Press Release Concerning the Official Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, to Russia on 4-16 August 2007
On 4-16 August 2007, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, made an official visit to Russia. Her Imperial Highness arrived at the invitation of the governor of the Russian Far East Region, S. M. Dar’kin. This was the first time since the revolution of 1917 that the Head of the Russian Imperial House had been to the Russian Far East.
On 4 August, on her nameday, the Grand Duchess arrived in Moscow from Madrid. From Sheremetevo Airport, Her Imperial Highness went directly to the “Marco Polo” Hotel. In the evening, a celebratory dinner was given in honor of the Grand Duchess by B. O. Stasiuk, the general director of the hotel and a knight of the Imperial Order of St. Anna in the third degree, at which were present Archimandrite Ieronim (Chernyshov), the rector of the church of St. Gregory of Neocaesaria; E. V. Obraztsova, a People’s Artist of the USSR; and other figures in science and art. The artist A. I. Osipov displayed his portrait of Her Imperial Highness, which will hang in the National Portrait Gallery.
On 5 August, the Grand Duchess visited the Church of the Life-Creating Trinity near the Saltykov bridge. After an intercessory prayer service [moleben] to the Most Holy Trinity and to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, the Head of the Russian Imperial House bestowed the Order of St. Anna on the rector of the church, Igumen Aleksei (Vylazhanin), whose elevation to the Order was blessed by His Holiness, Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and All Russia. Also at this time, the devices for the Orders of St. Anna and St. Nicholas and the medal with monogram of the Dowager Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna, the mother of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, were bestowed upon those newly raised to these honors.
On this same day, Her Imperial Highness visited an exposition at the Museum of Russian Vodka at a former state-own factory (now the factory “Crystal”). After a farewell dinner, the grand duchess went to Vnukovo airport, where she flew to Vladivostok.
On 6 August, Her Imperial Highness was met at the airport by A. V. Norin, vice-governor of the Far East Region, by O. A. Mel’nikov, the deputy head for administration of the Far East Region, by His Grace Bishop Sergei of Ussur, and by V. A. Poluianov, ataman of the Ussur Cossacks. Then Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna went to the hotel “Versal’,” where she stayed during her visit to Vladivostok. After a short rest, the grand duchess was given a tour of the city.
On 7 August, the Head of the Russian Imperial House met with professors and students of the Far East State Technical University, after which she paid a visit to the university’s museum. Afterwards, at the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra in Nicea—built in honor of the visit to the Far East of the Tsesarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich (the future Nicholas II, the Tsar-Martyr) and restored in our own time by Bishop Sergei of Ussur—the bishop and the local clergy served an intercessory prayer service [moleben] for the health of the members of the Imperial House, after which the grand duchess bestowed the devices of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on those who had been elevated to that honor.
After the service and the award ceremony, the grand duchess laid flowers at the memorial “Glory of the Pacific Fleet” and prayed for the repose of the souls of the defenders of the Fatherland at the chapel of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First Called.
Then Her Imperial Highness boarded the anti-submarine ship “Marshal Shaposhnikov,” took a tour of the ship, attended a concert of the Navy band of the Pacific Fleet, and hosted a luncheon for sailors’ wives.
In the second half of the day, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna visited the city railway station, after which she toured the Bay of Amur by boat, then went swimming in the Pacific Ocean and tried her hand at fishing.
On 8 August, the Head of the Russian Imperial House met in the Offices of the Regional Administration with Governor S. M. Dar’kin, during the course of which the governor described to Her Imperial Highness the life of the residents of this region of Russia. The grand duchess expressed her support of the plan to build a cathedral in the main square of Vladivostok, and she remarked especially that the Church and the government would benefit from a speedy resolution of all matters involving the construction of the cathedral. For his efforts in guaranteeing the military security of Russia, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna awarded the governor the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the first degree, and bestowed upon him the devices of this Order.
After the meeting with Governor S. M. Dar’kin, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna went to the St. Nicholas/All-Who-Suffer Cathedral in Vladivostok, where His Grace Bishop Sergei with the assembled clergy celebrated an intercessory service [moleben] for the health and well being of the Imperial Family. Then there was a luncheon hosted by Archbishop Veniamin of Vladivostok and the Primor’e, at which were also present representatives of the provincial administration and the wife of Governor Dar’kin, L. D. Belobrova.
After lunch, the Head of the Russian Imperial House met and spoke with S. A. Lomaev, in his office, the Chief Federal Inspector for the Far East Region. During the meeting, the grand duchess announced the elevation to the honor of knights of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, in the first degree, of K. Sh. Iskhakov, the representative of the President of Russia in the Far East Region; and, in the second degree, of S. A. Lomaev, the Chief Federal Inspector. The official program for the day ended with a visit to the Military-Historical Museum of the Pacific Fleet, and with a dinner hosted by Governor Dar’kin in honor of Her Imperial Highness.
On 9 August, the grand duchess visited the Art Gallery, where, during a press conference, she answered questions from journalists. Then Her Imperial Highness went to the museum “Vladivostok Fort,” where she witnessed the traditional noon-day cannon firing and toured the exhibits. For her extraordinary efforts to preserve the nation’s historical legacy, the Head of the Russian Imperial House awarded the founder and director of the museum, N. I. Polozova, the medal “For Diligence and Assistance.” Also during the morning, the grand duchess visited the V. K. Arsen’ev Museum on Svetlanskaia Street. After lunch and before her departure to Khabarovsk, the grand duchess, along with His Grace Bishop Sergei of Ussur, visited the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy.
In the evening, the grand duchess arrived in Khabarovsk, where she stayed at the hotel “Zaimka,” and on 10 August she flew to Magadan.
On 11 August, Her Imperial Highness visited the memorial to the victims of political repression of the communist regime, “Mask of Sorrow,” and then took a tour by automobile about the city of Magadan. Afterward, in the offices of the administration of the Magadan Region, the Head of the Russian Imperial House met with Governor N. N. Dudov of Magadan Region, and with V. P. Pechen, mayor of Magadan, and with other leaders of the city and area. Her Imperial Highness expressed her happiness that, in the Magadan region, which had suffered such bloodshed and suffering, the chief aim of the government now is the people’s spiritual and material welfare.
Concerning the lives of those imprisoned, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna has heard much first-hand, directly from her august aunt, Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Georgievna Bagration of Mukhrany of Georgia, who spent 7 years in an internment camp in Kolymna [near Magadan].
After her discussions with Governor N. N. Dudov, the grand duchess met with His Grace, Bishop Gurii of Magadan and Sinegor’e, together with whom she drove to the Magadan cathedral currently under construction. Back at the offices of the Magadan diocese, Bishop Gurii acquainted the grand duchess with the life of the Magadan eparchy and hosted a lunch in honor of his royal guest. From the diocesan offices, the grand duchess went next to the Magadan Regional Museum. Then Her Imperial Highness went to the cathedral of Holy Spirit, where Bishop Gurii of Magadan and Sinegor’e and the assembled clergy served an intercessory prayer service [moleben] for the health of the Imperial Family. After the service, the grand duchess visited the A. S. Pushkin Universal Academic Library and familiarized herself with its work, toured an exhibit of rare books and an exhibit on the history of the House of Romanoff, and also held a press conference during which she responded to reporters’ questions. In the evening, a reception was held in honour of the Head of the Russian Imperial House by the Magadan Regional Section of the Russian Nobility Associationy (headed by A. S. Artomasov), at which were present also representatives of the provincial administration of Magadan and His Grace Bishop Gurii of Magadan and Sinegor’e.
On 12 August, the grand duchess flew from Magadan to Khabarovsk. The grand duchess was accompanied to the airport by Vice-Governor Iu. I. Mumortsev, by the mayor of Magadan, V. P. Pechen, by Bishop Gurii, and by other representatives of the Magadan provincial and city governments. At the airport in Khabarovsk, Her Imperial Highness was met by Mayor A. N. Skolov; by Colonel-General V. V. Bugakov, the commander of the Far East Military District and a knight (in the first degree) of the Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and his wife; and by other officials. From the airport, the grand duchess went to the Hotel Amur, where she stayed during her visit in Khabarovsk. At the hotel restaurant, there was a friendly dinner given, and in attendance were Mayor A. N. Sokolov, Colonel-General V. V. Bugakov and his wife, Ataman V. A. Poluianov of the Ussur Cossacks and Ataman V. V. Kriukov of the Amur Cossacks. Afterward, in the reception hall of the offices of the Khabarovsk Administration, there was an official meeting of the Head of the Russian Imperial House with the mayor, A. N. Sokolov, at which were also present His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Khabarovsk and the Amur. That evening, the mayor hosted a festive dinner in honor of Her Imperial Highness.
On 13 August, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna took the boat “Moscow” to Great Ussur Island. Her Imperial Highness was accompanied by officials from Khabarovsk, by Archbishop Mark, and by representatives of the Cossacks. On the island, the grand duchess prayed at the chapel of the Holy Martyr Victor after a Litya service given by Archbishop Mark and other clergy on behalf of Emperor Kirill Vladimirovich and Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich, and of all servicemen who died defending the far eastern boundaries of Russia. Afterward, the grand duchess ascended the stairs of a guard tower on the border and conversed with border guards and walked with them to a guard post on the border with China. Her Imperial Highness expressed her regret at the loss by Russia of significant tracts of land and expressed her hope that in the future not even an inch of Russian territory would ever again be lost to Russia’s neighbours. The grand duchess noted especially the need for cooperation between the spiritual and secular authorities of the sort that recently produced the building of the chapel, which permits the preservation of this portion of the Island for Russia.
After her return to Khabarovsk, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna paid a visit to the Museum of Local Art, History, and Economy; strolled about the banks of the river, and placed flowers at the Statue of Count N. N. Murav’ev-Amurskii.
On 14 August, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, along with Archbishop Mark, visited the Church of the Holy Royal-Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, the Church of St. Innokentii, the Church of the Dormition, and the Church of the Transfiguration, which were built by the labours of the archbishop with the enormous help of the governor of the Khabarovsk Region, V. I. Ishaev, and the mayor of Khabarovsk, A. N. Sokolov. Between her visits to the Church of the Dormition and the Church of the Transfiguration, the grand duchess placed flowers at the memorial on Glory Square, after which “Memory Eternal” was sung for Emperor Kirill Vladimirovich, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich, and for all those who gave their lives for Russia. Then there was a military parade of the honour guard. From the Church of the Transfiguration, Her Imperial Highness went to the Khabarovsk Seminary and familiarized herself with the curriculum and expressed her pleasure with the rebirth of Orthodox holiness, spirituality, and education in the Khabarovsk region. In the evening, there was a farewell dinner, and in the morning of 15 August, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna flew to Vladivostok.
In Vladivostok, the Head of the Russian Imperial House was attended by L. D. Belobrova, the wife of S. M. Dar’kin, the Governor of the Far East Region; by O. A. Mel’nikov, the deputy director of the apparatus of the Administration of the Far East Region; by V. A. Saibel’, the general director of the aviation company “Vladivostok Avia”; by Ataman V. A. Poluianov of the Ussur Cossacks; and other officials and Cossack representatives—all of whom also saw Her Imperial Highness off to Moscow. In the evening, Her Imperial Highness arrived in Moscow and settled in at the Hotel “Marco Polo,” where she heard reports from and issued instructions to members of her Chancellery.
On 16 August, the grand duchess met with a delegation of the Russian Nobility Association headed by the First Vice-Chairman S. A. Sapozhnikov. Then the charitable organization “Connection Across the Generations” arranged a farewell dinner in honour of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, during which the grand duchess bestowed the devices of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on Major-General A. I. Kotelkin (in the first degree), who is a representative of the foundation; and also on several of his co-workers in the charity (in the third degree) who had worked tirelessly in rebuilding the Our Lady of Smolensk monastery at Varlaam, at which there will be said continuous prayers for Russian soldiers who have fallen defending their country in all wars. At the meal prepared at that time there were present Bishop Pankratii of Valaam Monastery; Bishop Mark of Egorievsk, the deputy director of the Office for External Church Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archimandrite Zakkhei, the rector of the Moscow Office of the Orthodox Church in America; Lieutenant-General N. G. Antonenko and Colonel V. Iu. Kudeikin, representatives of the Knights’ Council of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker; V. V. Lebedev, the chairman of the Union of Orthodox Citizens; veterans of the armed forces, and representatives of social and religious organizations.
On that same day, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, departed for Madrid.