But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10
Alexander Menn (1990)
Preached on Martyrdom
The day after Alexander, a priest in the Soviet Union, gave a lecture on Christian martyrs, he too was killed – undoubtedly because of his outstanding Christian witness.
Born to Jewish parents in 1935, he converted to Christianity when he grew up and followed his calling into the priesthood. His life was marked by joyfulness, the love of Christ and, what his friends called, an unusual gift of discernment. As a preacher and author he was very popular and many people were converted through his ministry. Alexander’s bold Christian witness brought him to the attention of the Communist authorities. In the 1980s they tried to get him to denounce his ministry, but he refused.
Following his lecture on the night of 8 September about the uniqueness of those who had given their lives for Christ, Alexander was fatally struck on the head with an axe as he walked in a wood. It is likely the killers were linked to the KGB or the neo-fascist group Pamyat, which was believed to have been stirred up to take action against Alexander by the KGB. No one was ever brought to justice for the murder.
Time is given us to use in view of eternity.
Henry Allan Ironside (1876-1951)