ALEXANDER I (1777-1825, Emperor of Russia from 1801)

Decree document signed with his elaborate flourish 'Aleksandr', in Russian with translation, addressed to the Chapter of the Orders of Russia saying that "on the representation of the Minister of National Education, Chief Director for the Spiritual Affairs of Foreign Confessions of Faith, concerning the work on Roman Catholic affairs of Full Serving State Councillor Sierpinski, as witnessed by Metropolitan Siestrzencewicz-Bohusz", (Stanislaw, 1730-1825, from 1783 Archbishop, from 1798 Metropolitan), the Emperor is appointing Sierpinski "Knight of the Order of St Vladimir third class", and is ordering "the Chapter to send him the Document and Insignia of the Order", 1 side folio, St Petersburg, 22nd February (Transcription)
1 Ukaz Kapitulu Rossiiskikh Ordenov.
2 Po predstavleniyu Ministra narod-
3 nago prosveshcheniya, Glavnoupravlyayushchago du-
4 khovnimi dyelami inostrannikh ispovyedanii
5 o trudakh Dyeistvitelnago Statskago Sovyet-
6 nika Sherpinskago, Mitropolitom Rim-
7 sko-Katolicheskikh tserkvei Syestrentsevichem-
8 Bogushem zasvidyetelstvovannikh, Vsemi-
9 lostivyeishe zhaluem ego Kavalerom
10 ordena Svyatago Vladimira tretei stepeni, pove-
11 lyeval Kapitulu dostavit emu
12 Gramotu i znaki cego Ordena.
13 [Signed] Aleksandr
14 S. Peterburg
15 Fevralya 22 dnya
16 1825 goda.
1825.
(Translation)
Ukase to the Chapter of Russian Orders.
On the representation of the Minister for National Education, Chief Director for the Spiritual Affairs of Foreign Confessions of Faith, concerning the labours of Active State Councillor Sierpinski, as witnessed by Metropolitan of the Roman-Catholic Churches Siestrzencewicz-Bohusz, We are appointing him, Most Dear Sirs, Knight of the Order of St Vladimir third class, and have ordered the Chapter to send him the Document and Insignia of the Order.
[Signed] Alexander St Petersburg, 22nd February1825

Alexander I had many Roman Catholic subjects, especially in Poland and Ukraine. In 1773 Catherine II set up a bishopric for them, quite independent at first of the Pope, with Siestrzencewicz-Bohusz as first bishop, based in Mogilev in Poland (now in Belarus). He established there a printing press for sacred and secular literature. In 1782 the bishopric became the head of all the Roman Catholic dioceses in Russia. The Ministry for Foreign Faiths and the Ministry of National Education had been united, 1802-1824, and only recently separated. The idea was that the Minister of Education could keep an eye on what was being taught in schools that were not of the State church. This became a problem in several countries later in the century as the state began to take over public education, especially under Bismarck in Germany. The present document reflects co-operation – the Metropolitan himself held the St Vladimir, first class, one of the highest honours.

Item Date:  1825

Stock No:  38102      £2500

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