He turned to God from an early age. He became the Prince of Novgorod in 1236. Although his army was smaller, with God's help, he defeated the Swedes on the Neva River in 1240. In 1250, he became the Grand Prince of Vladimir. While in the Tatar Golden Horde, he refused to bow down to idols. The Tatar Khan respected him for his wisdom, courage, physical strength, and handsome appearance. Sensing that his end was near, he was tonsured a monk under the name Alexius, received Holy Communion, and surrendered his soul. This occurred in 1263, when he was 43 years old. At his funeral, as if alive, he opened his hand and took the scroll containing the prayer of absolution from the Metropolitan. By order of Tsar Peter the Great, his relics were transferred in 1724 from Vladimir to St. Petersburg—to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra—where they remain to this day.

Saints Alexander, John, and Paul, Patriarchs of Constantinople. Venerable Christopher. Saint Eulalius, Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Venerable Alexander of Svir. Saints Cyril, Nikon, and Macarius of Serbia.