Forms of address in the Russian Empire

From the time of Peter the Great, forms of address in the Russian Empire had been well-codified, determined by a person’s title of honor, as well as military or civil rank (see Table of Ranks) and ecclesiastical order. One’s position within the clergy was considered most important, followed by title, and then by civil/military rank (e.g., a commoner in rank of Privy Councilor would be styled His Excellency) a prince of the same rank would retain the style of His Highness, while the same prince serving as an archbishop would be referred as His High Eminence. All of these styles are now obsolete and are only used in historical context.

+ Aristocratic styles Style Transliteration Translation AddresseeВаше Императорское ВеличествоVashe Imperatorskoye VelichestvoYour Imperial Majestythe Emperor, Empress and Dowager Empress of RussiaВаше Императорское ВысочествоVashe Imperatorskoye VysochestvoYour Imperial HighnessGrand Dukes and Grand Duchesses (i.e. Imperial children and grandchildren; from 1797 to 1886 the title applied to great- and great-great-grandchildren as well)Ваше ВысочествоVashe VysochestvoYour Highness Princes and Princesses of the Imperial bloodlineВаша СветлостьVasha SvyetlostYour Serene HighnessYounger children of Imperial great-grandchildren and their descent; Serene PrincesВаше СиятельствоVashe SiyatelstvoYour Illustrious HighnessPrinces, CountsВаше БлагородиеVashe BlagorodiyeYour Well BornBarons and untitled nobility + Ecclesiastical styles Style Transliteration Translation AddresseeВаше СвятейшествоVashe SvyateyshestvoYour Holinessthe PatriarchВаше ВысокопреосвященствоVashe VysokopreosvyaschenstvoYour EminenceMetropolitan Bishops and ArchbishopsВаше ПреосвященствоVashe PreosvyaschenstvoYour GraceBishopsВаше ВысокопреподобиеVashe VysokoprepodobiyeThe High ReverendArchimandrites, Hegumens (Abbots), Protopresbyters and ArchpriestsВаше ПреподобиеVashe PrepodobiyeThe ReverendHieromonks and PriestsВаше ВысокоблаговестиеVashe VysokoblagovestieYour High EvangelismArchdeacons, ProtodeaconsВаше БлаговестиеVashe BlagovyestiyeYour EvangelismDeaconsВаше Боголю́биеVashe BogolubieYour Beloved of GodSubdeacons, Readers, Cantors, Canonarchs, Candle-bearers + Bureaucratic styles Style Trasliteration Translation AddresseeВаше ВысокопревосходительствоVashe VysokoprevoskhoditelstvoYour High ExcellencyTable of Ranks Grades I and IIВаше ПревосходительствоVashe PrevoskhoditelstvoYour ExcellencyTable of Ranks Grades III and IVВаше ВысокородиеVashe VysokorodiyeYour High BornTable of Ranks Grade VВаше ВысокоблагородиеVashe VysokoblagorodiyeYour High Well BornTable of Ranks Grades VI to VIIIВаше БлагородиеVashe BlagorodiyeYour Well BornTable of Ranks Grades IX to XIV

See also East Slavic honorifics

References

External links Tsar's power in the 17th century: exaltation and status Forms of exaltation in Tsar's Russia Table of ranks