St. Petersburg officials are exploring the possibilities of breathing new life into the infamous Kresty Prison on the Arsenalnaya Embankment.

Turning the prison into a hotel, a museum, an art gallery, a business center and even a creative cluster complete with studios of local artists are just some of the ideas that have already been voiced.

Although in no way a postcard view, Kresty became one of the city’s iconic images long before St. Petersburg earned the unflattering nickname of Russia’s criminal capital in the turbulent 1990s. It has housed members of the Russian Imperial family, including the Grand Dukes Nicholas and George Mikhailovich, Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich as well as some of the country’s most high-profile prisoners, including politicians Lev Trotsky and Alexander Kerensky. The prison has also been the setting for dozens of thrillers and crime series.

Built in 1890 and designed by the architect Antony Tomishko, Kresty is scheduled to relocate to Kolpino in 2015.

The jail got its nickname, Kresty (Crosses) very shortly after it received its first inmates. The two four-story wings of the prison are designed in the form of a cross. According to legend, Tomishko initially designed the jail for 999 cells, but there was a 1000th cell, where the architect himself was locked up and buried after allegedly saying to the tsar, “Look what a beautiful prison I have built for you.” Although no proof has ever been found for the legend, speculation about the mythical 1000th cell still circulates. There are in fact 960 cells in the prison.

The prison has not undergone large-scale renovation since it was built.

Many of the country’s prisons are located in historical buildings, many of which were built back in tsarist times.

The fate of the historic prison will be made in the autumn when City Hall plans to announce a tender for potential investors to redevelop the territory of the prison and its surroundings.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 23 July, 2012

A monument to the Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich (1866-1933) was unveiled this week at the Krestovsky Yacht Club in St. Petersburg. The ceremony was attended by Prince Dmitry Romanovich (born 1926).

The grand duke is remembered for his outstanding service to Russia's army, navy and air force during the Tsarist years. Alexander or "Sandro" as he was known to members of the Russian Imperial family, also served as patron for the sailing school on the banks of the Maly Neva 125 years ago.

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich married the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (eldest daughter of Emperor Alexander III, and sister to Emperor Nicholas II) on 6th August [O.S. 25th July], 1894.  He was one of the few grand dukes to have escaped the Red Terror in which many members of the Romanov family were murdered by the Bolsheviks.

During his years in exile in Paris, Alexander penned his memoirs in two volumes, as well as other books on royalty.

The monument was created by the famous Russian sculptor, Albert Charkin, and shows the grand duke looking out onto the Gulf of Finland.

For more information about this monument, please refer to the following article and video posted on 23rd March, 2012;

The 12th annual Imperial Bouquest Festival opened at Pavlovsk Palace on July 14th. The theme of this year's festival was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Russia's victory over Napoleon's armies in 1812.

The festival is now held every year in honour of the palace's original owner, the Empress Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828). During her years at Pavlovsk, the wife of Emperor Paul I had a great love for flowers and oversaw the development and maintenance of some of the most beautiful gardens in Russia. Having an avid interest in flower arranging, she filled the rooms of the palace with arrangements and bouquets that she created herself using fresh, fragrant blooms from her gardens and greenhouses year round.

This years' festival involved over 100 florists, and guests were entertained with a fashion show and music in the Rose Pavilion (pictured lower right). The festival lasted two days, July 14-15, 2012.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 20 July, 2012

Russian Monarchists have registered their own political party seeking the revival of the Russian Empire, but the head of the Romanov Imperial House is opposed saying that it would add strife to the society.

Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Romanov believes “a monarch must unite people” while the establishment of such a party only leads to disintegration, Romanovs’ attorney German Lukyanov was quoted as saying by Russian news portal Lifenews.

The time for a monarchist regime in the country has not come yet and a revival of the empire is currently impossible, he said.

“No parties can help in this full-time job since a monarch can come to the throne only by the will of one’s people and God,” Lukyanov stated.

However, the head of the party, former MP Anton Bakov, stated that the Grand Duchess’ opinion will not stop the party in its desire to restore the Great Russian Empire.

If Maria Vladimirovna does not want the Romanov Dynasty to come back to power in Russia, there are other descendants and representatives of the Tsar’s family “who will surely” support us, he told Life News.

On Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Justice reported on its website that the Monarchist party was officially registered on June 25 this year.

Its chairman, 46-year-old millionaire Bakov is known for having founded a virtual state – the Russian Empire – located on a coral atoll called Suvorov near the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. According to its website,  those willing to become nationals of the state, may apply for a passport via e-mail for the price of just 1000 roubles (about $US 31).

© Russia Today. 19 July, 2012

An estimated (though unconfirmed) 40,000 Orthodox faithful took part in the 21-km pilgrimage from the Church on the Blood to Ganina Yama on the night of July 16/17, 2012.

The above video courtesy of Вести.ru offers a glimpse of the procession from this years' Tsar's Days Festival at Ekaterinburg. 

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 19 July, 2012

In the next few weeks I will be adding a new section to my web site, Royal Russia that will be dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty in 2013.

This new section will include news and other information about the festivities, exhibitions and other events planned in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and other cities across Russia, plus any events planned for other cities and countries.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 18 July, 2012

The Holy Royal Martyrs were commemorated at Tsarskoye Selo today, in services at both the Alexander Palace and the nearby Feodorovsky Cathedral.

A prayer service was held in the Semi-Circular Hall of the Alexander Palace. It was through the doors of this room of the palace that the Imperial Family left the palace for the last time on August 1, 1917.

In the nearby Feodorovsky Cathedral a night liturgy was held in memory of the Holy Royal Martyrs. The service was led by Bishop Markell of the Peterhof Cathedral. The liturgy has been held every year since 2000 and is attended by hundreds of Orthodox faithful who live in Pushkin and the surrounding towns and villages.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 17 July, 2012

The bells of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg will be restored by the end of this year, says the Deputy Director of Operations Boris Pokrovsky.

The bells were cast in 1845-1846, according to the drawings by Auguste Montferrand. They were dismantled during the Soviet regime in 1931.

Nine new bells will be cast with work expected to be completed in November to late December. Once completed, the bells will then hoisted and installed in their original locations. The largest of the bells will be installed in the south-west bell tower.

Pokrovsky announced that the bells will ring out during major religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter.

In 1818, Emperor Alexander I commissioned Auguste Montferrand to build St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Construction lasted 40 years and was completed in 1858, three years after the death of Emperor Nicholas I.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 16 July, 2012

 

Part of a 19th Century banquet service that once belonged to Emperor Alexander III of Russia—is set to come under the hammer at West Midlands’ auction house Cuttlestones on Friday 14th September 2012.

All matching, the twelve pieces comprise six soup bowls and six plates that were made at, and carry the marks of, the Imperial Porcelain factory in St Petersburg. The delicate design combines scalloped edges with gilt decoration; each piece emblazoned with the cipher of Alexander III beneath the Imperial crown. In exceptional condition, carrying no cracks or chips and with just minor rubbing to the gilt, these are a very special find – as Adrian Simmons, specialist ceramics valuer at Cuttlestones, explains:

“These are an unusual offering of pre-revolutionary Russian porcelain, and have a cast iron Royal connection. It is very rare for matching groups to come onto the market, normally just odd ones and pairs appear.

© Cuttlestones. 16 July, 2012