Archpriest Alexander Tsalikov was a prominent representative of the pre-revolution Ossetian Church intelligentsia, missionary, educator, and teacher.
Born in 1841 to Gugu Tsalikov, one of the founders of the Vladikavkaz Ossetian village of Irkyau, Tsalikov graduated from the Vladikavkaz theology school and the Tiflis seminary. In 1863, he was ordained as a deacon and began serving under Archimandrite Joseph, who managed the Ossetian parishes of the Vladikavkaz district.
Tsalikov worked as a teacher at the Archpriest Alexei Koliyev school for women, where for three years he taughed reading and writing in the Ossetian language, as well as an introductory course to Christian doctrine.
After his ordination to the priesthood, he became rector of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in the village of Ardon, where he served from 1866 to 1876. He taught God’s law in the local village school and conducted missionary activities, which included fighting against renegades, polygamy, kalym, ruinous commemoration, and various superstitions.
He cared not only for the moral state of his parishoners, but also tried to improve their financial situations. To accomplish this, he created a credit register in Ardon and became one of the founders of the cooperative movement in Ossetia.
Tsalikov’s work did not go unnoticed by the authorities in the diocese, and in early 1877, he was transferred to the largest church in Vladikavkaz, the Old Transfiguration Cathedral. There, he served for more than 15 years, after which he took up a supernumerary priestly position at the Spassky Cathedral in Pyatigorsk.
In Pyatigorsk, the local intelligentsia regularly gathered in Tsalikov’s house. There, he was frequently visited by Kosta Khetagurov, a family friend. Father Alexander was a man of broad perspective and diverse interests. For example, his daughter Elena recalled that in his old age he studied physics and even attended lessons in this discipline at the school where he taught God’s law.
In 1911, Alexander Tsalikov died in Pyatigorsk. He was buried in a crypt in the wall of the Church of Saint Basil the Great at the almshouse of benefactor Vasily Zipalov In funeral speeches, his friends and relatives made note of his many merits, kindness, and selflessness.
Born in 1841 to Gugu Tsalikov, one of the founders of the Vladikavkaz Ossetian village of Irkyau, Tsalikov graduated from the Vladikavkaz theology school and the Tiflis seminary. In 1863, he was ordained as a deacon and began serving under Archimandrite Joseph, who managed the Ossetian parishes of the Vladikavkaz district.
Tsalikov worked as a teacher at the Archpriest Alexei Koliyev school for women, where for three years he taughed reading and writing in the Ossetian language, as well as an introductory course to Christian doctrine.
After his ordination to the priesthood, he became rector of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in the village of Ardon, where he served from 1866 to 1876. He taught God’s law in the local village school and conducted missionary activities, which included fighting against renegades, polygamy, kalym, ruinous commemoration, and various superstitions.
He cared not only for the moral state of his parishoners, but also tried to improve their financial situations. To accomplish this, he created a credit register in Ardon and became one of the founders of the cooperative movement in Ossetia.
Tsalikov’s work did not go unnoticed by the authorities in the diocese, and in early 1877, he was transferred to the largest church in Vladikavkaz, the Old Transfiguration Cathedral. There, he served for more than 15 years, after which he took up a supernumerary priestly position at the Spassky Cathedral in Pyatigorsk.
In Pyatigorsk, the local intelligentsia regularly gathered in Tsalikov’s house. There, he was frequently visited by Kosta Khetagurov, a family friend. Father Alexander was a man of broad perspective and diverse interests. For example, his daughter Elena recalled that in his old age he studied physics and even attended lessons in this discipline at the school where he taught God’s law.
In 1911, Alexander Tsalikov died in Pyatigorsk. He was buried in a crypt in the wall of the Church of Saint Basil the Great at the almshouse of benefactor Vasily Zipalov In funeral speeches, his friends and relatives made note of his many merits, kindness, and selflessness.
