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

• Icon of St. Mary Magdalene Icon of St. Mary Magdalene
• Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, Head of the Russian Imperial House Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, Head of the Russian Imperial House
• Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, Moscow Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, Moscow
• 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben
• 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben
• 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben
• 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben 2024-08-04 Photo taken during the moleben
• 2024-08-04 Litiya service for Countess Irene Arnalov 2024-08-04 Litiya service for Countess Irene Arnalov
• Attendees at the moleben, posing at the entrance of the church Attendees at the moleben, posing at the entrance of the church
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On the morning of this very solemn day, the Director of the Department for Historical and Commemorative Activities of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Hieromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets), celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Mother of God-Smolensk Zosima Monastery near the Arsaki train station, in the Alexandrovsky diocese of the Vladimir Metropolitanate.

In the afternoon, a moleben (intercessory prayer service) was served, according to the Royal Rites, in the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers in the Northern Administrative District of Moscow, for the health of Grand Duchess Maria of Russia; the Heir, Tsesarevich, and Grand Duke George of Russia; his spouse Princess Victoria Romanovna; and their son Prince Alexander.

With the blessing of the rector of the church, Archpriest Sergei Strekalin, the service was officiated by Fr. Igor Logunov, a priest assigned to the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers. Fr. Igor was assisted by Hieromonk Nikon, Deacon Alexei Kulikov of the Sergiev Posad Diocese, and Deacon Kirill Khramchikhin, who serves in a parish in Moscow.

The service was attended by the executive assistant of the Office of Information and Documentation of the President of the Russian Federation, A.M. Kovalev; members of the Chancellery of Her Imperial Highness; members of the Russian Nobility Association; members of the organization “For Faith and Fatherland”; members of the Orthodox Motorcycle Association “Motorcycle Brotherhood for Christ”; representatives of a number of other civic organizations; and parishioners of the church.

After the conclusion of the service, a Litiya (service for the commemoration of the dead) was served for the newly reposed Dame of the Imperial Order of Saint Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives, Countess Irene Arnalov, who died on July 24 in Dénia (Spain) at the age of 108.

The Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Alexander N. Zakatov, conveyed to all those gathered the Grand Duchess’s deep gratitude for their prayers and congratulations. He also read the Imperial Decree of July 15/28, 2024, establishing the Knights’ Council of the Imperial Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir, and appointing as Chairman of the Council V. A. Dvoriankov. Dr. Zakatov also presented to A.V. Kutukov, Chairman of the Board of the International Foundation for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Citizens Abroad “Russian World” (“The Fund for the Protection of the Russian World”) a letter from Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, dated July 5/18, 2024, conveying her consent to accept the Fund under her patronage. On behalf of the Grand Duchess, Dr. Zakatov, together with the King of Arms and Director of the Office of Heraldry in the Chancellery, Stanislaw V. Dumin, awarded to the General Director of the charitable foundation “For Life” (“Pro Zhizn’”), A. L. Baranovskaia, the medal of the Imperial Order of St. Anna; and to the member of the Governing Board of the All-Russian civic organization “For Faith and Fatherland,” D. V. Gudimenko, the Imperial Order of St. Anna, 3rd class.