Press Release on the Visit of H.I.H., the Heir, Tsetsarevich and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich to Transdnistria for the Celebrations of the National Holiday, 26 August – 3 September 2010.
From 26 August to 3 September 2010, H.I.H. Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, the most august son and heir of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, visited Transdnistria. His Imperial Highness was invited by the President of the Transdnistria Moldovan Republic (TMR), I. N. Smirnov, to come and take part in the celebrations marking the 20-th anniversary of Transdnistria’s autonomy.
On August 26, the Grand Duke arrived from Brussels in Odessa. He was met at the airport by members of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House and by representatives of the administration of the president of the TMR: A. N. Kos’min, a deputy in the City Council of Odessa; A. N. Azar’ev, the chairman of the Nobility Association of Southern Ukraine; and V. V. Kaurov, the chairman of the organization “One Fatherland.” On behalf of his most august mother, His Imperial Highness presented official decrees bestowing the Imperial Order of St. Anna, third class on A. N. Kos’min and V. V. Kaurov. From Odessa, the tsetsarevich and those accompanying him traveled to Transdnistria, where, at the border, His Imperial Highness was met by Vice-President A. I. Korolev; V. N. Krasnosel’skii, the Minister of Internal Affairs for the TMR; S. A. Gorbenko, the head of the office for internal policy for the president; and by other officials. Local residents brought the Grand Duke bread and salt. A singing group sang folksongs and performed traditional dances of the Transdnistria region. That evening, in the capital of the TMR, Tiraspol’, there was a formal dinner in honor of the tsetsarevich, during which His Imperial Highness discussed with Vice-President A. I. Korolov the itinerary for the Grand Duke’s visit in the Transdnistria.
On 27 August, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, together with Vice-President A. I. Korolov, went to the local branch Office of the Chancellery of Her Imperial Highness in Transdnistria, where he acquainted himself with the cultural and charitable activities of the Office and visited an exhibition dedicated to the House of Romanoff and the part it played in the history of the Transdnistria region. In the Chapel of Feodorovskaia Icon of the Mother of God, located in the regional Office, the rector of the Church of the Intercession and dean of the churches of Tiraspol’ and Bendery, Archimandrite Vasilii (Karpov), served a moleben for the health of Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, and of the Heir, Tsetsarevich, and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, and sang “Eternal Memory” for the newly-departed Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna, who reposed in the Lord on 23 May of this year. His Imperial Highness donated to the chapel an icon of the Holy New Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, which had been given as a gift to H.I.H. Grand Duchess MariaWladimirovna in Alapaevsk. Then the Grand Duke distributed gifts to the organizations and individuals which are actively working with the regional Office of the H.I.H.’s Chancellery in various charitable and social projects, and he gave to the Chancellery’s library a number of books on Russain history, and took in a brief musical program prepared for him.
After getting acquainted with the activities of the local Office of the Chancellery, His Imperial Highness, the tsetsarevich visited the A. S. Makarenko School, where the Grand Duke spoke with students. Then Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, accompanied by Vice-President A. I. Korolev, arrived at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Tiraspol’, where His Imperial Highness met with the rector, His Grace Bishop Savva of Tirasopol’ and Dubossary. His Grace and His Imperial Highness went to the cathedral where the Grand Duke venerated the holy relics that are preserved there: the Icon of the Mother of God “Consolation of Those who have Perished”, and relics of the saints. Later, at the Diocesan Offices, the tsetsarevich presented to Bishop Savva a letter of greetings from the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, congratulating him on the 15-th anniversary of the creation of the Tiraspol and Dubossary dioceses, and of his ordination to the episcopacy. The Grand Duke presented to His Grace a copy of the book In the Basement of the Ipat’ev House, which is dedicated to the legal rehabilitation of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers. Here is the text of the letter:
From the Head of the Russian Imperial House
To His Grace, Bishop Savva of Tiraspol and Dubossary
Your Grace!
I offer my heartfelt congratulations on the approaching 15-th anniversary of the formation of the Tiraspol and Dubossary Diocese, and of your elevation to the Episcopal office in this Diocese. The involvement of the Holy Church in the lives of the people is significant and indisputable. But especially important is the wise spiritual and social care offered by archpastors and priests for the needs of their countrymen in those places where the tragic events of the twentieth century have created complicated international problems and inflicted deep wounds in the relationship between peoples who once lived in brotherly regard for each other. I well know howmuch your predecessor, Bishop Justinian, labored on these issues, and I am sure that your love, wisdom, and experience will provide a sure guarantee of the preservation of the positive influence of the Church in Transdnistria and will increase the Church’s contributions to the peace and prosperity of its citizens.
The Russian Imperial House considers the rebirth and strengthening of international friendship among the people living in the entire cultural and territorial expanse that once was the Russian Empire to be the main purpose of its activities; and it constantly strives to unite the efforts of all peace-loving elements of society under the spiritual leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Asking your archpastoral prayers and blessing, I assure you of our continuing favor and deepest respect,
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna
Issued in Madrid
7/20 August 2010
Bishop Savva presented the Grand Duke and those accompanying him with copies of the Icon of the Mother of God “Consolation of Those who have Perished,” and shared his recollections of his meetings with the reposed Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna. After the official meeting in the Diocesan offices, a luncheon was prepared in honor of the tsetsarevich’s visit, at which were present Bishop Savva and members of the clergy of the Tiraspol and Dubossary Diocese, Vice-President A. I. Korolev, representatives of the Transdnistrian government, and members of H.I.H.’s Chancellery.
In the afternoon, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich met and had discussions with the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology for the Transdnistrian Republic, O. A. Kaliakin, who told His Imperial Highness about the ecological situation in Transdnistria, and who presented a book—Krasnaia kniga PMR [Red Information Book of the TMR]—to him. The day ended with a tasting at the famous cognac distillery “KVINT” and the presentation by V. I. Kostyrko, the head of the State Administration for Tiraspol and Dnestrovsk, of a bottle of cognac named “Tsesarevich Georgii” in honor of His Imperial Highness.
On 28 August, on the Feast Day of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich familiarized himself with the lives of the people of Transdnistria, visiting one of the most beautiful villages in the region: Stroenets, in the Rybnitsa District. A resident of the district, L. S. Il’esh, presented to Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich a photograph depicting a scene from the visit of Holy Passion-Bearer Emperor Nicholas II and his family to Kishinev on June 3, 1914, which depicts L. S. Il’esh’s relative, I. A. Il’esh, who was at the time an official in the district.
On 29 August, in Bendery, H.I.H. Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich met with the president of Transdnistria, I. N. Smirnov, and together they laid flowers at the memorial to those who gave their lives in defense of the Fatherland. Then His Imperial Highness, together with President Smirnov; A. V. Kaminskii, the Chair of the Supreme Soviet of TMR; Vice-President A. I. Korolev; His Grace Bishop Savva of Tiraspol and Dubossary; His Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, the currently the administrator for Patriarchal parishes in the USA; V. I. Kuz’min, the Russian Ambassador to Moldova; S. I. Pirozhkov, the Ukrainian ambassador to Moldova; V. V. Kogut, the head of the State Administration in Bendery; A. N. Onufrienko, the chairman of the Bendery City Council of People’s Deputies; and representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers of Transdnistria and the mayor of Bendery—all participated in a ceremony unveiling and dedicating a new monument to General-Field Marshal Prince G. A. Potemkin-Tavricheskii; in a intercessory prayer service for soldiers who laid down their lives for their faith, tsar, and fatherland; in a procession of the cross; the placing of flowers at the monument to the soldiers of the 55-th Podol’sk Regiment; in the dedication of a bust of General-in-Chief Count P. I. Panin; and in services blessing bells, a cross, and cupula on the Church of St. Alexander Nevskii, which is situated on the territory of the Bendery Fortress, and which earlier had been visited by Emperor Nicholas I the Ever-Memorable, Alexander II the Tsar-Liberator, the Holy Passion-Bearer Nicholas II, and by the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna. That evening, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, together with President I. N. Smirnov, attended a concert of the A. V. Alexandrov Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Russian Army at the Tkachenko Palace of Culture in the city of Bendery, followed by a dinner hosted by the Head of the State Administration of the City of Bendery, V. V. Kogut.
On 30 August, on the birthday of Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich’s most august grandfather, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich (1917-1992), Tsetsarevich Georgii Mikhailovich met with the participants of the Spartakiada for the Disabled in Bendery. The Grand Duke presented gifts from the Russian Imperial House, visited the Regional Museum of Bendery, and the Museum of the 1992 Tragedy of Bendery. Later, accompanied by Vice-President A. I. Korelev, the Grand Duke visited the Bendery Fortress, climbed the walls and towers, took in the museum exhibit at the fortress and examined the on-going restoration work on the Church of the St. Alexander Nevskii. From Bendery, His Imperial Highness and Vice-President A. I. Korelev traveled to the Novo-Niametskii Monastery of the Ascension, where they venerated the holy relics in the monastery’s Cathedral of the Dormition and Cathedral of the Ascension, and shared a meal with the monks. The abbot of the monastery, Archimandritte Paisii (Chekan) led the singing of the hymn “Many Years” for the Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, and the hymn “Memory Eternal” for the reposed Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna. In the afternoon, His Imperial Highness and Vice-President Korolev took a boat trip along the Dniepr River, and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich even for a time steered the ship. Managers of the distillery “Bouquet of Moldavia” prepared for the Grand Duke a farewell tasting and presented to His Imperial Highness a new brand of vermouth, produced especially in his honor, called “Tsarskii.” In the evening, H.I.H. Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich hosted a dinner in Tiraspol at his hotel “City Club” in honor of Bishop Savva of Tiraspol and Dubossary, and the former hierarch of this diocese, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, the current administrator for Patriarchal parishes in the USA. Vice-President A. I. Korolev also attended the dinner. Afterward, the hierarchs invited the Grand Duke to take part in the Divine Liturgy commemorating the 15-th anniversary of the ordination to the archepiscopacy of Archbishop Justinian.
On 31 August, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich familiarized himself with the sports complex “Life Style,” and observed kickboxers doing their training workouts, then visited the State Customs Bureau. In the afternoon, the tsetsarevich spoke with citizens of Transdnistria during a tour of Tiraspol. On 1 September, H.I.H. the Heir, Tsetsarevich and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich attended the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Tiraspol. After the service, in the cathedral’s altar, the tsetsarevich spoke with Bishop Savva of Tiraspol and Dubossary and with Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, and with Archbishop Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav. His Imperial highness passed on to Archbishop Justinian a letter of congratulations from his most august mother on the occasion of his 15-th anniversary of his ordination to the archepiscopacy.
From the Head of the Russian Imperial House
To the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk
Your Eminence,
With all my heart, I congratulate you on the occasion of the 15-th anniversary of your ordination as archbishop.
During the many years of your archpastorate in Transdnistria, you zealously worked for the rebirth of Church life and earned the love and respect of your countrymen of quite different views and convictions. Your contribution to peacemaking and to the reestablishment of friendly relations among the different peoples has been enormous. Now, at your new place of service, you offer all your energy to the preaching Holy Orthodoxy, the preservation of Russian Orthodox traditions, and to the strengthening in every corner of the world of the spiritual unity of peoples who sense that they belong to a great and all-Russian civilization.
I greatly value your services to the Holy Church and to Russia. With gratitude, I recall your kindness and our praying together during my visit to the Tiraspol and Dubossary Eparchy. I wish you health and God’s unfailing help.
My son and heir, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, who is presently in Transdnistria, joins me in sending these congratulations to you.
Asking your holy prayers and blessing, I remain ever respectfully and affectionately yours,
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna
Issued in Madrid
19 August/ 1 September 2010
From the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ, the Grand Duke went to the Field-Marshal Prince M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov-Smolenskii Justice Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the TMR in Tiraspol, which enjoys the sponsorship of Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna. In honor of the Day of Learning, there were a series of events attended by the Grand Duke: an awards presentation for outstanding faculty and students, and a demonstration of the skills learned by freshmen—parade drills with close-order arms, a martial arts demonstration, and a short exercise showing the skills learned in overpowering armed criminals in a car. After these events, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Major-General V. N. Krasnosel’skii, personally led a tour for His Imperial Highness of the Museum of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Later, the Minister of Internal Affairs presented the tsetsarevich a unifo m of the special forces of the Ministry and an encyclopedia of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich presented a computer to the Tiraspol Judicial Insititute.
At 2:00pm, H.I.H. the Heir, Tsetsarevich and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich arrived at the Transdnistria State Theatre to participate in the celebrations and memorial concert for the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the TMR. After a speech by President I. N. Smirnov on the history of the republic over the past twenty years, the Director of Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, A. N. Zakatov, read a letter to the citizens of Transdnistria from the Head of the House of Romanoff, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna. Here is the text of her letter:
From the Head of the Russian Imperial House
Citizens of Transdnistria,
I send you all my heartfelt congratulations on your national holiday.
During the twenty years since the dramatic events that led to the disintegration of the once unified and single Fatherland, which was built by the labors and sacrifices of many generations of our ancestors, you have defended the right to continue to live according to your ancestral ideas and traditions, a struggle rooted in your legal and natural aspirations to live peacefully with one’s neighbors.
The nations and nationalities that inhabit Transdnistria have been united in a unique historical community and have therefore created a unique example of fellowship, a fellowship that has a global significance. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that, having passed through so many difficulties and hardships with faith and courage, you will arrive at the right and just resolution to all of the political and economic problems in your homeland, but I also hope and pray that other nations and peoples will be enriched by your example, which may provide a model of new means for achieving integration. The Russian Imperial House, respecting the right of self-determination, and above all recognizing the sovereignty of the new states that have appeared in the twentieth century, is at the same time convinced that common spiritual and cultural values—as well as social and economic interests—will sooner or later extinguish conflict and, in one form or another, bring together all the peoples of the former Russian Empire into a renewed and close geopolitical alliance.
Always true and meaningful are the immortal words: “Not in might is God, but in truth.” In the past, we saw many cases when a small state that was considered insignificant gradually became the pioneers of great and global processes. One need go no further than the Principality of Muscovy. Small in territorial size and embroiled in complex conflicts with other Russian principalities at the dawn of its existence, it, nonetheless, succeeded not only in defending its right to exist as an independent polity, it eventually became the core of a new centralized Russian state enjoying full independence and later transforming itself into the multinational All-Russian Empire.
It is not for us to foretell the future. The forecasts that seem most likely at first glance often fall far short at the end of the day. Only time will tell exactly how circumstances will evolve to produce a form of integration that will be acceptable to all sides. But we can be sure of one thing: that the All-Russian civilization of our ancestors has a future, and that Transdnistria and its people will, no matter what, play an important role in world history.
With all my heart I wish you all health, love, peace, spiritual strength, and a steady increase in properity.
May God bless you!
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna
Issued in Madrid
2 September 2010
After reading these words of greeting, President I. N. Smirnov presented His Imperial Highness and many of the other honored guests with him with the commemorative medal, “20 Years of the Transdnistrian Moldovan Republic.”
That evening, in the the official Reception Hall in Tiraspol, there was a celebratory reception for the 20-th anniversary of the formation of the TMR. During the reception, Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, along with A. N. Zakatov, the Director of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, S. V. Dumin, the Master of Heraldry of the Chancellery, Prince G. G. Gagarin, the Chairman of the Russian Nobility Association, A. Iu. Korolev-Pereleshin, the vice-chair of the Russian Nobility Association, and A. B. Kravchenko, the liaison of the President of Transdnistria’s to Her Imperial Highness’s Chancellery, presented President Smirnov with a Coat of Arms, certified by the Head of the Russian Imperial House, and a letter from Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna. Here is the text of that letter:
From the Head of the Russian Imperial House
To President I. N. Smirnov of the Transdnistria Moldovan Republic
Dear Igor Nikolaevich,
I offer my heartfelt congratulations to you on this national holiday and thank you for your invitation to attend the celebration.
Unfortunately, circumstances do not permit me to be in Transdnistria at this time. I have asked my son and Heir, H.I.H. Tsetsarevich and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, to represent the Russian Imperial House at these celebrations. He will be accompanied by the Director of my Chancellery, A. N. Zakatov. Also participating in these celebrations will be your liaison at my Chancellery, A. B. Kravchenko, and our advisor on philanthropy, T. A. Balashova. I have no doubt that their initiavies to promote projects aimed at helping the needy, enjoy your full and attentive support, and I am grateful to you for your continued commitment to working with the Russian Imperial House in helping to address spiritual, cultural, and social questions.
Please convey to your countrymen my congratulations and best wishes for health, strength of spirit, and God’s all-powerful divine assistance in the defense of your legal rights and freedoms and in fostering properity in your homeland.
Accept, dear Igor Nikolaevich, my assurance of my continued favor and affection,
H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna
Issued in Madrid
20 August 2010
Also at this reception, His Imperial Highness presented Professor S. N. Baburin of the Russian State Trade and Economics University, the official decree awarding him the Imperial Order of St. Anna, Second Class.
On 2 September, on the day the TMR was proclaimed, H.I.H. Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich, together with President I. N. Smirnov, members of the government, and other dignitaries, participated in several ceremonies, including the placing of wreaths at the graves of fallen soldiers, the raising of the Transdnistria flag, viewing a military parade, and a musical and dance performance. Then His Imperial Highness, accompanied by Vice-President A. I. Korolev, traveled to Odessa to meet with His Eminence, Metropolitan Agafangel of Odessa and Izmail. His Eminence met with the heir of the Head of the House of Romanoff at his residence at the Dormition Monastery. The tsetsarevich congratulated the metropolitan on his 72-nd birthday; and on behalf of his most august mother, and with the metropolitan’s own blessing, the Grand Duke bestowed upon him the star of the Imperial Order of St. Anna, which had been awarded to His Eminence in 2009 for his significant contributions to the strengthening of the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church. At this meeting, and at the dinner that shortly followed, were also present His Grace, Bishop Aleksei of Belgorod-Dnestrov, vicar bishop of the Odessa Eparchy. Discussions at the meeting and at dinner touched on a variety of aspects of Church-State relations, and there was a collective expression of confidence that the spiritual and active cooperation between the Russian Imperial House of Romanoff and the Russian Orthodox Church would continue. The metropolitan presented copies of the Kasperovskaia Icon of the Mother of God both for His Imperial Highness and for his most august mother, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna. The Grand Duke raised a toast for His Eminence, expressing the deep respect the House of Romanoff has for the labors of the archpastor of the Diocese of Odessa and Izmail, and its sincere love for him and his flock. The Tsetsarevich returned from Odessa to Tiraspol, where he met with the organizers of his visit and gave instructions on the future work of the local Office of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House for developing social, charitable, and cultural activities in Transdnistria.
On 3 September, H.I.H. the Heir, Tsetsarevich and Grand Duke Georgii Mikhailovich thanked all those who organized his visit to Transdnistria and who came to bid him farewell. The Grand Duke, accompanied by Vice-President A. I. Korolev; S. A. Gorbenko, the chief of administration for the president of Transdnistria; other government dignitaries; members of Her Imperial Highness’s Chancellery; and representatives of the Russian Nobility Association, traveled to Odessa, from which he flew back to Brussels. His Imperial Highness was also accompanied to the airport by A. N. Kos’min, a deputy of the City Council of Odessa, by A. N. Azar’ev, the chair of the Nobility Association of Southern Ukraine, and by V. V. Kaurov, the chairman of the organization “One Fatherland.” The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, having familiarized herself with the results of this first visit by her most august son to Transdnistria, expressed her deep thanks to all who helped to organize this visit.
A. N. Zakatov
Director of H.I.H.’s Chancellery
 The Grand Duke tours the Local Office of Her Imperial Highness’s Chancellery in the Transdnistria Moldovan Republic |  The Tsetsarevich Georgii Mikhailovich and the Director of H.I.H.’s Chancellery, A. N. Zakatov |  The Grand Duke and Vice President A. I. Korolev at the Makarenko Institute |
 His Grace Bishop Savva of Tiraspol and Dubossary greets the heir to the Russian Imperial Throne |  The Meeting with Bishop Savva |  Bishop Savva of Tiraspol and Dubossary and His Imperial Highness |
 His Imperial Highness venerates Icons at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Tiraspol |  The Head of the Administration in Tiraspol and Dnestrovsk, V. I. Kostyrkov, discusses the New and Special Vintage of Cognac with the Tsesarevich |  The New and Special Vintage of Cognac |
 The New and Special Vintage of Cognac |  His Imperial Highness presents gifts to the participants of the Spartakiade for the Disabled |  The Monument to General-Field Marshal Prince G. A. Potemkin-Tavricheskii |
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