The first convert in Novgorod was the priest Dionisy (Denis), who introduced to Skhariyah his colleague, the archpriest (protopop) Aleksei.
The new community appreciated his labors so highly that the name of Abraham was conferred upon him, while his wife's name was changed to Sarah.
[1] When the grand prince of Moscow, Ivan III, visited Novgorod in 1480, Aleksei found favor in his eyes.
Aleksei enjoyed the confidence of the grand prince in a high degree and had free access to him.
The court party of Sophia Paleologue alleged that he succeeded in converting his secretary, Fyodor Kuritsyn, the archimandrite Zosima, the monk Zechariah, Elena of Moldavia (wife of Ivan the Young), and many other prominent personages.