Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Sends Letter of Congratulations and Blessings to HIH Grand Duke George and HSH Princess Victoria Romanovna

On October 1st, the Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia sent a congratulatory testament, or “gramota” to HIH Grand Duke George, and to HSH Princess Victoria Romanovna.

An image of the certificate, signed by Metropolitan Hilarion, Archbishop Kirill, and Bishop Nicholas was published on the FB page of the Head of the Russian Imperial Chancellery today. What follows is a copy of the original document, and a translation by a Mr. Gregory Walker Levitsky also posted there.

September 18/October 1, 2021

To His Imperial Highness,

the Sovereign Tsesarevich & Heir

Grand Duke

GEORGE MIKHAILOVICH

and

To Her Serene Highness,

the Serene Princess

VICTORIA ROMANOVNA

Your Imperial Highness, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich!

Your Serene Highness, Serene Princess Victoria Romanovna!

Noetically joining ourselves to the joint prayer of the faithful children of our Holy Russian people, both in the homeland and in the diaspora, we greet You with warm hearts on "this chosen and holy day" of Your blessed and praiseworthy matrimony, fervently wishing with God’s great mercies and blessings!

Your wedding is a most significant event, one which will be remembered for many years. May today’s joyous and grace-filled day become years both for You and for all of Your faithful subjects, that You might never know sadness or sorrow. But if they come nonetheless, may they speedily flee in the face of your memories of today’s good and radiant feast. No trials can withstand the power of love, total forgiveness, humble gratitude, and mutual patience and respect. And so, let Your good feelings of love be without limit, and your support of one another uncompromising. May the seeds of the Kingdom of Heaven, sown now in Your hearts and watered by the prayers of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky, born 800 years ago, and the saints who shone forth in the Russian Church Abroad – which this year celebrates the centennial of the I All Diaspora Council – bring forth abundant fruit in Your shared life and in Your service to Russia for many years!

With love in the Lord,

+HILARION

Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York

First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

+KYRILL

Archbishop of San Francisco & Western America

Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad

+NICHOLAS

Bishop of Manhattan

Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops

Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese

Congratulations to HIH Grand Duke George and HSH Princess Victoria!

The Russian Legitimist

extends our sincere congratulations to

H.I.H. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia

and

H.S.H. Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanoff

on the occasion of their marriage at Saint Petersburg

1 October 2022

Многаа лета!

Grand Duke George and Princess Romanoff married at Petersburg.

Our very best wishes to HIH Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and his bride HSH Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanova. We will provide full coverage of the wedding events at the end of all the festivities.

Until then, congratulations to the happy couple from all of us at Russian Legitimist.

Name Day of the Head of the House of Romanoff

On July 22/August 4 the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene—the heavenly patron saint of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia.

In the morning of this very solemn day, Hieromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets) served a Divine Liturgy at the church of the Entry of the Most Pure Mother of God at the Saltykov Bridge in Moscow, and that evening also an intercessory prayer service, or moleben, following royal rubrics, for the health of Her Imperial Highness, her son and heir, H.I.H. The Grand Duke George of Russia, and his fiancée, Victoria Romanovna Bettarini.

Hieromonk Nikon was joined at these services by Fr. Deacon Aleksei Kulikov of the Moscow Region Diocese.

Attending the moleben were H.I.H. The Grand Duke George; the Deputy Head of the Department of Civil Service and Personnel in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, A. M. Kovalev; the Chairman of the Public Council in the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, M. Iu. Lermontov; the advisor to the Moscow Patriarchate, A. V. Bugaevsky; members of the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House; members of the Russian Nobility Association, led by its President, O. V. Shcherbachev; members of the organization For Faith and Fatherland, led by the Deputy Chairman of its Governing Board, A. R. Karpov; the President of the National Foundation “Restoration of Russian Country Estate Houses,” V. I. Alyavdin; the former First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, F. V. Shelov-Kovedyaev; members of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society; members of the Orthodox motorcyclist association “Motorcyclist Brethren in Christ,” led by its President, A. P. Maslov; the President of the Russian-Georgian Friendship Society, “Dzalisi,” T. I. Dzhanieri; and parishioners of the church of the Entry of the Mother of God at the Saltykov Bridge.

At the conclusion of the moleben, Hieromonk Nikon (Head of the Department of Historical and Memorial Activities in the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House of Russia) greeted all those gathered, and noted the special nature of this year’s celebration of the Grand Duchess’s name day in that Grand Duke George was in attendance.

Then followed an investiture ceremony for those who have distinguished themselves in service to the nation, presided over by the King of Arms and Head of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery, S. V. Dumin, and the Secretary of the Knights’ Council of the Order of St. Anna, A. Iu. Korolev-Pereleshin.

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Participates in Moscow Paschal Services

On the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ in 2021, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich and his fiancée Victoria Romanovna prayed during the all-night Easter service in the Church of the Presentation near the Saltykov Bridge. Victoria Romanovna's father, His Excellency Ambassador R. Bettarini, was also present for the services, which were followed by the Easter feast at home.

Paschal Greetings from the Head of the Russian Imperial House

CHRIST IS RISEN!

The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, her son and heir, H.I.H. The Grand Duke George of Russia, joined by his fiancée, Miss Victoria Romanovna Bettarini, extend their greetings to all their countrymen on the Bright Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, and thank all those who have sent Paschal greetings to them.

Their Imperial Highnesses wish good health, the joy of Pascha, prosperity, and God’s help to all their countrymen and to all the friends of Russia around the world.

INDEED HE IS RISEN!