Press Release on the Visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, to the United States

From April 23 to May10, 2010, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, visited the West Coast and Hawaii Islands of the United States of America. Her Imperial Highness was invited on this visit by His Eminence, Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America, and with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. During the visit, the Grand Duchess was accompanied by members of her Chancellery, having arrived there from Moscow, and by the Mitered Archpriest Fr. Mikhail Protopopov, of the Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

On April 23, Her Imperial Highness arrived in San Francisco from Madrid. At the airport, the Grand Duchess was met by His Eminence, Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America, by Mitered Archpriest Mikhail Protopopov, and by representatives of the Russian and American groups that had helped to arrange this visit.

On April 24, the Head of the House of Romanoff, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Kirill, went to the Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk of the Hospice, which was founded by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco—the loyal spiritual father and companion to the Heads of the Imperial Dynasty in exile: Emperor Kirill Wladimirovich and Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich. The Grand Duchess venerated the holy relics and icons in the church, visited St. John’s cell, and met and spoke with former residents of the Hospice of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk.

At 5:00 PM, Her Imperial Highness arrived at the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God, Consolation of All Who Sorrow, where His Eminence, Archbishop Kirill, and His Grace, Bishop Feodosii, along with an assembly of clergy of the Dioceses of San Francisco and Western America, served a moleben before the relics of Miracle-Worker St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. The Grand Duchess venerated the holy relics of the great saint, and Archbishop Kirill presented the Head of the Russian Imperial House with an icon of St. John containing a fragment of his holy relics. During the All-Night Vigil, and after the polielei service, the Grand Duchess accepted from Archbishop Kirill the device for the Order of St. John of San Francisco, First Class, which Her Imperial Highness was given “for her zealous works and spiritual deeds accomplished in the service of the Church and the Fatherland.”

On April 25, the Head of the House of Romanoff attended the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God, Consolation of All Who Sorrow, and partook of the holy and precious Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (During this and all other church services during this visit, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna and her entire Imperial House were commemorated at the Great Litany, the Litany of Supplication, at the Great Entrance, and at other appropriate moments, and at the end of all these services, “Many Years” was sung for Their Imperial Highnesses.) His Eminence, Archbishop Kirill, greeted Her Imperial Highness and delivered a fervent sermon about the service during exile that the Russian Imperial House has performed for the benefit of the Holy Church and the Fatherland, and also about the special spiritual relationship and friendship between the Grand Duchess’s ancestors and St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. (The full text of the sermon is available on the site of the Russian Imperial House.) After the Divine Liturgy, the Head of the Russian Imperial House presented the devices of the Imperial Order of St. Anna upon those who had received the award on Easter 2010: Archbishop Kirill (Second Class), Bishop Feodosii (Third Class), and V. N. Vinokurov, the Consul General for the Russian Federation for the West Coast of the US (Third Class). The Grand Duchess also awarded the medal of the Order of St. Anna to Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko (a descendant of Field Marshal M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, the Prince of Smolensk); Archpriest Peter Perekrestov; L. V. Vinokurova, the wife of the Consul-General; S. V. Danich, the chairman of the Cadets Association; P. Karakozov, the administrator for the Dioceses of Western America; E. Hattenberg-Smith; I. Hertsen; E. Ol’khovskaia; T. Pavlenko, and N. Fischer. Later, at the trapeza at the cathedral, there was an official reception in honor of Her Imperial Highness. Before the beginning of the trapeza, the cathedral choir, under the direction of V. V. Krasovskii, sang the troparion for Easter, the hymn “God Save the Tsar,” and other Church hymns. Later that afternoon, the Grand Duchess was led by a guide through the historical sites of the city.

On April 26, the Grand Duchess went to the Serbian cemetery in San Francisco, where thousands of Russian exiles are buried. At the cemetery’s chapel, Archbishop Kirill and other clergy served a Litya service for the Grand Duchess’s reposed ancestors: Grand Duke Wladimir Aleksandrovich, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, Emperor Kirill Wladimorovich, Empress Viktoria Feodorovna, Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, and all Orthodox Christians who laid down their lives for Faith, Tsar, and Fatherland, and who died abroad. After the Litya service, the Head of the House of Romanoff paid tribute to A. Vyvodtsev, the first Russian Consul to the West Coast of the USA, and his wife, E. Vyvodtseva; to the Russian Cadet Corps, the knights of the Order of St. George, to His Highness, Prince of the Imperial Blood Vasilii Aleksandrovich and his morganatic wife (n?e Princess N. A. Golitsyna), and to the Cossacks and other victims of the repatriation at Lienz. Her Imperial Highness placed flowers at the graves and memorials of all of these mentioned above. After visiting the cemetery, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna arrived at the old Cathedral of All Who Sorrow (the former main cathedral of San Francisco), where she, along with Archbishop Kirill and Hieromonk Iakov (Corazza), the rector, venerated the monastic habit (mantiya) of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, and also the reliquary containing, among other holy relics, a fragment of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior, and relics of Her Imperial Highness’s Heavenly patron saint, St. Mary Magdalene. Fr. Iakov also gave the Grand Duchess a brief survey of the history of the old cathedral. That evening, in the residence of the Consul-General, an official reception was held in honor of the Head of the Russian Imperial House. At the reception were present Archbishop Krill, Bishop Feodosii, other clergy of the San Francisco and Western America Dioceses, and representatives of Russian and Russian-American groups and organizations. During his brief speech welcoming his honored guests, Consul-General V. N. Vinokurov noted the services Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna has offered to Russia; and he also noted the deep appreciation that the government of Russia has for the help the Grand Duchess has offered in reestablishing a sense of continuity with the past in Russia’s social life, in helping to revitalize Russian patriotism, and in advocating Russia’s national interests on the world stage today.

On April 27, the Grand Duchess visited the Lyceum of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, where Her Imperial Highness enjoyed a musical performance by the students. Later, the Grand Duchess went to the Church of the Holy Royal Martyrs, and then visited the Russian Cultural Center, where she spoke with children in the kindergarten and also visited the museum, library and presses for the newspaper Russian Life and for the Congress of Russian Americans. From the Russian Cultural Center, Her Imperial Highness went to the building of the Cadets Association and the Veterans Association, where she took in the museum’s exhibits. The Lady’s Auxiliary of the Cadet’s Association arranged a luncheon for Her Imperial Highness’s visit. That evening, the Head of the House of Romanoff arrived at the Russian Scout Center, where she met and spoke with scouts of all ages and representatives of the Union of Cossacks. In the Scout Center, a dinner for the Grand Duchess was hosted by the Union of Russian Scouts in honor of the Grand Duchess, at which were present His Eminence Archbishop Kirill and His Grace Bishop Feodosii, as well as other honored guests.

On April 28, the Head of the House of Romanoff, accompanied by Archbishop Kirill, Bishop Feodosii, and Consul-General V. N. Vinokurov, went to Fort Ross—a Russian fortified outpost built in 1812. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna herself raised the Russian flag and gave the command for the ceremonial firing of the cannon. Later, at the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, which is on the grounds of the fortress, the assembly sang the paschal hymn “Christ is risen from the dead,” and then at the cemetery, “eternal memory” for the early Russian settlers of the California coast. On the return from Fort Ross, the Grand Duchess had the opportunity to view and enjoy the native animal life of the California coast, including a brief stop at a seal rookery.

On April 29, Her Imperial Highness visited the Napa Valley on the “Napa Valley Wine Train,” and stopped at one of the finest vineyards in California, Far Niente, which is owned by Mr. Jeremy Nickel. That evening, a dinner in honor of the Grand Duchess was hosted by G. V. Kumanskii, a member of the Supreme Council of the Russian Imperial Order-Union, and his wife, L. F. Kumanskaia, the Chair of the League of Russian-American Women. Among the guests at dinner were Archbishop Kirill and other clergy of the Dioceses of San Francisco and Western America, and Consul-General V. N. Vinokurov and his wife, L. V. Vinokurova.

On April 30, the Head of the House of Romanoff, accompanied by Archbishop Kirill, Bishop Feodosii, other clergy of the Dioceses of San Francisco and Western America, and members of her entourage, took a short cruise on San Francisco Bay on the yacht “Nehemaiah.” After her turn, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna took a tour of central San Francisco on one of the city’s famous cable cars. That evening, a gala dinner was arranged in honor of the Head of the Russian Imperial House and also for the new members of the Imperial Order of St. Anna at the home of Ms. E. Hattenberger-Smith and her daughter. Also present at the dinner were Archbishop Kirill, Bishop Feodosii, Consul-General Vinokurov and his wife, G. V. Kumanskii and L. F. Kumanskaia, and representatives of the Russian-American community who had been awarded the right to wear the devices of the Imperial Order of St. Anna.

On May 1, the Grand Duchess, accompanied by Archbishop Kirill and other clergy of the Dioceses of San Francisco and Western America, visited Holy Trinity Cathedral (in the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America, or OCA). The rector, Archpriest John Takahashi, provided a brief history of the cathedral to Her Imperial Highness, which had formerly been the city’s Orthodox cathedral for St. Tikhon the Confessor during his archpastorate over the American Orthodox flock. The Grand Duchess venerated the cathedral’s holy icons and relics—the panagei of St. Phillip, Metropolitan of Moscow, a holy icon of St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker, and the vestments of St. Tikhon. Later, the Head of the House of Romanoff went to the Ss. Cyril and Methodius Russian Orthodox Church School, where she took part in the school’s daily prayers, attended a short concert, and chatted with each of the school’s pupils. Before leaving San Francisco, the Grand Duchess returned to the Cathedral of the Joy of All who Sorrow to venerate the relics of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonder-Worker. A farewell lunch for Her Imperial Highness was hosted by the League of Russian-American Women, and by its chair, L. F. Kumanskaia, and her vice-chair, L. K. Krassovskaia. Later that day, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, along with Archbishop Kirill and her entourage, flew to Los Angeles. At the Los Angeles airport, Her Imperial Highness and His Eminence met with the rector of the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, Mitered Archpriest Alexander Lebedev, and with the rector of the Holy Dormition Church, Fr. Peter Shashkov.

On May 2, the Head of the Russian Imperial House attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Los Angeles and partook of the Holy Mysteries. During the services, Archbishop Kirill elevated the priest Peter Shashkov to archpriest. The rector of the cathedral, Mitered Archpriest Alexander Lebedev, delivered a warm speech greeting Her Imperial Highness, noting the enormous historical and religious significance of the first visit of the Head of the House of Romanoff to the West Coast of the USA. After the services, the Grand Duchess presented the medal of the Imperial Order of St. Anna to I. Iu. Podvalov, and later had the opportunity to speak with the clergy and people of the parish. Among those warmly greeting Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna was the retired Protopresbyter Constantine Tivetskii.

That evening, Her Imperial Highness, together with Archbishop Kirill and other clergy of the Dioceses of San Francisco and Western America arrived at the annual Russian Spring Ball. The organizers of the event, Count P. A. Konovnitsyn, the historian P. Kh. Rebel’skii, T. Ia. Samarskaia, and others, all warmly greeted their distinguished guests. During the ball, the device of the Imperial Order of St. Anna, Third Class, was presented to the relatives of Count A. P. Konovnitsyn, one of the last pages of Emperor Kirill Wladimirovich (the device was presented to members of his family for transmission to the elderly Count Konovnitsyn, who was himself not present at the ball for health reasons). On May 3, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna toured the sites in and around Los Angeles, including a visit to the police headquarters in Beverly Hills, where the police chief briefed Her Imperial Highness on the operations of the department. The Grand Duchess also visited Santa Monica and Malibu. That evening, the Head of the Russian Imperial House attended a farewell dinner at the Russian restaurant “Crystal” hosted by Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America. In a touching farewell speech, His Eminence said that, although this gathering might, by the formal rules of protocol, be called a “farewell dinner,” it in fact is for him and for all the participants in the Grand Duchess’s visit, not actually a farewell at all, but rather the beginning of a long a journey at her side, which, by God’s Grace and through the prayers of St. John, will produce new avenues of cooperation between the Russian Imperial House and the Russian Orthodox Church.

On May 4, continuing her pilgrimage, Her Imperial Highness traveled to the Hawaii Islands and arrived in the evening in Honolulu, where she was warmly received by representatives of the Hawaiian Royal Family, led by His Royal Highness, Prince David Kaw?nanakoa, who arranged a festive dinner with traditional Hawaiian national dance and songs in honor of the Grand Duchess.

In the morning on the following day, the Grand Duchess visited the Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and venerated the holy myrrh-streaming Iveron icon, from which the church takes its name. The rector of the church, Fr. Anatolii Lyovin, and the owner of the icon, Reader Nektarii Yangson, explained the history of this venerable icon and of this parish to the Grand Duchess, and they presented to her a vial of the myrrh that had been collected from the icon the night before her visit to the church.

On May 5, the Grand Duchess visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, which is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the tragic attack that began America’s involvement in the Second World War. The Grand Duchess paid her respects at the memorial for the many thousands of sailors who died, including also many Russian ?migr?s. That same day, in a specially arranged tour, the Grand Duchess visited the Hawaiian Royal Palace, after which, in the throne room, in the presence of Her Imperial Highness, there took place a ceremony during which Her Royal Highness Princess Kapiolani Kaw?nanakoa, the Marquis Marignoli, presented to the Palace Museum a bronze bust of Emperor Alexander II, the great-great-grandfather of Her Imperial Highness, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, which had been brought to the Hawaii Islands from St. Petersburg, Russia, by the Hawaiian king’s ambassador in the year 1884. The Grand Duchess expressed her joy that the bust of her ancestor--a physical symbol of the dynastic relations between the two houses--had been returned to the Palace during her visit. After the ceremony, Her Royal Highness, Princess Abigail Kaw?nanakoa, hosted a dinner in honor of the Grand Duchess, at which other members of the Hawaiian Royal Family were present.

Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna spent the next two days visiting the sights of the Hawaii Islands. On May 8, Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna returned to San Francisco. On May 9, the Grand Duchess was supposed to fly back to Madrid, but the flight was canceled on account of the on-going eruptions of the Eyjafjallaj?kull volcano in Iceland. Her Imperial Highness spent the day instead with her entourage and with other supporters touring the city and visiting Sausalito Bay. That evening, the Grand Duchess attended a private dinner hosted by Ms. E. Olkhovskaia.

On 10 May, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna returned to Madrid.

A.N. Zakatov
Director of H.I.H.’s Chancellery

The following photographs were taken during the visit of the Head of the Russian Imperial House to the US West Coast and Hawaii Islands by: Iu. Myshonkov, D. Savchenko, E. Sinel’nikov-Novak, and M. Shakhov.

In the Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk	Bishop Feodosii shows the Grand Duchess the Holy Icons in the Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk	Observing a Pious Tradition, the Grand Duchess Prays in the Cell of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, Seated on his Famous Recliner
The Grand Duchess and Clergy in St. John’s Cell	H.I.H. in St. John’s Cell	The Grand Duchess and Archbishop Kirill in St. John’s Cell
Trapeza at the Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk	H.I.H. with the couple G. V. and L. F. Kumanskii	The Grand Duchess with the Family of Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko
Archbishop Kirill Greets the Grand Duchess at the Cathedral	The Grand Duchess Venerates the Relics of St. John	A Moleben Before the Holy Relics of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco
Archbishop Kirill Presents an Icon of St. John Containing a Fragment of His Holy Relics to the Grand Duchess	Archbishop Kirill Presents the Order of St. John to the Grand Duchess	At the All Night Vigil
The Grand Duchess Receives Holy Communion	At the Divine Liturgy	Archbishop Kirill Delivering a Sermon
The Grand Duchess Awards the Order of St. Anna to Archbishop Kirill	The Grand Duchess Speaking at the Cathedral	The Grand Duchess Thanks Her Countrymen for their Prayers
Attending a Panikhida at the Chapel in the Orthodox Cemetery	At the Grave of the First Russian Consul-General, Vykhodtsev	At the Grave of the First Russian Consul and His Wife
At the Monument to the Knights of the Order of St. George	Bread and Salt at the Residence of the Consul-General	At the Lyceum of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco
Attending a Concert at the Lyceum	Students at the Lyceum of St. John Greeting the Grand Duchess	With the Students of the Lyceum
With the Teachers at the Lyceum	At the Church of the Royal New Martyrs	At the Museum at the Russian Cultural Center
At the Presses of the Newspaper Russian Life	The Grand Duchess Raises the Russian Flag at Fort Ross