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Orthodox saint

St Alexander Nevsky

St Alexander Nevsky, Right-Believing Grand Prince (in monasticism Alexis)

Άγιος Αλέξανδρος Νιέφσκι · Святый благовѣрный великїй кнѧзь Алеѯандръ Невскїй · Святой благоверный великий князь Александр Невский (в схиме Алексий)

St Alexander Nevsky is remembered on 23 November (6 December on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to St Alexander Nevsky for courage, wisdom and steadfastness, protection from enemies and the peaceful end of conflicts.

Feast days

Feast
Repose and burial (1263)
Kept on
23 November (6 December on the Old Calendar)
Next, New Calendar
Next, Old Calendar
Feast
Translation of relics to St Petersburg (1724)
Kept on
30 August (12 September on the Old Calendar)
Next, New Calendar
Next, Old Calendar

The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.

The life of St Alexander Nevsky

Alexander, son of Grand Prince Yaroslav, was born in 1219 (some sources say 1220/21) at Pereslavl and became Prince of Novgorod while still young. He was loved for his mercy to the poor and the hungry. In 1240, after tearful prayer in Novgorod's Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, he defeated the Swedes on the Neva, and the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb were seen coming to his aid. From that battle he took the name Nevsky. In 1242 he turned back the Teutonic knights on the ice of Lake Peipus. Facing the overwhelming power of the Horde, he chose humility and patient diplomacy. He traveled to the khan again and again to win mercy for his people and protect the Church. Returning from his last journey, he fell ill, took the monastic schema with the name Alexis, and reposed on 14 November 1263. At his burial he received the prayer of absolution with his own outstretched hand.

What the faithful ask of St Alexander Nevsky

The faithful pray for

  • courage, wisdom and steadfastness
  • protection from enemies
  • the peaceful end of conflicts
  • firmness in the Orthodox faith
  • help to fulfill one's calling
  • the safety of soldiers and their families

St Alexander Nevsky protects

  • soldiers in service
  • the homeland from invasion
  • the Orthodox faith

Patron of

  • soldiers and military servicemen
  • diplomats
  • St Petersburg
  • Russia
  • men named Alexander

Miracles

  1. Before the Battle of the Neva (1240), the warrior Pelgusius saw the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb in a boat, hastening to help 'our kinsman Alexander'.

    Source: Житие святого благоверного князя Александра Невского (свт. Димитрий Ростовский, Азбука веры)

  2. At his funeral, when the Metropolitan's steward went to place the prayer of absolution in his hand, the dead prince stretched out his hand himself, took the scroll, and folded his hands again.

    Source: Житие святого благоверного князя Александра Невского (свт. Димитрий Ростовский, Азбука веры)

Where the traditions differ

St Alexander Nevsky is a Russian saint, glorified in 1547 and venerated chiefly in the Russian Church. He is also widely known in Bulgaria and Serbia through cathedrals dedicated to him (Sofia, Belgrade). Outside Slavic churches there is little popular devotion. Russian name-day calendars list several further memorials (Synaxes of saints); only the two main ones are given here. Content kept as hagiography, not politics.

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Prayer services

Name days

These names keep their name day on a feast of St Alexander Nevsky:

Prayed to for

Questions

When is the feast day of St Alexander Nevsky?

Repose and burial (1263): 23 November (6 December on the Old Calendar); Translation of relics to St Petersburg (1724): 30 August (12 September on the Old Calendar).

What do Orthodox Christians pray to St Alexander Nevsky for?

Orthodox Christians pray to St Alexander Nevsky for courage, wisdom and steadfastness, protection from enemies, the peaceful end of conflicts, firmness in the Orthodox faith, help to fulfill one's calling and the safety of soldiers and their families.

What is St Alexander Nevsky the patron saint of?

St Alexander Nevsky is the patron of soldiers and military servicemen, diplomats, St Petersburg, Russia and men named Alexander.

What does St Alexander Nevsky protect from?

St Alexander Nevsky protects soldiers in service, the homeland from invasion and the Orthodox faith.

Whose name day is on a feast of St Alexander Nevsky?

The name day of Alexander, Aleksandr, Sasha, Alex, Alexis and Alexei.

Sources

  1. Житие святого благоверного князя Александра Невского (свт. Димитрий Ростовский, Азбука веры) (read 14 October 2026)