On August 23, 2026—the 12th Sunday after Pentecost & Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of the Lord—the clergy and parishioners of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York prayerfully marked the 90th anniversary of the martyrdom of the church’s founder and first rector, Protopresbyter Alexander Hotovitzky (d. August 19, 1936).

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the cathedral’s rector, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada Bishop Matthew of Sourozh. Concelebrating with the hierarch were the Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov); Dean of the Eastern States, Archpriest Mikhail Kapchits; and cathedral clergy Protodeacon Igor Panachev and Deacon John Peters. Archpriest Alexander Golubov, Priest Antony Kurakevich, and Hieromonk John (Schieffler) heard confessions during the service.

Following the reception of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, the hierarch, clergy, and faithful served a short moleben to Hieromartyr Protopresbyter Alexander before his icon.

In his sermon at the conclusion of the service, Vladyka congratulated the clergy and parishioners on the Sunday feast and the ongoing celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord. “Commemorating this sacred event reminds us of the goal and essence of the Christian life: the acquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit—grace of which the Apostles became witnesses and partakers on Mount Tabor. We learn of this from the lives of the saints who, in the words of the Apostle, ‘put off the old man with his deeds’ and ‘put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him’ (see Colossians 3:9–10). This same example is set for us by Protopresbyter Alexander Hotovitzky—honored today—who was the founder, builder, and first rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York City. Throughout his virtuous life, he strove to transfigure his own soul and the lives of his flock with the uncreated Light of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The crowning achievement of his spiritual labors and long years of service in North America, Finland, and Russia was his martyrdom during the persecution of the Russian Church,” the hierarch noted, among other things.

Vladyka also gratefully acknowledged the efforts of the clergy, volunteers, and parishioners to preserve Fr. Alexander’s legacy within the church he built—efforts evidenced, notably, by the recent growth in the number of parishioners in the parish’s English-speaking community, which is under the pastoral care of Hieromonk John (Schieffler).

Bishop Matthew wished all those present, as well as the clergy and faithful of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, the prayerful intercession of Hieromartyr Alexander Hotovitzky in their service for the good of the Russian Orthodox Church.