Alexander of Oshevensk

Venerable Alexander of Oshevensk (Alexei Nikiforovich Oshevnev, in the world) was a Russian ascetic, founder and first abbot of the Oshevensk Monastery, in the Arkhangelsk region. He was born on 17 March 1427 and reposed on 20 April 1479. The Russian Church honours him among the venerable fathers. His commemoration is on 20 April (3 May by the new calendar), in the Synaxis of the Saints of Karelia and in the Synaxis of the Saints of Novgorod.

He was born into the family of a well-⁠off peasant, Nikifor Oshevnev, and at birth was given the name Alexei. At nineteen he received monastic tonsure at the Kirillo-⁠Belozersky Monastery, with the name Alexander. After his father moved to the north, where he founded a settlement, he received a blessing to found a new monastery. First a cross was raised, then the church of Saint Nicholas was built and the monastery beside it, around which a brotherhood gathered. Alexander was inclined to hesychasm: in the community the holy stillness and the Jesus Prayer were practised.

He went through a heavy family conflict with his brother Ambrose, who opposed the tonsure of his own sons as monks. Because of this discord Alexander fell gravely ill, but was miraculously healed in a dream by the appearance of Saint Cyril of Belozersk. After his death his Life was composed and icons were painted. It is said that Venerable Alexander of Oshevensk was of medium height, with a dry face and sunken cheeks, with a small, thin beard and grey threads in his light brown hair.