Venerable Alexander

Life

Born in Asia, educated in Constantinople. Upon completing his studies he entered military service and became an officer. Reading the Holy Scriptures, he came upon the words of the Savior: *If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me* (Matthew 19:21). These words so affected him that he immediately sold and distributed all that he had and withdrew into the desert. After prolonged ascetic labors and efforts at purifying himself, he established the Monastery of the Acoemetae, with a special rule. According to this rule, the divine services proceeded day and night without interruption in his monastery. The brethren were divided into twenty-four shifts; each shift knew its appointed hour of day or night, and went to the church to continue the reading and chanting of the preceding shift. He traveled widely, without any possessions, through the eastern lands, enlightening people with the faith of Christ, contending with heretics, and working miracles by the grace of God. Having grown old in the service of Christ the Lord, he at last ended his earthly life in Constantinople in the year 430, where his holy relics manifested wonderworking power and the glory with which God glorifies His holy servants.