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| Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini
Photograph (c) Russian Imperial House |
Between 11-13 July 2020, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Rebecca Bettarini visited St. Petersburg. On 12 July, the feast day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the couple attended the Divine Liturgy in the Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral. The Liturgy was served by His Eminence Metropolitan Varsonofii of St. Petersburg, along with other clergy.
Thereafter, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, Victoria Romanovna Bettarini, and those accompanying them went to the New Mausoleum at the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul, where Archpriest Alexander Tkachenko and Protodeacon Andrei Levin served a Litiya, or commemorative service, for Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich and Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, and Grand Duke Alexander Vladimirovich (all of whom, except for the wife of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, are buried in the New Mausoleum).
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| Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini at the Church of St. Martin the Confessor |
In preparation for being received into Holy Orthodoxy, Rebecca Bettarini received religious instruction under the direction of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America. This religious instruction took place in San Francisco, California. The day before their arrival in St. Petersburg, Grand Duke George and Rebecca Bettarini visited the Church of St. Martin the Confessor in Moscow, where her final session preparing her for Chrismation and Confession took place.
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| Victoria Romanovna Bettarini
Photograph Courtesy of Victoria |
Victoria Romanovna (Rebecca Virginia) Bettarini is the daughter of His Excellency Roberto Bettarini (b.Taranto 5 May 1947) and Carla Virginia Cacciatore. Mr. Bettarini an Italian diplomat who has served as the Italian Ambassador to Zaire, Iraq, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Rebecca Bettarini attended the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli in Rome, where she received a bachelor's degree in political science. She then went on to attain a master's degree in development economics and international development from the Società Italiana Organizzazione Internazionale in Rome. Rebecca Bettarini serves as the Director of the Russian Imperial Foundation.
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| The Romanovs and Bettarinis in Moscow, March 2020. |
In March 2020, Grand Duke George of Russia and Rebecca Bettarini attended services in Moscow to celebrate George's thirty-ninth birthday. The pair were joined by their parents: Prince Franz Wilhelm (Michael Pavlovich) of Prussia with his second wife Princess Nadia and Mr. Roberto Bettarini and his wife Carla.
Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini have been in a relationship for almost a decade. An engagement has not been announced.
May God Bless Victoria Romanovna!
His Royal Highness’s special wish for his 75th birthday is that this COVID-19 virus go away forever and that everyone be safe and take good care during these very difficult times.
His Royal Highness hopes that all countries economies recover as soon as possible and that everyone has a better future.
