The Head of the House of Romanoff Visits Moscow, December 16-20, 2014
On December 16-20, 2014, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, traveled to Moscow at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
On December 16, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia arrived in Moscow. That evening, she received in audience the General Director of the Imperial Foundation for Cancer Research, Archpriest Alexander Tkachenko, who had traveled to Moscow from St. Petersburg for the purpose of meeting the Grand Duchess. Fr. Alexander gave Her Imperial Highness, who is the Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, a report on the Foundation’s activities in 2014 and its programs and projects planned for 2015. (On the Imperial Foundation, see: (http://www.imperialfund.org/).
On December 17, the Head of the Russian Imperial House went to the Memorial Complex “Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill.” She was accompanied by the members of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Chairman of the Order’s Knights’ Council, Major General A. V. Kirilin, and members of her Chancellery. At the Church of St. George the Victory-Bearer, and with the blessing of the church’s rector, Fr. Serafim Nedosekin, a requiem service, or Litya, was offered by Hieromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets) for the “officers and men who laid down their lives for Faith, Tsar, and Fatherland” during the years of the First World War, 1914-1918.
Afterward, the Grand Duchess placed wreaths at the memorials to the First and Second World Wars.
From Poklonnaya Hill, the Grand Duchess went to the Alexander Garden along the walls of the Moscow Kremlin, where she placed flowers at the newly erected monument to Emperor Alexander I, and where she paid her respects to the memory of the heroes of the War of 1812. The Co-Chairwoman of the Union of Orthodox Women, G. V. Ananina, recounted for Her Imperial Highness the enormous efforts that went into the restoration of this important historical monument.
Then the Grand Duchess went to the exhibit “The First World War: The Last War of the Russian Empire” at the State Historical Museum, where she presented the insignia of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderwork to Major-General V. I. Krotov.
Later, the Knights’ Council of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker hosted a lunch in honor of Her Imperial Highness.
After lunch, the Head of the Russian Imperial House received in audience the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and Head of the Academic Council of the Russian Military and Historical Society, V. E. Churov, and his wife, L. N. Churova. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia presented V. E. Churov the insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Vladimir III Class, and L. N. Churova the insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives. The conversation during the audience touched on a range of issues relating to the preservation of Russia’s historical legacy, events marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War, and other efforts under way to memorialize those who have defended the nation in wartime.
Afterward, the Grand Duchess received reports on the past year’s and future charitable, cultural, and educational projects of the Imperial Orders. The reports were presented to Her Imperial Highness by the Chairman and Secretary of the Knights’ Council of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Major-General A. V. Kirilin and Colonel O. V. Kuznetsov; from the King of Arms and Director of the Office of Heraldry in H.I.H.’s Chancellery, and Chairman of the Knights’ Council of the Imperial Order of St. Anna, S. V. Dumin; and the Secretary of the Knights’ Council and Director of the Office of Church Relations in H.I.H.’s Chancellery, A. Iu. Korolev-Pereleshin.
The next day, December 18, the Romanoff Prizes were awarded at the Russian State Library. (For details, see the report at: http://www.rg.ru/2014/12/19/premia.html.) The Head of the Russian Imperial House approved the recommendations of the Expert Council of the Romanoff Prize, which is chaired by the writer and historian S. Iu. Rybas, and announced the following awards for the year 2014:
Alexander Ivanovich Ageev, Doctorate (Economics), General Director of the Institute of Economic Strategies: for his significant contributions to the theory of strategic economic planning and the development of the field of Economics.
Galina Vasilievna Ananina, President of the Russian Society for Fine Art Productions: for her leading role in the erection of monuments to Patriarch Hermogen and Emperor Alexander I, and for the restoration of the Romanoff Obelisk in the Alexander Garden.
Igor Raufovich Ashurbeili, Doctorate (Engineering), Church Warden of the Patriarchal Chapter House of the Church of the Holy Martyr Elizabeth in Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo in Moscow, and Warden of the Church of St. John the Forerunner in the village of Khirino in the Nizhnii Novgorod district: For the restoration of the Church of the Holy Martyr Elizabeth in Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo in Moscow and the Church of St. John the Forerunner in the village of Khirino in the Nizhnii Novgorod district.
Vladimir Anatolievich Vakhromeev, General Director of the publishing house “Russian Word”: for significant contributions to the development of new school textbooks and promoting the growth of book publishing in Russia.
Alexander Ivanovich Vislyi, General Director of the Russian State Library: for significant contributions to the development of library science in Russia.
Sergei Iurievich Glaziev, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, advisor to the President of the Russian Federation: for his significant contributions to the theory behind technological and economic cycles.
Sergei Pavlovich Karpov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dean of the History Department of Moscow State University: for his significant contributions to the development of the historical discipline in Russia.
Sergei Anatolievich Kozlov, Head of the Imperial Sports Club “DINA”: for his important contributions to the education of the nation’s youth.
Sergei Nikolaevich Prisekin, National Artist of Russia: for his significant creative works.
Alexander Sergeevich Sokolov, Doctorate (Art History), Provost of the Moscow Conservatory: for his important contributions to the development of Russian culture.
Galina Iurievna Fomina, Vice-President of Alpha-Bank: for her support of cultural and educational programs and her efforts in organizing and supporting the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the House of Romanoff abroad.
Anatolii Vasilievich Cheboganov, citizen of the Republic of Belarus: for his support of the cultural and charitable programs of the Russian Orthodox Church and the House of Romanoff.
Valentin Fedorovich Iurkin, General Director of the publishing house “Molodaya Gvardiia”: for his significant contributions to the development of Russian book publishing.
The Grand Duchess also personally presented the insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia the Alleviatrix of Captives to E. A. Chaikovskaia, the Distinguished National Coach and Trainer of the USSR and RF, and Honored Artist of the RF. She also presented the Imperial Medal “In Memory of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff” to A. I. Ageev, I. R. Ashurbeili, V. A. Vakhromeev, and the Academician S. Iu. Glaziev.[1]
Later, during a tea reception, the Grand Duchess and the laureates of the Romanoff Prize discussed various aspects of their social, cultural, and charitable activities.
That afternoon, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia visited the Bolshoi Theater, touring the interior spaces of the theater, which had undergone an extensive renovation in 2005-2011. Afterward, sheattendedaperformanceofTchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet.
The next day, December 19, the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Head of the Russian Imperial House attended pine Liturgy, which was served by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, His Grace Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuyevo, His Grace Bishop Savva of Voskresensk, as well as other clergy. The liturgy took place immediately after the consecration of the restored Military Church of the Annunciation of the Most Pure Mother of God in the former barracks of the Combat Engineer Battalion in Sokolniki (which is presently the Patriarchal Chapter House in the Headquarters of the Airborne Forces of Russia).
Also present at the service were the Speaker of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the RF, S. E. Naryshkin; Secretary of State and Vice-Minister of Defense, General N. A. Pankov; the Commander of the Airborne Forces of the RF, General-Colonel V. A. Shamanov; the Chairman of the Committee for Rules and Organization in the State Duma, S. A. Popov; commanders of pisions and brigades, officers, and other personnel of the Airborne Forces of Russia; philanthropists who had assisted with the restoration of the church; and Sunday-school children from the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
After the Augmented Litany during the liturgy, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill offered a prayer for the restoration of peace in Ukraine.
After the conclusion of the liturgy and the hymns in praise of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, His Holiness gave a sermon on the Orthodox understanding of authority and on the importance and power of mutual respect, trust, and love that must exist between those called to lead and those who are under their authority.
The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church concluded by presenting an icon of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer as a gift to the newly consecrated church.
Then His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presented the Church’s highest award to the following:
· the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh I Class, to the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, in recognition of her efforts in support of the Church and on the occasion of her 60th birthday;
· the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh II Class, to S. E. Naryshkin, in recognition of his assistance to and support of the Russian Orthodox Church and on his 60th birthday;
· the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh III Class, to V. A. Shamanov, in recognition of his assistance in the refounding of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Pure Mother of God in Sokolniki, Moscow;
· the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh III Class, to N. A. Mishin, General Director of the National Transportation Group “N-Trans,” in recognition of his efforts in support of the refounding of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Pure Mother of God in Sokolniki, Moscow.
Her Imperial Highness expressed to the Patriarch her heartfelt gratitude for this award, noting how meaningful it was to her that the insignia of the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh were being presented to her on the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia and St. Sergius of Radonezh are saints who have long been among the most revered by the faithful of Russia. They were especially venerated by the monarchs of the House of Romanoff. The Imperial ancestors of the Grand Duchess, in both good times in Russian history and in bad, made pilgrimages to Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery and prayed before the relics of St. Sergius. The Grand Duchess herself often turns to him in prayer. “The Order of St. Sergius, which His Holiness has been pleased to award me, is very dear to me and a great blessing,” the Grand Duchess said. “It is a symbol of the on-going cooperation that exists between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Imperial House.”
The Speaker of the State Duma, S. E. Naryshkin, also spoke after the investiture ceremony, noting in particular that “[t]oday is another step in the strengthening of our historical memory. Along with refounding this remarkable church, we open new pages of our past, of our great history of the First World War, and of the heroic history of our nation’s Airborne Forces.”
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill then blessed a group of children that had come to Moscow from the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
For more information, see: http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/3882827.html
That evening, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia met a delegation from the civil group “For Faith and Fatherland.”
In their discussions, the Grand Duchess and members of the delegation touched on a broad range of matters, including some of the main challenges facing the monarchist movement today, issues in raising the nation’s youth in the Orthodox faith, and the crisis of traditional values in today’s Europe. Her Imperial Highness expressed her appreciation for the on-going efforts of members of the group to help the Church, the nation, and the Imperial House.
In the morning of December 20, Her Imperial Highness met representatives of several civic organizations. Prince G. G. Gagarin, the President of the Russian Nobility Association from 2008 to 2014, was received in audience, during which the Grand Duchess presented to him the insignia of the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislav I Class. The philanthropist S. V. Mashin described for Her Imperial Highness the operations to deliver humanitarian aid to those suffering in the southeastern regions of Ukraine. The President of the Society of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russian Federation and of the Members of the Order of Glory, and Deputy of the State Duma, General-Colonel N. T. Antoshkin, was received in audience with a small party to describe for the Grand Duchess the Society’s charitable and educational activities. The Grand Duchess awarded General-Colonel N. T. Antoshkin the Imperial Medals “In Memory of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff” and “Anniversary of the Nation’s Victory.” I. I. Poleniachenko and V. P. Poterukhin reported to the Head of the House of Romanoff on their carrying out the Grand Duchess’s instructions to convey to the Patriarchal Chapter House in Bari, Italy, an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker—a gift from the Grand Duchess and the knights of the Russian Imperial and Royal Orders. (See http://www.imperialhouse.ru/rus/allnews/news/2011/2865.html.)
Later, the Grand Duchess visited the Armenian Church complex in Moscow. Her Imperial Highness met Archbishop Ezras (Nersisian) of the Novo-Nakhichevan and Russian Exarchate of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Archbishop Ezras led the Grand Duchess on a tour of the cathedral, recounted the history of its construction, and described the events in Sacred History and in the history of the Armenian Church that are depicted on the cathedral’s frescos.
Later, in the Archbishop’s residence, the Grand Duchess presented to Archbishop Ezras the insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Anna II Class and the Imperial Medals “In Memory of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff” and “Anniversary of the Nation’s Victory.” These awards were presented to the Archbishop in recognition of his significant contributions to the strengthening and development of friendship between the Russian and Armenian peoples. His Eminence gave a brief speech, thanking the Grand Duchess for these awards and expressing his appreciation for the kind words the Grand Duchess offered in recognition of his work. He emphasized in particular that, true to his oath, he will continue with all his power to serve the cause of the growth of the Armenian Church, to help his countrymen, and to work to strengthen international cooperation. The Archbishop noted that this award is proof of the genuine love between our two fraternal peoples and is also an important measure of success of the 1700-year mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Her Imperial Highness thanked His Eminence for his warm welcome and shared with him and all those present her impressions and wonderful memories of her visit to Armenia in 2011, when she visited the religious heart of Armenia, Echmiadzin; met with His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II; visited many museums and monasteries, including the Agartsin Monastery, Geghard Monastery, the hill of Tsitsernakaberd, the repository of ancient manuscripts and books in Matenadaran, and other holy sites and points of interest. The Grand Duchess noted the critical importance of preserving Christian values and principles and of promoting inter-confessional and international dialogue.
After the conclusion of the ceremony, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, Archbishop Ezras, and those with them watched performances in the main hall of the Armenia Church Complex put on by the children’s dance ensemble “Vardavar,” and the children’s choir “Ovsanna” of the “Aiordeats Tun” Religious Educational Center. Afterward, the Archbishop hosted a lunch in honour of the Grand Duchess.
For more information, see http://armenianchurch.ru/religion/news/news/12024/.
That evening, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, departed for Madrid. While at Sheremetev IIairport, before leaving, she received reports from the Chairman of the Knights’ Council of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Major-General A. V. Kirilin; from the Head of the Legal Office of H.I.H.’s Chancellery, G. Iu. Lukianov; from the President of the Russian Nobility Association (RNA), O. V. Shcherbachev; the First Vice-Chair of the RNA, A. Iu. Korolev-Pereleshin; the Director of the Department of Culture of the RNA, A. N. Sheffer; and from the President of the Foundation for Spiritual and Cultural Education “Dzalisa,” T. I. Dzhandieri.
[1] The other laureates of the Romanoff Prize of 2014 had received the Imperial Medal “In Memory of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff” on a previous occasion in 2013.