Alexius, whose birth name was Eleutherius, was the son of Fyodor (Theodore) Biakont, a boyar from Chernigov who settled in Moscow and founded the great Pleshcheev boyar family. The Lord revealed to the future saint his lofty destiny in early childhood. At twelve years of age Eleutherius went to a field and set nets to ensnare birds. He dozed off, and suddenly he heard a voice: "Alexis! Why do you toil in vain? You are to be a catcher of people." In 1340, Alexis was appointed metropolitan's deputy in Vladimir, and twelve years later he would become the bishop of Vladimir.