Press Release
On the Official Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House,
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, to Moscow, Odessa, and the Transdniestria
4-13 May 2009

On 4-13 May 2009, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, made an official visit to Moscow, Odessa and to Transdniestria. Her Imperial Highness’s trip came about through the official invitation of the president of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, I. N. Smirov, and with the blessing of His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

On 4 May, in the evening, Her Imperial Highness arrived from Madrid in Moscow. At Domodedovo Airport, she was greeted by Archpriest Andrei Novikov, the Secretary of the Odessa and Izmail' eparchy; by S. M. Baburin, the Dean of the Russian State University of Trade and Economics (RSUTE), an institution which enjoys Her Imperial Highness’s sponsorship; by Prince G. G. Gagarin, the Chair of the Russian Nobility Association; and by representatives of various civic organizations. The grand duchess examined various options for new official symbols for the RSUTE, and formally chose and certified one of those presented to her by Professor Baburin.

On 5 May, the Head of the House of Romanoff flew to Odessa. At the airport in Odessa, the grand duchess was met by T. G. Fedirko, the vice-mayor of Odessa; by A. V. Kos’min, a member of the city council; by Archimandrite Serafim (Rakovskii), the dean of the Odessa Seminary; by V. V. Kaurov, the head of “United Fatherland [Edinoe otechestvo]”; by A. N. Azar’ev, the Chair of the Nobility Association of Southern Ukraine; by V. V. Pil’kevich, the director of the Kiev Museum of the House of Romanoff; and by leaders and representatives of various social groups and organizations. The grand duchess then went to the City Executive Committee, which occupies the building of the former Odessa City Duma, where Her Imperial Highness met and spoke with E. I. Hurvits, the mayor of Odessa, and with other city officials. Then the grand duchess took a foot tour of the city, during which she visited the Odessa Opera House and the Museum of Literature in the Gagarin palace. She also especially enjoyed Primorskii Boulevard, and visited the monuments to A. S. Pushkin and to the Duc de Richelieu. She placed flowers at the monument erected in honor of her ancestor, Empress Catherine II the Great, and visited the Children’s Palace (the former Vorontsov Palace), where children put on a short dance program. From the Vorontsov Palace, Her Imperial Highness went to Cathedral Square, where she paid her respects to the monument to Prince M. S. Vorontsov, Governor-General of New Russia and Bessarabia and viceroy of the Caucasus, a monument which the Bolsheviks tried to remove but could not, despite all their efforts. Then the grand duchess went to the rebuilt Odessa Cathedral of the Transfiguration, and was greeted by pealing bells. There the grand duchess prayed before the holy icons and relics, and toured the cathedral and discussed the construction work on the cathedral with His Grace Bishop Aleksei of Belgorod-Dnestrovsk, vicar of the Odessa and Izmail eparchy. Then the Head of the House of Romanoff visited the oldest educational institution in Odessa—the Mariinskii Gymnasium, which was established by the grand duchess's royal ancestor, her great-great-grandmother, Empress Maria Aleksandrovna. From the Mariinskii Gymnasium, the grand duchess went to the Monastery of the Dormition, where Her Imperial Highness met with His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna toured the monastery's churches, took a walk about the monastery's gardens with Metropolitan Agafangel, and thanked the choir of the Odessa Theological Seminary, which sang «Many Years» to the grand duchess, along with other liturgical hymns. At the patriarchal residence, the Head of the Russian Imperial House bestowed upon Metropolitan Agafangel the devices of the Imperial Order of St. Anna, first class, for his enormous contribution to the strengthening of the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church. At the same time, the director of the Museum of the House of Romanoff, V. V. Pil'kevich, was elevated to the Order of St. Anna, third class. In his speech, His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel thanked the grand duchess for the award and acknowledged her efforts in support of the Holy Church and her active participation, beginning in 2007, in the process of the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad with the Mother-Church in Russia. Metropolitan Agafangel presented to the grand duchess a copy of the Miracle-Working Kasperov Icon of the Most Pure Mother of God, which is especially venerated in the region. After trapeza at the metropolitan's residence, the Head of the Russian Imperial House traveled by car to the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, where, at the border, Her Imperial Highness was met by the vice-president of the republic, A. I. Korolev. On the evening of 5 May, the grand duchess went to Tiraspol', where she stayed at the Residence for Official Visitors.

The official visit of the Head of the House of Romanoff to the Pridniestr territory began with church services. On 6 May, on the Feast of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victor-Bearer, the name-day of H.I.H. Tesarevich and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna attended the Divine Liturgy in the new Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, which had earlier that morning been consecrated by Archbishop Justinian of Tiraspol' and Dubosarry, which is situated in the Transdnistrian territory in the Bulgarian town of Parcani. The grand duchess also participated in a procession of the cross, and addressed the parishioners with a brief greeting. Then the grand duchess returned to Tiraspol', where Her Imperial Highness formally met with the president of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic. On the square in front of the Presidential Administration Building, the hymns of the Russian Empire and the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic were performed and there was a review of the honor guard. After the meeting, President I. N. Smirnov presented to the grand duchess the highest medal of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, the «Order of the Republic.» From the Presidential Administration Building, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna went to the Tiraspol' Institute of Law (TIL) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, which now enjoys Her Imperial Highness's sponsorship. The grand duchess confirmed the adoption of a new name for the institution—The Institute in Honor of General Field-Marshal Count M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, Prince of Smolensk. The grand duchess also reviewed a parade of students of the Institute, visited an exposition at the Museum of the TIL, and awarded the Order of St. Anna, third class, to the director of the TIL, Lt. Colonel of the Police V. V. Sokolov. In the evening, in the Children's Palace in Tiraspol, there was an official reception in honor of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, hosted by President I. N. Smirnov, at which also was present His Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Tiraspol' and Dubossary; the Russian ambassador to the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, V. I. Kuz'min; ministers of the government of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, city officials of Tiraspol' and other cities of the Republic; commanders of the Russian peace-keeping forces in the Republic, and other figures. Before the beginning of the reception, the Head of the Russian Imperial House bestowed upon President I. N. Smirnov the devices of the Imperial Order of St. Anna, first class, which he was awarded for his services on behalf of the preservation of All-Russian historical traditions.

On 7 May, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna arrived at the Palace of Soviets in Tiraspol', where she was officially received by the Head of the State Administration of Tiraspol and Dnestrovsk, V. I. Kostyrko, who spoke with Her Imperial Highness about life in the city, about the problems that its residents are facing, and the measures being taken to resolve them. Then, accompanied b y Vice-President A. I. Korolev, the Head of the State Administration of Tiraspol', V. I. Kostyrko, and other officials, the grand duchess went to Suvorov Square, where she placed flowers at the monuments to Empress Catherine II the Great; to General A. V. Suvorov, the Count of Rymnik; and to the Italian military engineer who built much of Tiraspol', Prince F. de Volany. On Suvorov Square, the Head of the House of Romanoff presented her favorite flowers—lilies and lilacs—to the students of the Tiraspol' middle school. After the ceremonies of laying flowers and meeting with the young students, the grand duchess visited the Tiraspol' Hospital for War Veterans, where she chatted with veterans of World War II who were in hospital, and with the victims of political repression. Then the grand duchess went to the cotton-producing firm «Tiroteks,» where she familiarized herself with all the steps in the production cycle, and where she spoke with workers in the factory. After a lunch banquet given in honor of the Head of the House of Romanoff by the head of the State Administration of Tiraspol' and Dnestrovsk, V. I. Kostyrko, Her Imperial Highness toured the sports stadium «Sherif» and the Soccer Academy, and also visited the grounds of the firm «Cognac, Wine, and Beverages of Tiraspol'» (CWBT), where the process for producing the wonderful cognacs of the Transdniestrian region were demonstrated. There was also there a presentation of a series of cognacs that were labeled in honor of Her Imperial Highness's visit and which are dedicated to the health of the members of the dynasty.

On 8 May, the grand duchess visited the city of Bendery. On her entry into the city, Her Imperial Highness was met by the Head of the State Administration of Bendery, V. I. Kogut. Accompanied by Vice-President A. I. Korolev and V. I. Kogut, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna placed flowers on the memorial to the victims of the tragic events of 1992, and visited the regional-historical museum and the museum of the Bendery tragedy. Then Her Imperial Highness visited the shoe factory «Floare,» where she was shown the manufacturing process and met and spoke with workers. After an official lunch held in her honor by V. I. Kogut, Her Imperial Highness met with teachers and staff of the Bendery Children's House. In the second half of the day, the grand duchess took part in official ceremonies on the grounds of the Military-Historical Memorial Complex in Bendery, where she bestowed the devices of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker, third class, on the newly appointed knights: Vice-President A. I. Korolev, of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic; V. N. Krasnosel'skii, the foreign minister of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic; Lieutenant-Colonel of the Police G. S. Vilkov, the director of the administration for public media of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic. The grand duchess also awarded the medal of the Imperial Order of St. Anna to S. A. Gorbenko, the director of the administration for international media and of the press office of the president of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic. The grand duchess offered prayers for all of the soldiers who died in the conflict, and for the newly-reposed General V. I. Varennikov, during a litya service offered in the chapel of the Military-Historical Memorial Cemetery in Bendery by His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Tiraspol' and Dubossary. The grand duchess also laid flowers at the monuments to the Russian soldiers, officers, and enlisted men who are buried in the Memorial Cemetery, including soldiers of the 55th Podol'skii Infantry Regiment. She then toured the Bendery fortress, unveiled a memorial plaque at the rebuilt Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevskii, and laid commemorative markers at the Pantheon of Glory.

On 9 May, Victory Day, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, along with President I. N. Smirnov and other government and civic leaders in Tiraspol', took part in the ceremony of laying flowers at the memorial to the fallen defenders of the Fatherland, and in a presidential reception in honor of Victory Day. Then, in the Tiraspol' Park, the grand duchess was warmly greeted and spoke with veterans of the Second World War, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In the second half of the day, Her Imperial Highness arrived at the offices of the Eparchy of Tiraspol' and Dubossary, after which the grand duchess, along with His Eminence Archbishop Justinian and the clergy, venerated the holy icons and relics at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Tiraspol', and the chapel in memory of those who fell in the incidents on the roads. After a luncheon held in her honor at the Cathedral hall by Archbishop Justinian, the grand duchess visited the Holy Ascension New Niametskii Monastery in Kitskany.

On 10 May, in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Bendery, the grand duchess attended the Divine Liturgy, served by Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and all Moldova, the head of the Moldavian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, who traveled to Bendery especially to officiate at this service. Also serving was Archbishop Justinian, Archbishop Jonathan of Tul’chinskii and Bratslavskii, who also came especially for this service from Ukraine, as well as a large assembly of clergy of the Moldavian Orthodox Church. Before the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, Vice-President A. I. Korolev received Holy Baptism, and Her Imperial Highness stood as his sponsor. After the liturgy and in the presence of all the clergy and faithful, Metropolitan Vladimir bestowed upon Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna the Order of St. Paraskeva, first class—the highest award of the Moldavian Orthodox Church. The Head of the Russian Imperial House bestowed upon Metropolitan Vladimir the devices of the Imperial Order of St. Anna, first class, for his exceptional services to the Russian Orthodox Church. Archbishop Justinian was presented with an official rescript (see document). Archbishop Jonathan presented to the grand duchess a copy of his work—“Chernobyl’ Liturgy”—a musical and liturgical work for the text of the Liturgy of the Departed, which is dedicated to the victims of the Chernobyl in 1986. After a luncheon hosted by Metropolitan Vladimir, the grand duchess visited the encampment of the Peacekeeping Forces of the Russian Federation in Bendery, where, before the soldiers standing in parade, she awarded the Imperial Order of St. Anna, third class, to Colonel A. L. Zverev, the senior military commander of the Russian Peacekeepers in Transdniestria, and to Major-General B. N. Sergeev, the commander of the operational group. She then attended a military parade of the Peacekeepers in her honor, and sampled the soldiers’ rations. Returning to Tiraspol’, Her Imperial Highness and President I. N. Smirnov held a press conference. She shared the wondrous impressions left on her by her interactions with her countrymen in the Transdniestrian region, and spoke at some length about her activities aimed at reestablishing and strengthening the spirit of friendship and unity among all the peoples of the former Russian Empire, who belong still to a single cultural experience and who are linked by a common historical fate. One poignant question that the Head of the House of Romanoff was asked during the press conference concerned the currently hotly debated matter of statues to many historical figures in Russian history, such as V. I. Ul’ianov (Lenin), Hetman I. S. Mazepa, and so on. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, who had a rather critical assessment of the roles of these figures in history, nonetheless emphasized that this question must not be politicized so that there should erupt a kind of “war of statues.” In the opinion of Her Imperial Highness, everything that was ruined during the years of the Bolshevik rule should be gradually restored. But to avoid a schism or division in society, this restoration should proceed not by coercion and not as a kind of political revenge, but rather gradually, as the product of an effort to educate and inform, which effort will eventually create a corresponding popular mood for a reevaluation of these figures and their roles. As far as erecting new statues is concerned, the grand duchess said that any new statues should, at the present time, always serve first and foremost as a means to commemorate historical events, and not be turned into a means for political propaganda for one or another group or party. After the press conference, new postage stamps, depicting the living members of the Russian Imperial House, were displayed. These stamps were issued for circulation in the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic in honor of the grand duchess’s visit. In the evening, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna took a cruise on the Dniestr River on a motor launch piloted personally by President I. N. Smirnov of the Transdniestrian Moldavian Republic, then she met with cultural figures. Those present at her farewell dinner included: President I. N. Smirnov; Vice-President A. I. Korolev; Archbishop Justinian; officials, clergy, and representatives of civic and cultural organizations. The dinner featured tastings of national dishes and wines from the firm “Bouquet of Moldavia.”

On 11 May, the Head of the Russian Imperial House left Tiraspol’. Her Imperial Highness was bid farewell at the Building of Official Receptions by Vice-President A. I. Korolev, Archbishop Justinian, Minister of Internal Affairs V. N. Krasnosel’skii, the head of State Administration V. I. Kostyrko, and other official figures and representatives of the clergy. Vice-President A. I. Korolev accompanied the grand duchess to Odessa. Those seeing off the grand duchess at the airport in Odessa included: Vice Major T. G. Fedirko of Odessa; City Council deputy A. V. Kos’min; Archpriest Andrei Novikov, secretary of the Odessa and Izmail Eparchy; chairman of “One Fatherland [Edinoe Otechestvo]”, V. V. Kaurov; chairman of the Nobility Association of Southern Ukraine, A. N. Azar’ev; and other representatives of civic organizations. After her arrival in Moscow, Her Imperial Highness met with V. L. Kvint, Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the Section of Financial Strategies for the Moscow School of Economics of the Lomonosov University, who presented to the grand duchess some of his scholarly works.

On 12 May, in the Kremlin, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna met with S. E. Naryshkin, the chief of staff of the Russian president. The Head of the Russian Imperial House awarded S. E. Naryshkin the devices of the Imperial Order of St. Anna, first class, in recognition of her deep respect for his efforts for the wellbeing of Russia. Then Her Imperial Highness visited the graves of her royal ancestors in the Cathedral of Archangel Michael, prayed at the Dormition Cathedral, visited the Patriarchal Palace, and visited the exhibition of treasures of the Dynasty of Great Mughols from the collection of the Emirs of Kuwait and the Royal Museum of Great Britain. In the evening, the grand duchess met with members of her Chancellery and with the chairman of the Russian Imperial Union-Order (RIU-O), G. A. Fedorov, and with other leaders of the RIU-O who had arrived from St. Petersburg, and with Iu. V. Myshonkov, a representative of the leadership of the Inter-Regional Russian Monarchist Movement.

On 13 May, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna visited the Russian State University of Trade and Economics (RSUTE), which enjoys her official sponsorship. Along with Dean S. N. Baburin, professors, teachers, and students of RSUTE, Her Imperial Highness toured the university, and gave an address at the Second Conference in the series «The Monarchist Idea in the Twenty-First Century» devoted to the theme of «The Role of the Monarchist Idea and the Russian Imperial House in the Unity of the Peoples of Russia,» and sponsored by the movement «For Faith and Fatherland,» by the Russian Nobility Association, and by the Russian Imperial Union-Order. The grand duchess also took part in the public presentation of the new emblems of RSUTE, which had previously been approved by Her Imperial Highness; and she visited the exhibition of state and historical emblems. She also presented diplomas to students who had graduated from their courses of study at RSUTE. The Head of the House of Romanoff greeted the chair of the Academic Committee on Political Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dr.-Professor F. M. Burlatskii; world-champion chess master A. E. Karpov; the State Duma member and deputy director of the Duma's Committee for Transport, S. A. Gavrilov; and many other staff and guests of RSUTE. From RSUTE, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, went to Domodedovo airport and departed for Madrid.