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Episkop AlexanderVicar of the Riga Diocese of the Latvian Orthodox Church
Date of Birth: 06.09.1973
Country:  Latvia |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Alexander Matrenin was born in Riga, Latvia, on September 6, 1973. After completing eight years of primary school, he enrolled in a railway school in 1988, where he specialized as an electrician. In 1989/90, he studied painting and graphic arts while also assisting in the restoration of the All Saints Church in Riga.
Service in the Church
In 1991, Matrenin began serving as a subdeacon and assistant secretary to Bishop Alexander (Kudryashov) of Riga. On April 20, 1997, he was ordained a monk and given the monastic name Alexander in honor of St. Alexander of Svir. The following year, he was ordained a hierodeacon on March 22 and a priest on September 6.
On October 16, 1998, Matrenin was appointed rector of the home-based Seraphim of Sarov Church and became a regular cleric of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Riga. In 1999, he took monastic vows under the name Alexander, honoring St. Alexander Nevsky. He served as a secretary and personal assistant to Bishop Alexander.
In 2000, Matrenin graduated from the Riga Theological Seminary. In 2006, he was appointed as a priest at the newly restored Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Riga. He also enrolled in the distance learning program at the Moscow Theological Academy.
Episcopal Ordination and Controversy
On August 17, 2006, Archimandrite Alexander (Matrenin) was appointed Bishop of Daugavpils, Vicar of the Riga Diocese in the Latvian Orthodox Church. His ordination on August 19, 2006, raised concerns among the Latvian public, as it did not follow the established procedures of the Latvian Orthodox Church.
Current Roles
Bishop Alexander (Matrenin) serves as assistant to Metropolitan Alexander (Kudryashov), the ruling hierarch of Riga and all Latvia. He is also responsible for the parishes of Latgale, in eastern Latvia.
