On 24 June 2024, on the Feast Day of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Princess Olga, Countess Irene Arnalov (née Arnal Domper) passed away in the San Carlos Hospital in the city of Dénia (Spain). She was 107 years old.
https://imperialhouse.ru/en/allnews-en/news/2024-08-05-memory-eternal-countess-irene-arnalov-1917-2024.html#sigProId22ffaf78b9
Countess Irene Arnalov was born on 14/27 March 1917 into a Spanish family living in Bordeaux (France). Her parents were Francisco Arnal and Eduviges Domper, a family originally from Bierge, in the province of Huesca (in Aragon).
In 1938, in the city of Huesca, she was married to Pedro Antonio Serrano Navarro. The couple had two sons, Antonio Serrano-Arnal Domper, Count Dompersky and Count Arnalov, and Francisco Serrano Arnal, Count Arnalov; and two daughters, Riansares and Maria del Pilar Serrano Arnal, Countesses Arnalov.
Countess Irene Arnalov and her family have for many years been friends of the Imperial Family and have taken part in many charitable programs of the Imperial House of Russia. Irene made a not insignificant contribution to the cultural ties linking Russia and Spain, particularly supporting efforts to help the plight of children, the sick, and refugees. For her service to the needy, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, was pleased on 22 July/4 August 2003 to grant her a patent of nobility, and on 7/20 August 2013, to award her the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives. These were in addition to the Imperial Monogram in gold awarded to her on 11/24 December 2003, by H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna.
Countess Irene Arnalov was born a Roman Catholic, but as a result of her friendship with members of the Imperial Family and her own study of the history and culture of Russia, she came to know the Orthodox Faith very deeply and was filled with a firm resolve to convert to Orthodoxy. On 28 May/10 June 2007, the Feast Day of All Saints of Russia, Countess Irene Arnalov became a member of the Holy Orthodox Church through the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion in the Church of the Nativity of Christ (Moscow Patriarchate) in Madrid, administered during the Divine Liturgy. She took as her Heavenly patron the Great Martyr Irene (commemorated on 5/18 May).
The congratulatory letter sent by the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House of Russia on the occasion of her 100th birthday, on 14/27 March 2017, stated: “You were born in Spain in the fateful and tragic year that saw the outbreak of the Revolution in our country. Your birthday coincided with a Feast Day that was held most dear in Russia, which was at that time experiencing such persecution and destruction: the day of your birth is the Feast when the Holy Church offers supplications before the Holy Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, marking the selection by the Assembly of the Land of the first Romanoff tsar, Mikhail Feodorovich, which took place in the presence of this holy icon—an icon which was and has since been venerated and honoured by all three of Russia’s historic ruling dynasties. The Providence behind these coincidences became apparent and meaningful when God destined you to help establish ties between Spain and Russia, to convert to Holy Orthodoxy, and to become a tower of strength of the Russian Imperial House, which found in exile after the Revolution a safe haven in your country.”
On August 4, 2024, the Name Day of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, a moleben (or intercessory prayer service) was served for the health and salvation of the Grand Duchess in the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers in Moscow, Russia—a country Countess Irene loved with all her heart. Immediately after the moleben, a litiya (memorial service for the departed) was offered for the soul of the newly reposed servant of God, Countess Irene.
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Grant, O Lord, eternal rest to Thy newly-reposed servant Countess Irene, and make her memory be eternal!