On 7th October 2025, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, marked his 73rd birthday, with a visit to the SS Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, where he paid homage to the Emperors and Empresses of All Russia.

The President, who was on a working trip to the Northwestern Federal District, was accompanied by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Active State Counselor of the Russian Federation 1st Class A.R. Belousov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Army General V.V. Gerasimov, Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, Army General A.V. Bortnikov and a number of other high-ranking military officials.

The rector of the cathedral, Archimandrite Alexander (Fedorov), served a moleben [a liturgical service of supplication or thanksgiving] at the tomb of the Most Pious Right-Believing Emperor Peter I Alexeevich (1672-1725).

President Putin laid a bouquet of red roses on the tombstone of Emperor Peter I the Great, whose death on 10th February (O.S. 28th January 2025, marked the 300th anniversary of his death. Note: Peter the Great was only 52 years of age, when he died of uremia or azotemia. An autopsy revealed his bladder to be infected with gangrene.

“I decided to begin this working visit to the region today from here, because this is the burial vault of those people who, in fact, made modern Russia,” said Putin.

Putin and the Romanovs

Vladimir Putin is the first Russian leader to honour the Romanov Emperors and Emperors. While his predecessor Boris Yeltsin attended the burial of Emperor Nicholas II on 17th July 1998, Yeltsin was also the one responsible for the demolition of the Ipatiev House in September 1977.

Since taking office, Putin has touched on the subject of the Romanovs, who ruled Russia for more than 300 years, on numerous occasions, during speaking engagements or honouring them during the installation of monuments.

On 25th January 2016, while speaking at an inter-regional forum of the All-Russia People’s Front, Vladimir Putin denounced Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, for “brutally executing Russia’s last Tsar along with all his family and servants”. Putin further criticized Lenin, accusing him of placing a “time bomb” under the state, and sharply denouncing brutal repressions by the Bolshevik government, murdering thousands of priests and innocent civilians.

On 4th May 2017, the memorial cross marking the spot where Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich was assassinated in 1905, was restored in a ceremony that was attended by President Vladimir Putin. Recall that the original memorial cross was installed in 1908 by his wife Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna at the place were her husband was assassinated on 17th February (O.S. 4th February) 1905. T

On 18th November 2017, Putin unveiled a monument to Emperor Alexander III on the site of the Small (wooden) Palace at Livadia, Crimea.

On 5th June 2021, a new monument to Emperor Alexander III (1845-1894) was unveiled on Arsenal Square in front of Gatchina Palace. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally took part in the unveiling and dedication of the monument.

In May 2025, while this author was watching an interview, a framed portrait of Emperor Alexander III on the mantlepiece caught my eye. It is interesting to note that Alexander III is one of the few Russian Tsars in which he most admires.

Sadly, Putin holds a negative assessment of the 22+ year reign of Emperor Nicholas II, one which reflects that of the old Bolshevik and Soviet history books, which is based on propaganda and lies.

In addition, Putin has visited and toured the former Romanov palaces at Tsarskoye Selo, including the Alexander Palace. Not only has he supported the restoration of the Alexander Palace, he was instrumental in securing funding for the project.

FURTHER READING:

Putin, the Church and the last Tsar

Russia after Putin: would he restore the monarchy? + PHOTOS

The unholy alliance of Maria and Vlad

Putin’s Russia and the ghost of the Romanovs + VIDEO

© Paul Gilbert. 10 October 2025