [[St. Petersburg Theological Academy]]. Upon graduation from the academy in 1895 with a master's degree he was sent to the Diocese of the Aleutians and North America as a lay missionary and as [[reader]] at the St. Nicholas Church in New York City. He was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] after his marriage to Maria Scherbuhina, who was a graduate of the [[Pavlosk Institute of St. Petersburg]]. [[Bishop]] [[Nicholas (Ziorov) of the Aleutians|Nicholas (Ziorov)]] ordained Fr. Alexander to the priesthood on [[February 25]], 1896, at the diocesan [[cathedral]] in San Francisco.
A week later he returned to New York to become the pastor of [[St. Nicholas Cathedral (New York, New York)|St. Nicholas Church (New York, NY)]], where he had been a [[reader]]. During the ensuing years, Fr. Alexander was successful in his missionary activities among the emigrees from Galicia and Carpatho-Russia as well as representing the Orthodox Church before American religious institutions and meetings. He was instrumental in the establishment of many new Orthodox [[parish]]es, including those in Yonkers, Passaic, and Philadelphia. He edited the journal of Orthodox activity, the ''[[Russian Orthodox American Orthodox Messenger]]''. He actively participated in establishing an [[Orthodox mutual aid society]], including serving in various management positions. Through his initiative and active participation a new architecturally majestic St. Nicholas Cathedral was built to replace the small [[parish]] church in New York City, traveling throughout the United States, and even to Russia, soliciting funds for its construction. In 1903, the new edifice became the diocesan cathedral.
For eighteen years he served in America under Bishop Nicholas; the future Patriarch of Moscow, St. [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]]; and Archbishop Platon; the now [[Archpriest]] Alexander returned to Russia on [[February 26]], 1914.
Then, surprisingly, in October 1923, Fr. Alexander and others were granted amnesty. However, despite his freedom he was not assigned to a parish but served by invitation in Moscow churches. Then on [[September 4]], 1924, the State Political Directorate recommended administrative exile of thirteen clergy and church leaders including Fr. Alexander. After further interrogation, Fr. Alexander was exiled to the dreaded northern Turuhan region for three years. After return from exile he was elevated to the rank of [[protopresbyter]] and was assigned as an assistant to the Deputy [[Locum tenens]] of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Sergius. In the 1930s, he went on to serve as rector of the Church of the Deposition of the Robe on Donskoy Street.
Then in the fall summer of 1937, Fr. Alexander was again arrested. No records have been found of his further lifeHe was sentenced to death, but oral reports have been received of his and shot on [[martyrAugust 19]]ed death, 1937. The place of his burial is unknownHe was buried in the Donskoi cemetery.
==Sources==
*[http://www.3saints.com/history1.html#11 Father Alexander Hotovitsky] including photograph
*[http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050311/NEWS06/50311043&SearchID=73201834198436 Russian priest instrumental in signing of Portsmouth treaty]
*Bio from St. Tikhon's University database (in Russian) [http://www.pstbi.ru/bin/db.exe/no_dbpath/koi/nm?HYZ9EJxGHoxITYZCF2JMTdG6XbuJfi8iceXaeeWd660fdOfVc8qYs00*euKesO0hdC0iceXb**]
[[Category:Modern Saints]]
[[Category:Priests]]
[[Category:20th-century saints]]

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