Hieroconfessor Alexis, Bishop Of Rylsk

Bishop Alexis (Gotovtsev) was born in 1891, the son of Protopriest Demetrius Gotovtsev of the Don diocese. In 1916 he graduated from the Kiev Theological Academy with the degree of candidate of theology, and in the same year was tonsured in the Kiev Caves Lavra and ordained to the priesthood. He was dean and a member of the Lavra Council. He was assistant to the inspector of the Kiev Theological Academy. His spiritual father was Hieromonk Alexis (Shepel), the noted ascetic of the Kiev Caves Lavra. In 1920 he became deputy of the Kiev Bratsky monastery with promotion to the rank of archimandrite.

On May 8/21, 1921 he was consecrated Bishop of Zvenigorod, a vicariate of the Kiev diocese while remaining superior of the Michael Zlatoverkhovsky monastery. From November, 1922 he was in prison in Kiev. In April, 1923 he was arrested and exiled to Moscow, where he lived until August, 1925. From August to September, 1925 he was in Butyrki prison. In April, 1926 he was exiled to Serpukhov.

From 1923 to April, 1927 he was Bishop of Serpukhov, a vicariate of the Moscow diocese. From February, 1926 to April, 1927 he was temporary administrator of the Moscow diocese. In June he was exiled to Serpukhov. From February, 1927 to April, 1928 he was temporary administrator of the Kursk and Tula dioceses. From April, 1927 he was Bishop of Rylsk, a vicariate of the Kursk diocese.

When Metropolitan Sergius issued his notorious declaration in July, 1927, Bishop Alexis joined the Josephite branch of the Catacomb Church. From 1932 he lived in Moscow, taking a civilian job. He died in 1936 and was buried in Pyatnitsky cemetery.

(Sources: Lev Regelson, Tragediya Russkoj Tserkvi, 1917-1945, Moscow: Krutitskoye patriarsheye podvorye, 1996, pp. 541, 596; M.E. Gubonin, Akty Svyateishago Patriarkha Tikhona, Moscow: St. Tikhon's Theological Institute, 1994, p. 960; Pravoslavnaya Rus', N 15 (1587), July 15.28, 1997, p. 6; Ikh Stradanimyami Ochistitsa Rus', Moscow, 1996, p. 61; Bishop Ambrose (von Sievers), "Episkopat Istinno-Pravoslavnoj Katakombnoj Tserkvi 1922-1997g.", Russkoye Pravoslaviye, N 4(8), 1997, p. 6; Za Khrista Postradavshiye, Moscow: St. Tikhon's Theological Institute, 1997, p. 59)