On Sunday, July 6, the feast of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Scoutmaster Alexey T. Zacharin, a longtime parishioner of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC, reposed in the Lord after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 80.

A descendant of the great Muscovite boyar Zacharin family, Alexey worked as an engineer in the U.S. Army, and assisted with various construction projects in his parish of St. John the Forerunner, where he also served for many years as assistant warden.

But the universally beloved "Alyosha’s" principal work was done in St. George Pathfinders of America, were he spent decades raising several generations of Russian Orthodox youth. Having risen to the rank of Scoutmaster, in 2009 he was elected Chief Scoutmaster of the entire organization outside of Russia, a post in which he served until 2012.

Alyosha is survived by his wife, Marina, two daughters from his first marriage ‒ Tatiana and Natalia ‒ and two granddaughters.

Memory eternal to the newly reposed servant of God Alexey!

Schedule of funeral services at St. John the Baptist Cathedral:

Monday, July 7th
6:00 PM Panihida at the coffin

Tuesday, July 8th
6:30 PM Second panihida

Wednesday, July 9th
8:00 AM Liturgy for the Departed
9:30 AM Funeral service followed by internment at Rock Creek Cemetery and memorial banquet at the parish hall.

Instead of flowers the family requests that donations be made to help restore the St George Chapel located in New Pavlovsk, New York at the site of the St George Pathfinders (ORUR) scout camp. The chapel has been the site of countless services over the last 50 years and is in dire need of repair. Alyesha was one of the designers and builders of this house of God.