On April 23-29, 2017, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and her heir, H.I.H. the Tsesarevich George of Russia, visited Moscow, Russia.
Their Imperial Highnesses arrived in Moscow on April 23. That evening, they attended a dinner with a working group made up of members of Her Imperial Highness’s Chancellery, which had been formed on March 2/15, 2017, to help coordinate various historical and commemorative projects connected with this important anniversary year. The head of the working group, Hieromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets), introduced to the Grand Duchess and Tsesarevich the members of the working group, and indicated the areas of responsibilities each will have. Also attending the dinner was the oldest living Chess Grand Master of the USSR, Iurii L. Averbakh, and the famous photographer, Boris G. Dolmatovsky. Mr. Averbakh took the opportunity at that time to thank the Grand Duchess for awarding him the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislav II Class.
On April 24, Their Imperial Highnesses attended a number of working meetings with prominent community leaders and philanthropists to discuss on-going charitable and cultural projects involving the Imperial House of Russia.
In the afternoon of April 25, H.I.H. the Tsesarevich, Heir, and Grand Duke George of Russia visited the Church of the Intercession of the Most Pure Mother of God in the village of Myshetskoe in the Dmitrov District of the Moscow Region, where he met the rector of the church, Fr. Alexander Azarov, and parishioners. Later that day, after attending a meeting with members of the Chancellery, His Imperial Highness departed for Brussels.
While Tsesarevich George was occupied with these meetings, his mother, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, had her own full agenda of meetings and events. In the morning of April 25, she went to the Institute for the Development of Educational Strategies of the Russian Academy of Education. She was accompanied on her visit by members of her Chancellery, along with Dr. A. B. Kravchenko, the representative of the President of the Transnistrian Republic of Moldova to HIH’s Chancellery; the Chair of the Board of the Foundation for the Support and Development of Education, Creativity, and Culture, Elena Valerievna Bayakhchian; the Head of the Center for International Nuclear Information Systems (INIS) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), V. M. Kuprianov; and the Academician of the Academy of Professional Education, Dr. S. G. Vorovshchikov. At the Institute, the Grand Duchess attended a professional roundtable on the topic “Science and Schools: The Role of Science in General Education,” which was organized by the Director of the Institute for the Development of Educational Strategies of the Russian Academy of Education, Professor Svetlana Veniaminovna Ivanova, who, in addition to her duties as Director, is a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, a Professor, and the editor-in-chief of the academic journals Values and Meanings [Tsennosti i smysly] and Pedagogy in Russia and Abroad [Otechestvennaia i zarubezhnaia pedagogika].
Professor Ivanova gave the opening address for the roundtable.
Grand Duchess Maria also gave a short speech, emphasizing the crucial importance of linking innovations in educational theory and thought with the best traditions of the Russian pre-revolutionary and Soviet systems of education. Her Imperial Highness recounted examples of the success that she has seen in involving experienced and knowledgeable experts in various academic and creative projects for young people. She cited her meetings with leaders in education and the scholarly community in various regions around Russia, and she pointed to the important role played by several international educational competitions that encourage and bring together talented young people to exchange ideas and build relationships across the national and generational boundaries (including, for example, the competition “The Living Connection Across Time” and “Legal Culture—The Foundation of the Harmonious Development of the Individual and Society,” of which she is patron).
Next spoke the Academician and Professor M. L. Levitsky, Academic Secretary of the Division of Philosophy, Education, and Theoretical Pedagogy of the Russian Academy of Education, who conveyed to Her Imperial Highness and to all those attending the roundtable the warm greetings of the President of the Russian Academy of Education, L. A. Verbitsky.
Presentations during the roundtable were given by a number of specialists in attendance, including the Director of the Chancellery of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, Dr. Alexander N. Zakatov; the Head of the Office of Interregional and International Relations, Prince V. O. Lopukhin, MD; the editor-in-chief of the journal Bulletin of Russian Education [Vestnik obrazovaniia Rossii], Iu. I. Glazkov; and the Director of the Center for Primary Education, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Dr. N. F. Vinogradova. Professor Vinogradova also presented the Grand Duchess a copy of her textbook Foundations of Orthodox Culture [Osnovy pravoslavnoi kul’tury].
Other presentations were delivered by the following specialists and scholars: Professor N. L. Selivanova, Director of the Center for Strategy and Theory for Individualized Education, and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education; M. V. Nayanova, the Dean of the Samara State Regional University (who took the opportunity to speak about Her Imperial Highness’s prior visit to the University); the Director of the Center for Philological Education, Dr. I. N. Dobrotina; and the Chair of the Center for the History of Pedagogy and Education, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Professor M. V. Boguslavsky (whose presentation was on the teaching model for general education in Russia, devised by the famous educator Prince V. F. Odoevsky).
After the presentations and the ensuing discussion, the Director of the Institute, S. V. Ivanova, invited the Grand Duchess and her party to attend the working lunch, during which the lively conversation about the issues raised during the roundtable continued. Joining the discussions at lunch was Professor Evgeny Viktorovich Tkachenko (Minister of Education of the Russian Federation from 1992 to 1996). Before her departure, the Grand Duchess thanked the administration and staff of the Institute for their very warm welcome and expressed her hope that the productive discussions begun at this roundtable among experts in the various fields touching on the intersection between education, pedagogical research, culture, and creative arts will continue long past the conclusion of this meeting.
Then the Head of the Russian Imperial House visited the Church of the Life-Creating Trinity on Sparrow Hills, offering prayers on this day of Radonitsa, when the dead are commemorated, for the souls of her departed relatives and for all her countrymen departed this life. In the afternoon, the Grand Duchess met with the representative of the President of the Transnistrian Republic of Moldova to H.I.H.’s Chancellery, A. B. Kravchenko, and with Colonel V. P. Poterukhin, the president of the foundation “Connection Across the Generations” [Sviaz’ pokolenii], one of the oldest members of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Imperial Order of St. Anna, and the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislav.
That evening, the Grand Duchess and members of her Chancellery attended a working dinner with the General Director of the Imperial Foundation for Cancer Research, Archpriest Alexander Tkachenko.
On April 26, at the offices of the Russian news agency “Novosti,” the Head of the Russian Imperial House held a press conference with journalists from “Novosti,” “The Russian Gazette” [Rossiiskaia gazeta], “the National News Service” [Natsional’naia Sluzhba Novostei], and other media outlets. Her Imperial Highness answered questions from journalists on a range of topics, including the activities of the Romanoff dynasty today, Her Imperial Highness’s opinion about the causes and consequences of the 1917 Revolution, and other issues of concern in Russian society today.
For reports from the various news services at the press conference, see the following links:
https://ria.ru/sn/20170428/1493356484.html
https://rg.ru/2017/04/26/vystavka-posledniaia-imperatrica-otkrylas-v-zdanii-gosarhiva.html
https://rg.ru/2017/04/26/glava-doma-romanovyh-dumat-nado-ne-o-revanshe-a-o-liubvi-k-strane.html
https://ria.ru/sn_disabled/20170426/1493173768.html
https://vistanews.ru/society/religion/138942
https://inforeactor.ru/72733-glava-doma-romanovyh-schitaet-chto-film-matilda-rasprostranyaet-klevetu
http://nsn.fm/policy/romanovy-gotovy-predostavit-rossii-monarkha.html
https://realnoevremya.ru/news/64262-glava-dinastii-romanovyh-vystupila-protiv-zapreta-filma-matilda
Later, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia participated in the opening of an important new exhibit at the Russian State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF) dedicated to the last Empress of Russia, Alexandra Feodorovna. Her Imperial Highness took part in these ceremonies along with A. N. Artizov, the Head of the Federal Archival Agency of the Russian Federation; Professor S. V. Mironenko, the Academic Director of the State Archive of the Russian Federation; S. V. Balandiuk, the President of the ELAR, a leading firm creating electronic archives for the preservation of historical materials, including artifacts and documents on display in this exhibit; and other historians and archivists who helped organize this extraordinary collection of materials devoted to the last Russian empress.
After touring the exhibits, Her Imperial Highness visited the Treasure Room of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts (RGADA), where the Assistant Director of the archive, Iurii M. Eskin, displayed for her a number of ancient and medieval documents housed in the collections of the archive, including the last will and testament of Grand Prince Ivan I Kalita; a letter from Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I to Grand Prince Vasilii III of Moscow, in which the Russian ruler is called “Caesar”; and the Book of Titles (or Tituliarnik of 1672)—the illuminated manuscript containing images and biographies of Russia’s rulers.
The Grand Duchess was pleased to have the opportunity during her visit to meet with the Head of the Federal Archives Agency, A. N. Artizov; the Academic Director of the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), S. V. Mironenko; the Director of GARF, L. A. Rogova; the Director of RGADA, M. R. Ryzhenkov; the President of ELAR, S. V. Balandiuk; and with other prominent historians and archivists. (For more information, see: https://tvkultura.ru/article/show/article_id/175129.)
In the afternoon, the Grand Duchess received in audience a delegation from the Knights’ Council of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, led by its Chairman, General A. V. Kirilin, and Secretary, Colonel O. V. Kuznetsov. During this audience, the Grand Duchess presented the insignia of the Order of St. Nicholas to Lieutenant-General V. S. Ivanovsky.
The Grand Duchess also received in audience the Master of Heraldry, S. V. Dumin, who presented for confirmation by Her Imperial Highness the coats of arms of those who had been granted personal nobility status.
Then Her Imperial Highness received in audience Elena Valerievna Bayakhchian, the Chair of the Board of the Foundation for the Support and Development of Education, Creativity, and Culture; the attorney V. B. Naumov, an expert in the field of intellectual property and the founder of the unique programme “The Preservation of Culture”; and E. V. Koriakina, an expert in communications and information technology. The Grand Duchess was pleased to present to Viktor Borisovich Naumov a formal Rescript expressing her gratitude for his “exemplary service to the nation, significant efforts on behalf of the Russian State, and substantial personal contributions to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the nation and development of its national traditions.” B. V. Naumov, E. V. Koriakina, and E. V. Bayakhchian presented to Her Imperial Highness several gifts and, in turn, received signed photos of the Grand Duchess.
That evening, a banquet was hosted in honour of the Head of the Russian Imperial House by the Dames of the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia Alleviatrix of Captives, which took place in the International Club “Business Partnership.” The club is located in the ancient Muscovite estate of the Polezhaev and Zubov noble families “on the Taganka.” Among the honoured guests at the dinner were a descendant of the former owners of the estate, Maria Vasilievna Zubova, and the rector of estate’s chapel of St. Nicholas, which is administered by the Velikie Luki Eparchy, Archimandrite Sergii (Sturov).
Archimandrite Sergii presented the Grand Duchess an Icon of Our Lady of Kazan, which had once belonged to an official of the Governorate-General the Vilnius-Kovno and Grodno, Foma Silvanovich, who served under Active State Secretary Mikhail Semenovich Tyagolobova. The icon had been “written” to commemorate the visit to Vilnius of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich on August 9, 1893. Foma Silvanovich spent 5 rubles on the icon, money he had been given in recognition of his service.
As Fr. Sergii described, he was given the icon as a gift by his parishioners during a serious illness, and he was healed after praying intently before it. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia accepted this gift with heartfelt thanks, and expressed her wish that the icon remain in Russia and be given to the Novospassky Monastery in Moscow, the traditional resting place of the Romanoffs and where the remains of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich lie today.
The Grand Duchess’s wishes in this regard were fulfilled on May 1/14, 2017. After a requiem service (panikhida) at the grave of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich at Novospassky Monastery, the Director of Her Imperial Highness’s Chancellery, Alexander N. Zakatov, presented the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God to the Abbot of the monastery, His Grace Bishop Savva of Voskresensk.
M. V. Zubova presented the Grand Duchess a book on the history of her family. The members of the Order of St. Anastasia and other honoured guests likewise presented the Grand Duchess with various gifts. The evening was capped with a touching performance by the young singer Surena Platonova.
On April 27, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, went on a pilgrimage to the New Jerusalem Monastery of the Resurrection.
Her Imperial Highness was greeted on arrival by the Abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Theophylact (Bezukladnikov). The Grand Duchess and Fr. Theophylact walked the path through the monastery and its holy shrines that many pilgrims walk, symbolizing the Way of the Cross. Then Archimandrite Theophylact and the monastery’s provisor [ekonom], Hieromonk Paisii (Konovalenko) and Hieromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets) served an intercessory prayer service, or moleben, according to the royal rubrics.
After the short service, the Grand Duchess presented to the monastery a 17th-century icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which had been given to her previously by the philanthropist, poet, and community leader E. M. Ryapov. This icon was one of the few that had been saved from destruction when militant atheists had seized and burned many of the icons at the New Jerusalem Monastery during the revolution. E. M. Ryapov had acquired and restored it, then had presented it as a gift to Grand Duchess Maria of Russia. The Grand Duchess was thus returning the icon to its historic home.
After the ceremony returning the icon, the Grand Duchess awarded the Imperial medals “Commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff” and “Anniversary of the Nation’s Victory, 1613-2013” to Archimandrite Theophylact. She also presented several books on the history of the Romanoff dynasty and the relationship between the Imperial House and the Orthodox Church, in Russia and elsewhere.
On April 28, the Head of the Russian Imperial House visited the Church of St. Martin the Confessor in Moscow. At the Grand Duchess’s request, the rector of the church, Archpriest Aexander Abramov, along with the rector of the Church of St. Simeon the Stylite on the Yauza, Archpriest Aleksei Muraveinik, other clergy assigned to these churches and the Pokrovsky deanery, as well as Heiromonk Nikon (Levachev-Belavenets), served a requiem service for all those who lost their lives during the Revolution, Civil War, and the mass political oppression—perpetrated both by the “Whites” and the “Reds”—that followed. Commemorative prayers were also offered for the Grand Duchess’ parents and ancestors: Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, who passed away 25 years ago, on April 8/21, 1992; his wife Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna; Emperor-in-Exile Kirill Vladimirovich and his wife, Empress-in-Exile Victoria Feodorovna; and Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, who was born 170 years ago, on April 10/23, 1847, and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.
An investiture ceremony immediately followed the conclusion of the services. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia awarded Archpriest Alexander Abramov the Imperial Medal “Commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff,” and she confirmed and formally presented to him his personal coat of arms. The insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Anna were presented to Prince Sergei Mikhailovich Golitsyn, Andrei Anatolievich Zolkin, and Dmitrii Ivanovich Petrovsky. The insignia of the Imperial and Royal Order of St. Stanislas were presented to Valerii Vladimirovich Nazarov (of St. Petersburg) and Sergei Alexandrovich Pecheliev. The Order of the St. Vladimir III Class was awarded to the Director of the Office for the Preservation of the Memory of Those Who Sacrificed Their Lives in the Defense of the Nation of the Ministry of Defense, Major-General Vladimir Vasilievich Popov. The insignia of the Imperial Military Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker were awarded to Major-General Alexander Pavlovich Ilyushin, Colonel Gennady Petrovich Marochkin, and Captain 2d-Rank Maksim Iurievich Shepovalenko. The Medal of the Imperial Order of St. Anna was awarded to Dr. Elena Viktorovna Tomilina. The philanthropist and supporter of the Orthodox Church in Nizhnii Novgorod, Alexander Samoilovich Krasilshchikov, and his wife, Liudmila Nikolaevna Krasilshchikova, were presented patents allowing them hereditary noble status, along with a coat of arms approved for use by their family by the Grand Duchess.
After the investiture ceremony, the entire church sang the hymn “Many Years” for the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia and her son and heir, Grand Duke George of Russia. The entire assembly then gathered in the Church hall for a lunch in the Grand Duchess’ honour.
In the afternoon, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia visited Tsaritsyno Museum and Park, where she was greeted by the General Director of the Museum, E. B. Fokina, and by G. Iu. Fomina, a dame of the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia. The Grand Duchess toured this restored treasure of 18th-century Russian architecture, and then, joined by O. I. Barkovets, visited a special exhibit dedicated to the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, including artifacts from the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo.
Afterward, the Grand Duchess presented the insignia of the Imperial Order of St. Anastasia upon those newly appointed to membership of the Order.
The evening ended with a formal dinner, which included performances by Irina Wagner and Aleksei Sviridov, accompanied by pianist Altana Erdynieva.
On April 29, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia received in audience the President of the Russian Nobility Association, O. V. Shcherbachev, and the Director of the Office of Relations with the Russian Orthodox Church of Her Imperial Highness’s Chancellery, A. Iu. Korolev-Pereleshin. Messrs. Shcherbachev and Korolev-Pereleshin reported to Her Imperial Highness on the activities of the Russian Nobility Association and on preparations for the next Congress of the Russian Nobility. The Grand Duchess was pleased to learn of the increasingly close relations that are forming between the Russian Nobility Association in Russia and nobility associations around the world. At the conclusion of the audience, the Head of the House of Romanoff presented O. V. Shcherbachev the Imperial Monogram I Class (which had officially been awarded to him last year, on his 50th birthday).
Next, Her Imperial Highness received in audience the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs in the Chancellery, the attorney G. Iu. Lukianov, who gave a report on a number of matters currently being overseen by him. The Grand Duchess then received a number of other prominent public figures, who each gave reports on various social and educational projects that they are undertaking with the Grand Duchess’s approval and patronage.
After a final meeting with members of her Chancellery, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, departed for Madrid.