Letter from the Head of the House of Romanoff to President Vladimir Putin, requesting his support for the reconstruction of the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on Khodynka Field

Dear President Putin,

The year 2014 is a year of significant anniversaries: the 700th anniversary of the birth of the Abbot of the Russian land, St. Sergius of Radonezh, and the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War (1914-1918). These anniversaries unite all the sons and daughters of Russia in a common effort to pay tribute to the spiritual feats of one of the most significant heavenly protectors of our Homeland and of soldiers, sailors, and officers of the Russian Army and Navy, who sacrificed their lives in this first ever truly global conflict.

I was very pleased to learn that the Russian Military-Historical Society, which was established by your Decree, has launched an initiative to construct on Poklonnaia Hill a monument to the heroes and soldiers who perished during the First World War. I, my son and heir Grand Duke George of Russia, and all our friends and supporters in Russia and abroad will endeavor to contribute in every way possible to this important project.

But there is another holy place in Moscow that is linked to the anniversaries to be celebrated in 2014, which is important not only to the capital city, but to all of Russia. This holy place is the Military Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh on Khodynka Field, which was destroyed after the revolution and which is now being rebuilt.

The construction project includes a church and military memorial complex, and so the finished site will not only be a place for religious services, its primary purpose, but will also be a resource for strengthening the military’s morale and the education of our nation’s youth.

I have no doubt that the authorities in Moscow are offering all possible assistance to the reconstruction project for the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh. But, at the same time, I have received letters from my countrymen—members of the St. Sergius Community—informing me that they have faced much unfair criticism, and that periodically there are threats to postpone the construction or there are unjustified restrictions placed on them, which prevent the project to build a memorial complex around the church from moving forward.

I fully support the idea of reconstructing the Church of St. Sergius on Khodynka Field, and so I ask you to examine in detail the work of the Community and to offer them your fullest moral support personally and as Head of State.

I am certain that the Church of St. Sergius on Khodynka Field and the Monument on Poklonnaia Hill will become inseparably linked symbols of the continuity across time of the veneration of the defenders of the Fatherland.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, please accept my warmest regards and sincere hopes for God’s help in all your efforts on behalf of Russia.

H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia

Madrid

February 24, 2014

Note: A notification from the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, dated February 27, 2014 (numbered А26-09-26470671) was received at the postal address of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, confirming receipt of Her Imperial Highness’s letter to President Vladimir Putin, and that “the relevant documents and materials for an objective and comprehensive review of the issues raised in your letter have been requested from the city government of Moscow,” and that a response to Her Imperial Highness’s request that the President offer his moral support to the Community of St. Sergius of Radonezh on Khodynka Field will be given before April 27, 2014 (in accordance with Part 2 of Article 12 of the Federal Law of May 2, 2006, № 59-FЗ, “On the Procedure for Reviewing Petitions from Citizens of the Russian Federation”: “In exceptional cases, and also in those cases where a request is provided for in Part 2 of Article 10 of this Federal Law, the head of a federal or local government agency, an official or another so authorized by that official may extend the review period for a petition to no more than 30 days, and must inform the petitioner of the extension of the review period”).