The Head of the House of Romanoff sends Her Greetings on the 20th Anniversary of the Reestablishment of the Holy Trinity Antonievo-Siiskii Monastery
From the Head of the Russian Imperial House
I extend my heartfelt greetings to all those participating in the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the reestablishment of the Holy Trinity Antonievo-Siiskii Monastery.
Founded by the great Russian saint, the venerable Antonii Siiskii, under the patronage of the sovereign of All Russia, Grand Prince Vasilii III, this monastery has become one of the most important spiritual centers in Russia. The history of this holy place is made all the more glorious by the fact that the ancestor of Our House, the future Patriarch Filaret, spent a particularly difficult time in his life here after he had been disgraced and sent in exile to this monastery. Yet he found at the monastery not persecution or humiliation, but rather the understanding and moral support of his monastic brethren.
During the years of militant atheism in our country, the monastery fell into ruins, but these dark days are now all in the past and a new era of renewal has begun.
I greatly appreciate the enormous labors of Hegumen Trifon and Hegumen Varlaam and of all their co-laborers, upon whose shoulders has been placed the weighty burden and responsibility of raising the monastery from ruins and breathing new life into it.
I hope that the coming 400th anniversary of the ending of the Time of Troubles and the 500th anniversary of the founding of the Antonievo-Siiskii Monastery will be appropriately celebrated. I call upon all our countrymen who wish to express their support for Our House in this anniversary year to make a contribution for the reconstruction of the Antonievo-Siiskii Monastery and in support of the many good works it performs in society.
My son and heir, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, joins me in offering you these warm greetings and congratulations.
May God bless you!
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia
Madrid
August 31/September 13, 2012