Tsesarevich Alexey Nikolaevich Romanov

Alexey Nikolaevich Romanov was born on August 12, 1904 in the Peterhof Palace. He the last Tsarevich of the Russian Empire and heir since his birth. Was the only male born from the imperial marriage of Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna.
His official title was His Imperial Highness, Tsarevich and Grand Duke of Russia.

Days after his birth, on September 3, 1904, he was baptized in the Peterhof Palace Chapel. His main godparents were his grandmother, Empress Dowager Maria Fyodorovna; his great-uncle, Grand Duke Aleksei Aleksandrovich; his sister Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna; Christian IX of Denmark; Edward VII of the United Kingdom; and Wilhelm II of Germany. As the Russian Empire was at war with Japan, all soldiers of the Russian Army and Navy were named honorary godparents

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"The babe lay on a gold-brocaded pillow, slung across the Princess's shoulders by a wide gold sash. He was covered in the heavy gold-brocaded cloak, lined with ermine, worn by the heir to the crown. The cloak supported on one side by Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Dolgorukov, Grand Marshal of the Court, and on the other by Count [Paul] Benckendorff, appointed out of custom and wise precaution, the baby cried aloud, as any normal baby would. When old Father Yanishev dipped him in the fountain, his four little sisters in short court dresses staring wide-eyed at the ceremony, Olga Nikolayevna, then nine years old, was in the important position of one of the godmothers. According to Russian custom, the Emperor and Empress were not present at the baptism, but immediately after the ceremony, the Emperor went to church, both he and the Empress always confessed to feeling very nervous. on these occasions, for fear that the princess might fall, or that Father Yanishev, who was very old, might leave the baby at the bottom."

By Countess Sophie Buxhoeveden on the baptism of the heir Alexey Nikolaevich

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First visit to Moscow of Tsesarevich Alexey Nikolaevich

At the end of May 1912, together with his parents, he visited Moscow for the first time, on the occasion of the inauguration of a monument to his grandfather, Emperor Alexander III, destroyed in 1918 by the Bolshevik revolt that usurped the power in Holy Russia. .

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On May 30, 1912, in the Kremlin, on the porch of Her Majesty, presenting a specially painted Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God to the Heir, the Moscow provincial marshal of the nobility A.D. Samarin addressed the Tsesarevich Alexey with a speech:

“The Blessed Sovereign Heir. The nobility of Moscow rejoices from the heart to see you within the walls of the old Kremlin. You are visiting our capital for the first time.”

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“Thanks to his extraordinary simplicity and cordiality in his speech, Alexey Nikolaevich attracted all hearts, both because of his external and spiritual beauty; the clear and open gaze of him, the determination of him manifested from him in everything, the pleasant and resonant voice that he evoked in all who saw him”. a feeling of deep sympathy".

Proto-priest of the Russian Army and Navy Georgy Shchavelsky.

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“During the baptism, a wonderful incident occurred with the baby, which attracted the attention of all present”... “When the newborn crown prince was anointed with the holy myrrh, he raised his hand and spread his fingers, as if he were blessing. . to those present."

Abbot Seraphim-Kuznetsov.

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On October 18, the Orthodox Church celebrates the day of memory of Saint Alexei of Moscow and Tesisarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Romanov, the last sesarevich, the last legal and legitimate heir who reigned in Holy Russia.

On October 18, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of Saint Alexei of Moscow and Tsesisarevich Alexey Nikolaevich Romanov, the last king, the last legal heir of Holy Russia.

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Alexey Nikolaevich was the center of this united family, all affections, all hopes were focused on him. The sisters adored him and he was the joy of his parents. When he was healthy, the entire palace seemed to be transformed; it was a ray of sunlight that illuminated some things as well as others.

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“Thanks to his extraordinary simplicity and cordiality in his speech, Aleksey Nikolayevich attracted all hearts, both because of his external and spiritual beauty; the clear, open gaze, determination of him manifested in everything, pleasant and resonant voice that he evoked in all who saw him”. a feeling of deep sympathy. The Lord endowed the child with wonderful natural qualities: a strong and quick mind, wit, a kind and compassionate heart, a charming simplicity among the tsars. "

The proto-presbyter of the Russian Army and Navy Georgy Shchavelsky wrote.