DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: 27 October 2025
Archpriest Alexander Skorik departs in the Lord

Archpriest Alexander Skorik, Assistant Rector of the churches of the Resurrection of Christ, Christ the Saviour, and priest in charge of the St Nectarios Mission of the New Zealand Deanery of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, has peacefully reposed in Auckland, NZ at the age of 48.

He was born in the city of Armyansk, Crimea, in 1977 and was baptized in honour of St Alexander Nevsky as an infant. Having successfully completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Sevastopol State University of Technology, he entered the Moscow Theological Seminary in 2000.

In April 2004, Alexander married Ksenia Bondarenko and was ordained to the diaconate a year later after completing his studies in the seminary. Two years later, he was ordained a priest in the Belgorod Diocese and served there while studying part-time at the Moscow Theological Academy until his appointment in 2011 as assistant rector of Christ the Saviour Parish in Wellington, New Zealand.

At the beginning of 2015 he was also assigned the assistant rector of the Resurrection of Christ parish in Auckland. In 2023 he was appointed the priest-in-charge of the newly founded St Nectarios Mission in Tauranga.

Five years ago Fr Alexander was diagnosed with lung cancer which, after a period of remission, reoccurred at the beginning of 2025. Having endured this terminal illness with humility and patience, being to the end an example to the faithful of submission to the Will of God, he reposed quietly at home with his Matushka by his side

Fr Alexander faithfully served the Church of Christ as a clergyman for over 20 years in Russia and New Zealand and will be fondly remembered by his brother priests and spiritual children in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga and in Russia, for his strong faith, peaceful and loving nature and commitment to the Great Commission of Christ – sharing the Good News, teaching all to observe the teaching of Christ, and living in accordance with the commandments of the Gospel

May his memory be eternal and may he receive the blessedness of the Kingdom of Heaven!