PHOTO: portrait of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich
Artist: Pyotr Petrovich Pershin (1877-1956)
From the Collection of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

Today – 18th October – marks the Name Day[1] of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (1904-1918). The heir to the throne was born in the Lower Dacha at Peterhof on 12th August (O.S. 30th July) 1904. He was named in honour of St. Alexius of Moscow[2] (1296–1378).

On a historical note, the Name Day of the Tsesarevich was celebrated on this day at Livadia, Crimea, in 1909, 1911 and 1913 respectively.

In 1913, Nicholas II wrote in his diary: “In the morning, Alexei received gifts in our bedroom . . . At 11 o’clock, the Yalta garrison held a parade in front of the house. After the solemn event, the guests were invited for breakfast in the Main Dining Room, where about 160 people were present. In the evening, the Black Sea squadron held beautiful illuminations.”

Divine services will be held in churches across Russia today, in honour of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich’s Name Day. White flowers were placed at the pedestal holding a bust of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (above), which was installed and consecrated in the Tsarsky Center, located in the Patriarchal Compound, across from the Church on the Blood in Ekaterinburg, in July.

NOTES:

[1] Russians celebrate name days separately from birthdays. Celebrations range from the gifting of cards and flowers to full-blown celebrations similar to birthday parties. Such a celebration begins with attendance at the divine services marking that day (in the Russian tradition, the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy), and usually with a festive party thereafter. The Russian Imperial family followed a tradition of giving name-day gifts.

Before the October Revolution of 1917, Russians regarded name days as important as, or more important than, the celebration of birthdays, based on the rationale that one’s baptism is the event by which people become “born anew” in Christ.

[2] It was Robert K. Massie (among others), who have led us to believe that the only son of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, was named after Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676) . . . this is incorrect. This is incorrect.

The long-awaited son and heir to the Russian throne was named Alexei, in honour of St. Alexius of Moscow.

Saint Alexius (1296–1378) was Metropolitan of Kiev and all Russia (from 1354). He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1448 and is revered as one of the patron saints of Moscow.

© Paul Gilbert. 18 October 2023