On Friday, October 1, in Russia’s northern capital of St. Petersburg, the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony between His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romanov and Her Serene Highness, the Serene Princess Victoria Romanovna (née Bettarini) took place in St. Isaac’s Cathedral. The service – the first wedding in the Imperial House to take place on Russian soil since 1918 – was officiated by His Eminence Barsanuphius, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg & Ladoga.

The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, sent written congratulations and well-wishes to the newlyweds, joined by the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad, Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco & Western America, and Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan:

September 18/October 1, 2021

To His Imperial Highness,
the Sovereign Tsesarevich & Heir
Grand Duke
GEORGE MIKHAILOVICH
and
To Her Serene Highness,
the Serene Princess
VICTORIA ROMANOVNA

Your Imperial Highness, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich!
Your Serene Highness, Serene Princess Victoria Romanovna!

Noetically joining ourselves to the joint prayer of the faithful children of our Holy Russian people, both in the homeland and in the diaspora, we greet You with warm hearts on "this chosen and holy day" of Your blessed and praiseworthy matrimony, fervently wishing with God’s great mercies and blessings!

Your wedding is a most significant event, one which will be remembered for many years. May today’s joyous and grace-filled day become years both for You and for all of Your faithful subjects, that You might never know sadness or sorrow. But if they come nonetheless, may they speedily flee in the face of your memories of today’s good and radiant feast. No trials can withstand the power of love, total forgiveness, humble gratitude, and mutual patience and respect. And so, let Your good feelings of love be without limit, and your support of one another uncompromising. May the seeds of the Kingdom of Heaven, sown now in Your hearts and watered by the prayers of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky, born 800 years ago, and the saints who shone forth in the Russian Church Abroad – which this year celebrates the centennial of the I All Diaspora Council – bring forth abundant fruit in Your shared life and in Your service to Russia for many years!

With love in the Lord,

+HILARION
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

+KYRILL
Archbishop of San Francisco & Western America
Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad

+NICHOLAS
Bishop of Manhattan
Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops
Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese