Grand Duke George & Princess Victoria award the “Heritage” Book Prizes for 2020-2021

On May 28, 2022, a solemn awards ceremony of the "Heritage" literary prize was held at the Central House of Writers in Moscow. The prizes were awarded for two seasons at once: 2020 and 2021, since no ceremonies were held during these years due to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic.

The Heritage («Наследие») Prize is under the patronage of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, who has been present at the award ceremony in every previous year.

This year, the ceremony was attended by the son and heir of the Grand Duchess – His Imperial Highness Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, together with his wife, Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Romanovna.

For more, read HERE (in Russian)

The Russian Imperial House Mourns The Death of German Lukyanov

2022-05-23. The Funeral of German Yurievich Lukianov

On May 23, 2022, in the Church of the Entrance of the Mother of God in the Temple at Saltykov Bridge in Moscow, Fr. Nikolai Koniukhov officiated at the funeral of German Yurievich Lukianov, a devoted supporter of the Imperial Family and the head of the Legal Department of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia.

Attending the funeral were H.I.H. The Heir, Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia and his spouse, H.S.H. Princess Victoria Romanovna. Also attending were German Yurievich’s family, colleagues, and many friends.

The Head of the Imperial House of Russia sent a letter of condolences, which was read after the service:

“It was with great sadness that I learned of the untimely passing of German Yurievich Lukianov.

“German Yurievich was a successful and talented representative of the Russian legal profession, an heir and continuator of its best traditions. He combined a high degree of professionalism, determination, and a single-minded devotion to his client’s cause with uncommon kindness, sensitivity, and integrity; he cared deeply for every individual whose rights and interests he advocated and defended in court. For more than a quarter of a century, beginning in 1995, when he began representing the Imperial House, and especially since 2003, when I appointed him to lead the Legal Department of my Chancellery, German Yurievich vigorously and selflessly fulfilled the duties he took on, helping Our House to advance the cause of justice and fairness. His most important achievement was the rehabilitation of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, Emperor Nicholas II and members of his Family, our other executed relatives and their faithful servants, who shared the way of the Cross with them.

“I, my son and heir, Grand Duke George, and his spouse, Princess Victoria, extend our deepest condolences to German Yurievich’s family, friends, and colleagues. For us, the passing of German Yurievich Lukianov from this earthly life is a huge and irreplaceable loss, the loss of a true and devoted friend and supporter.

“May the Lord grant rest to the soul of His departed servant German in His Heavenly Abode, and may his memory be eternal!”

[The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:]

MARIA

H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia

Madrid, 6/19 May 2022

Feast of Holy and Righteous Job the Long-Suffering

Birthday of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer Emperor Nicholas II

Russian Imperial House Expresses Sorrow Over Death of Hierarch, Metropolitan Hilarion.

2022-05-17 MEMORY ETERNAL! Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposes in the Lord

The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, her Heir, H.I.H. The Tsesarevich and Grand Duk George of Russia, and his spouse, H.S.H. Princess Victoria Romanovna, were greatly saddened to receive the news of the death of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) (6 January 1948 - 16 May 2022).

Metropolitan Hilarion (before monastic tonsure, Igor Alekseevich Kapral) dedicated himself from his earliest years to the service of the Holy Church. His spiritual formation took place under the guidance of Bishop Savva of Edmonton and Archbishop Averky of Syracuse and Holy Trinity. He was ordained a hieromonk in 1976 by Bishop Laurus of Manhattan (the future First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, under whom ROCOR was reunited with the Moscow Patriarchate). In 1984, he was called to the episcopacy and was consecrated the Bishop of Manhattan. He was then appointed the Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. In 1995 he was made Bishop of Washington, and in 1996 was raised to Archbishop and appointed the Ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand. He made a vital contribution to the effort to reunite the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with the Moscow Patriarchate in Russia, which was finally accomplished in 2007.

After the repose of Metropolitan Laurus on 16 March 2008, Archbishop Hilarion fulfilled the duties of First Hierarch pro tempore, and on 12 May 2008 the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia elected him as First Hierarch. The election was confirmed by the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate on 14 May 2008, along with the new title Metropolitan.

Metropolitan Hilarion always treated the Imperial House of Russia with love and deep respect. Before the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate were reunited and were still at odds with each other, Bishop Hilarion was not afraid to declare publicly that he did not support the attacks against the Imperial Dynasty that were being made by the First Hierarch of ROCOR, Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), and many other bishops and clergy after the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, met with His Holiness Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All Russia in November 1991. As Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, he warmly received the Head of the Russian Imperial House H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia during her visit to Australia (in 2007). He also met with the Grand Duchess many times in Moscow. In 2013, Metropolitan Hilarion led a solemn Divine Service and other celebrations in New York dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the ending of the Time of Troubles, the restoration of Russian nation, and the calling to the throne of the House of Romanoff by the Great Church Council and Assembly of the Land in 1613.

For his outstanding services to the Holy Church, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia awarded Metropolitan Hilarion The Imperial Order of St. Anna First Class (in 2007). He was also awarded by the Grand Duchess the Imperial Commemorative Medals “In Memory of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff, 1613-2013” and “Anniversary of the National Triumph, 1613-2013.”

For his part, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his recognition of the service to the nation and Church of Grand Duchess Maria, awarding Her Imperial Highness the Synodal Order of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God First Class (in 2013).

Grand Duchess Maria, Tsesarevich George, and Princess Victoria pray for the repose of the soul of the newly departed Metropolitan Hilarion, and extend their deepest condolences to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, the clergy and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

***

Grant, O Lord, eternal rest to Thy newly reposed servant, Metropolitan Hilarion, and may his memory be eternal!

NEW YORK: HIS EMINENCE HILARION, METROPOLITAN OF EASTERN AMERICA & NEW YORK, FIRST HIERARCH OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ABROAD, REPOSED IN THE LORD

On Monday, May 16, the feast of Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, at 2:00 PM New York time, following a lengthy illness, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, reposed in the Lord in a New York City hospital.

His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, performed the "Canon of Supplication at the Parting of the Soul." His Grace was joined by Archpriest Serafim Gan and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin). A panihida will be served in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York at 7:30 PM tonight.

Further information will be provided shortly.

Memory eternal to the newly reposed Metropolitan Hilarion!