| Imperial Order of Saint Anastasia the Holy Great Martyr 'Alleviatrix of Captives' | |
| Awarded By: | Head of the House of Romanov |
| Type: | Dynastic Order |
| Status: | Currently constituted |
| Head Title: | Sovereign |
| Head: | Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia |
| Head2 Title: | Grand Mistress |
| Head2: | Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia |
| Grades: | Dame |
| Date: | 20 August 2010 |
| House: | House of Romanov |
| Religion: | Russian Orthodox |
| Higher: | Imperial Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker |
| Lower: | Imperial Order of St. Stanislaus |
The Imperial Order of Saint Anastasia the Holy Great Martyr 'Alleviatrix of Captives' is a dynastic order of the former Russian Imperial House for women. It was established and its statutes approved on August 20, 2010 by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna.
The order is composed of only one class. The feast days of the Order are celebrated on (22 December/4 January) Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the "Alleviatrix of Captives", and 7/20 August, the day of commemoration for the Tsaritsa consort Anastasia Romanovna.[1]
The order was established in honor of Saint Anastasia, the patron saint of the first Tsaritsa consort of the Romanov dynasty, Anastasia Romanovna (1530-1560). The creation of the order marked the 450th anniversary of the repose of Anastasia Romanovna, and was in anticipation of the 400th anniversary of the end of the time of troubles and the establishment of the House of Romanov in 2013. The order is awarded by the head of the house[2] exclusively to Russian women who have been distinguished by their acts in the fields of charity, culture, education, science, medicine, and other activities to benefit the Russian state or the Imperial House.[3] [4] [5]
The Order of St. Anastasia has only one class, Dames.
The insignia of the Order consists of a white enamel cross with indented ends, edged in blue and gold with heraldically right-facing Romanov griffins in the axillae, on a white ribbon edged with blue and gold. The medallion of the device depicts in enamel the icon of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia. The Cross is surmounted by an Imperial crown.
Dames of the Order of St. Anastasia the Holy Great Martyr wear the Device of the Order on the left side of the breast suspended from a ribbon, tied into a bow, 45 mm. in width.