News Release On the Official Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna To Russia, 13-14 January 2004

On 13-14 January 2004, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, made an official visit to Russia. Her Imperial Highness arrived in order to take part in a charity event hosted by the Orthodox Society “Radonezh,” a charitable foundation under Her Imperial Highness’s patronage. The event was a benefit for the Society’s program, “Education for Poor Children.”

On 13 January, Her Imperial Highness met with His Holiness, Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and All Russia. His Holiness congratulated Her Imperial Highness on her recent birthday, and bestowed upon Her the devices and certificate of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Order of St. Olga (in the First Class). Their subsequent conversation touched on several topics, including the unification of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad with the Mother-Church, the return to Russia of Orthodox holy relics that had been taken abroad during the years of Communism, and their mutual interests in charitable foundations and other philanthropic activities.

On this same day, in the evening, there was a charity ball during the course of which the Grand Duchess donated the sum of 11,800 Euros, which had been raised during the annual charitable market fair “Rastrillo,” which was organized by the international charitable foundation “Nuevo Futuro” and in which the Grand Duchess had personally taken part. That same evening, the Grand Duchess bestowed honors and awards upon true sons of the Fatherland for their services to the country in the fields of science, culture, and philanthropy.

On 14 January, in the Military Orchestral Hall building of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, the Head of the Russian Imperial House awarded devices and certificates to the new members of the Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The Knights’ Council of the Order organized a luncheon in honor of Her Imperial Highness. Afterward, the Grand Duchess visited the Orthodox grade school established in the town of Yasenevo by the Orthodox Society “Radonezh.” The students put on a concert in Her Imperial Highness’s honor, after which the Grand Duchess was taken to the airport and returned to Madrid. 

A. N. Zakatov
Personal Secretary of the Imperial Family
Director of the Chancellery of H.I.H.