Background
Hackel, Aleksei was born in 1892 in Petersburg into a RussoGerman family.
Hackel, Aleksei was born in 1892 in Petersburg into a RussoGerman family.
Educated at the Reformed Church Gymnasium (Reformatskoe Uchilishche) in Petersburg. Graduated from Petersburg University, 1914.
Volunteered for service in the Russian Army, 1915-1917, wounded. During the revolutionary years, worked as a teacher in Southern Russia until 1921. Defended Christianity in public debates with atheists.
Emigrated to Germany, 1922. Lived in Berlin. Doctor of Heidelberg University, 1931. Received into the Orthodox Church.
Lecturer at German and Dutch universities until 1932, specialist on Russian religious art (icons). Invited to teach in the USA by Metropolitan Benjamin, Exarch of the Moscow Patriarchate in North America, but World War II prevented his emigration to America. Moved to France, 1946.
Elected professor at the Orthodox Theological Academy of St. Denis. Moved to Holland, 1948. Lecturer in Russian literature and art at Leiden University, 1950.