CANNES, FRANCE: April 27, 2015
Archbishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe officiates at divine services for the transfer of the remains of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich Romanov in Cannes, France

On Friday, April 24, 2015, at Archangel Michael Church in Cannes, France, a memorial service was performed at the crypt of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich and his wife Grand Duchess Anastasia to mark the transfer of their remains to Russia. Divine services were led by His Eminence Archbishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe along with clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and other churches.

Present was the Russian Ambassador to France, Alexander Orlov and the grandson of Grand Duke Peter Nikolayevich and Grand Duchess Melissa, Dimitri Romanov, and his grandson, from the USA, as well as other honored guests and local parishioners.

When the crypt was first opened, a funerary litiya was served. The coffins were then ceremoniously transferred to the entrance of the church, where a pannikhida was performed with singing by parishioners of the Russian Church Abroad from the Cote d’Azur region. Afterwards His Eminence Vladyka Michael delivered a sermon to those in attendance.