On February 8, 2025, Metropolitan Varsonofy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga celebrated a requiem mass at the grave of Peter and Paul Cathedral in memory of the 300th anniversary of the death of the first Russian Emperor Peter the Great.
The service was attended by the Governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, representatives of the Government and the Legislative Assembly, public organizations, cultural and business communities of the Northern capital.
The banner groups of the honor guard company brought and installed the regimental banner of 1712 and the St. Andrew's flag at the royal tomb — copies of these historical banners were made for the memorable date and will be used in the ceremonial life of the cathedral.
"Emperor Peter the Great was an outstanding ruler of our country, who did a lot for its development and establishment as a great power," said Bishop Varsonofy. — He carried out important reforms, modernized the army, created the navy, which allowed him to win the Northern War and proclaim Russia an empire. We especially honor his memory in St. Petersburg, he is the founder of the city, from here, from the Peter and Paul Fortress, the construction of the new imperial capital began. It is symbolic that prayers are incessantly offered in this place for him and all the emperors and empresses — his descendants, for their family members who have found rest here.
Peter the Great died at 52, which is a short life span by today's standards. In recent years, he was ill, but his physical condition was aggravated by an incident that occurred in November 1724, a few months before his death. Returning from a trip to Shlisselburg, in the Lakhta area, he saw a stranded ship with sailors and, risking his health, began to rescue them in the icy water. In honor of this event, the church of St. Peter the Apostle was built in Lakhta and recently a monument with the inscription "To the Feat of the Emperor" was unveiled. This selfless, truly Christian act says a lot about the personality of Peter the Great."
"He was an Orthodox man, participated in divine services, and even sang in the choir," the archpastor continued. — He also took care of the construction of temples. The predecessors of the current majestic cathedrals — Peter and Paul, St. Isaac's, Sampsonievsky — were built under him. The Alexander Nevsky Monastery, the future Lavra, was founded, and the relics of the patron saint of the Northern Capital, the Venerable Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, were transferred from Vladimir to the new capitale was an Orthodox man, participated in divine services, and even sang in the choir," the archpastor continued. — He also took care of the construction of temples. The predecessors of the current majestic cathedrals — Peter and Paul, St. Isaac's, Sampsonievsky — were built under him. The Alexander Nevsky Monastery, the future Lavra, was founded, and the relics of the patron saint of the Northern Capital, the Venerable Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, were transferred from Vladimir to the new capital. He also took care of spiritual enlHe also took care of spiritual enlightenment — during his reign, a Slavic school was founded on Monastyrsky Island, which later became the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Before his death, he ordered a marching church to be built in the room next to his bedroom, and confessed a few days before his death.

As we pray for his immortal soul, we gratefully remember his merits, the good things he did for the Fatherland and his beloved city. In this, he is an example of how to serve your country selflessly, without sparing yourself."
Metropolitan Varsonofy consecrated a silver memorial wreath with the inscription "To the Founder of St. Petersburg from grateful descendants", which was placed on the tombstone of Peter the Great. A commemorative medal "300 years since the death of Peter the Great", made by the St. Petersburg Mint of Goznak, was also placed on the emperor's grave.
The wreath was created by St. Petersburg master of blacksmithing art, People's Artist of Russia Valery Galkin, based on a preserved photo image of a wreath brought to the grave by the Main Quartermaster Department in wreath was created by St. Petersburg master of blacksmithing art, People's Artist of Russia Valery Galkin, based on a preserved photo image of a wreath brought to the grave by the Main Quartermaster Department in the early 1900s. It consists of a laurel branch, symbolizing the glory and victories of Russia, and an oak branch, an allegory of eternal memory. The gilded monogram of the autocrat is placed in the center. The ribbon connecting the branches into a wreath is engraved with the inscription: "To the founder of St. Petersburg from grateful descendants."
The tradition of placing commemorative medals on the tsar's tombstone dedicated to the anniversaries of significant events in Russian history and related to his name appeared in