ABOUT THE DYNASTIC ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF ROMANOFF
The Russian Imperial and Royal Orders are historical honorary institutions of the Russian Imperial House, which bring together worthy sons and daughters of the Fatherland with significant achievements in service to the state and in social, academic, cultural, and philanthropic activities; as well as citizens of other countries who have made important contributions to the preservation and development of the traditions of Russian civilization and culture, and to the strengthening of friendship between nations.
Elevation to the dignity of a knight (or dame) of an Imperial Order is an honour and a testament to the respect, gratitude, and appreciation of the Russian Imperial House; but it also imposes a moral responsibility to carry out one’s duty to the nation all the more diligently, and exhorts one to work collaboratively and all the more energetically with the Russian Imperial House in respect of its charitable, cultural, peace-building, and patriotic endeavours.
The Russian Imperial House has twelve Orders: the Imperial Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, the Imperial Order of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine (for ladies), the Imperial Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, the Imperial Order of the Holy Victory-Bearer George (currently dormant), the Imperial Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, the Imperial and Royal Order of the White Eagle, the Imperial Order of St. Anna, the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislav, the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives (for ladies), the Imperial Order of St. Michael the Archangel, and the Imperial Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga (for ladies, currently dormant).
The Sovereign of the Imperial and Royal Orders of Russia is the legitimate hereditary Head of the Russian Imperial House, currently Her Imperial Highness, the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia.
All membership dues pertaining to the Orders, which may have been required by the Orders’ Statutes prior to the 1917 Revolution, have been and are hereby abolished. There are no fees in respect of appointment to the honour of knight (or dame) of Russia’s Imperial and Royal Orders. It is hereby made generally known that any attempt by third parties to institute any fees whatsoever in connection with membership of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders is to be considered improper and unauthorized; if any such impermissible attempts should be made, then the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House is to be immediately informed.