PHOTO: Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich (1904-1918)

On this day – 24th (O.S. 11th) August 1904, His Imperial Highness Naslednik Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolayevich, was baptized in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which is adjacent to the Grand Palace at Peterhof.

Nicholas II, on the day of the baptism of his son, wrote in his diary: “August 11. Wednesday. The significant day of the baptism of our dear son.”

Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna decided that their first-born son ought to be named in honour of Saint Alexei of Moscow (1296–1378), who served as 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. The claim that Alexei was named after the son of Russia’s first Tsar, Alexei Mikhailovich who reigned from 1645 until 1676) is incorrect.

In accordance to ancient Orthodox custom the parents of the infant were obliged to leave before the baptism ceremony could begin, and thus allowing the godparents to carry out their ceremonial function.

Alexei’s godparents included Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, Emperor Wilhelm II, King Edward VII, King Christian IX, Grand Duke of Hesse, Princess Victoria of Great Britain, Ernest Louis Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich, Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna, and Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich.

PHOTO: view of the iconostasis of the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, adjacent to the Grand Palace, at Peterhof, as it looks today. It was here in this magnificent church, that Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Alexei Nikolaevich was baptized on 24th (O.S. 11th) August 1904

The baptism was performed by the confessor of the Imperial Family, Protopresbyter Ivan Yanishev (from 1883 until his death in 1910). The baby was carried to the font by the elderly Princess Maria Mikhailovna Golitzina (1834-1910), Mistress of the Robes. As a precaution, she had rubber soles put on her shoes to prevent her slipping and dropping him.

Countess Sophie Buxhoeveden (1883-1956) – lady in waiting to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna – recalled:

The baby lay on a pillow of cloth of gold, slung to the Princess’s shoulders by a broad gold band. He was covered with the heavy cloth-of-gold mantle, lined with ermine, worn by the heir to the crown. The mantle was supported on one side by Prince Alexander Sergeiovich Dolgorouky, the Grand Marshal of the Court, and on the other by Count [Paul] Benckendorff, as decreed by custom and wise precaution. The baby wept loudly, as might any ordinary baby when old Father Yanishev dipped him in the font. His four small sisters, in short Court dresses, gazed open-eyed at the ceremony, Olga Nicholaevna, then nine years old, being in the important position of one of the godmothers. According to Russian custom, the Emperor and Empress were not present at the baptism, but directly after the ceremony, the Emperor went to the church. Both he and the Empress always confessed to feeling very nervous on these occasions, for fear that the Princess might slip, or that Father Yanishev, who was very old, might drop the baby in the font.

In accordance with the statute of the Imperial Family, during the baptism ceremony, the newborn Grand Duke was conferred with five of the Russian Orders: St. Andrew the First-Called, St. Alexander Nevsky, St. Anna 1st Class, White Eagle, and St. Stanislaus 1st Class The august name of the Tsesarevich was entered in the lists of guards regiments and military units under the patronage of Emperor Nicholas II, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

Please note that there were no photographs taken of the actual baptims ceremony, as photography was forbidden in Orthodox churches during baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc.

PHOTO: Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich’s baptism shirt has surived to the present day, and is now on permanent display in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which is adjacent to the Grand Palace at Peterhof

PHOTOS above and below: Gala procession on the day of the baptism of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, who was transported in a gilded carriage pulled by 8 elegantly dressed white horses, from the Lower Dacha to the Grand Peterhof Palace, on 28th (O.S. 11th) August 1904

PHOTO: Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna arrives at the Grand Peterhof Palace, for the baptism of her grandson Alexei, on 28th (O.S. 11th) August 1904

PHOTO: Empress Alexandra Feodorovna arrives at the Peterhof Palace, where Alexei is carefully taken in hand by officials, 28th (O.S. 11th) August 1904

Sadly, this joyous occasion was overshadowed by the fact that the proud parents were already aware that their son was afflicted with haemophilia. New evidence now proves that Alexei’s bleeding was noted the day following his birth.

© Paul Gilbert. 24 August 2024