On the 12th Week after Pentecost, on August 23, 2026, the clergy and parishioners of the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral of New York (USA) prayerfully celebrated the anniversary of the martyrdom of the founder, builder and first rector of the church, Protopresbyter Alexander Hotovitsky, who reposed to the Lord on August 19, 1937. He was glorified by the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1994.
The Divine Liturgy was led by the interim administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, the rector of the cathedral, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh.
His Grace was co-served by the Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nicodemus (Balyasnikov), the dean of the parishes of the Eastern States, Archpriest Mikhail Kapchits, and the clergy of the St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral.
At the end of the Liturgy, the Holy Martyr Protopresbyter Alexander was glorified at his icon, the website of the Sourozh diocese reports.
Bishop Matthew congratulated the clergy and parishioners on Sunday and the ongoing days of celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and also recalled the life example of the Holy Martyr Alexander Hotovitsky. "At all stages of his virtuous life, he strove to transform his soul and the life of his flock with the uncreated Light of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The crowning achievement of his exploits and many years of service in North America, Finland and Russia was his martyrdom during the persecution of the Russian Church," the bishop said, in particular.
His Eminence noted with gratitude the efforts of the clergy, volunteers and parishioners of the cathedral to preserve the memory of Father Alexander in the church he built. These works are evidenced, among other things, by the growth in recent years in the number of parishioners of the English-speaking community, which is nurtured by Hieromonk John (Schefler).
Bishop Matthew wished the clergy and children of Patriarchal Parishes in the United States the prayerful intercession of Hieromartyr Alexander Hotovitsky in their ministry for the benefit of the Russian Orthodox Church.