On November 14, 2021, the world-renowned Russian chess master and USSR champion of 1975, Lyudmila Sergeevna Belavenets, was buried in Moscow. She had reposed in the Lord on November 7 as a result of complications from coronavirus. She was 82 years old. (See https://ruchess.ru/persons_of_day/lbelavenetz/).

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The funeral took place in the Church of the Entrance of the Mother of God at the Saltykov Bridge, and was officiated by Archimandrite Aleksei (Vylazhanin), dean of the Petropavlovsk District. Serving with him were other parish clergy, including Hieromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets), the nephew of the reposed, the Priest Nikolai Koniukhov, Deacon Andrei Yatskov, as well as Fr. Antonii Ignatiev and Hierodeacon Sofronii (Mikhalsky) from the church of St. Nicholas in the Straw Gatehouse (in northern Moscow).

Before the funeral service, Father Aleksei gave a funeral sermon, in which he described Lyudmila Sergeevna not only as an outstanding chess player and a wonderful person, but also as a genuine and faithful Christian.

Attending the funeral service were the son and heir of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke George of Russia, and his spouse, H.S.H. Princess Victoria Romanovna. His Imperial Highness personally conveyed to Hieromonk Nikon the deepest condolences from his mother, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia.

Many others took the opportunity before the service began to share their own memories of Lyudmila Sergeevna, including Fr. Nikolai Koniukhov; A. M. Kovalev, Deputy Head of the Development Office of the Department of Civil Service in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation; A. N. Zakatov, the Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House; E. A. Reshetnikov, the Deputy Director for Chess at the Sports School “Youth of Moscow”; and O. V. Shcherbachev, the President of the Russian Nobility Association.

Many hundreds came to the funeral and graveside service at the Kalitnikovskoye Cemetery.

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Grand eternal rest, O Lord, in blessed repose to Thy newly departed servant Lyudmila, and may her memory be eternal!