Nicholas & Alexandra Monument to be Unveiled in St. Petersburg Topic: 400th Anniversary
Final preparations are being made today for the unveiling of a new monument to Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in St. Petersburg tomorrow. The unveiling ceremony of the monument will take place in the courtyard of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ on Sunday, May 12th at 13:00. The church is situated along the Obvodny Canal near the Warsaw Railway Station.
The statue of Nicholas and Alexandra is carefully lifted into place on top of its pedestal in the courtyard of the church.
The unveiling of the monument marks the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and the 120th anniversary of the wedding of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, who were married in 1894. It is important to note that this is only the second monument to the last Russian empress, the other being at Ganina Yama. The construction of the monument was paid for by donations raised by members of the church.
Posted by Paul Gilbert
at 8:44 AM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 11 May 2013 9:06 AM EDT
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Friday, 10 May 2013
Russian National Library Launches Romanov Database Online Topic: 400th Anniversary
In honour of the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, the Russian National Library has launched a comprehensive online database on the House of Romanov. Note: this database is only available in Russian.
The House of Romanov 1613-1917 offers the most up-to-date online database consisting of genealogical information, references, online resources, and links to specific articles and other web site specializing in the study of the Romanov dynasty.
The personal pages of this online handbook include the names and titles of each member of the Imperial family dating from 1613-1917. Genealogical information includes date of birth and death, place of birth, death and burial. Russian monarchs also include dates of accession to the throne and coronation. All dates are noted in the Old (Julian) and New (Gregorian) style calendars. Family information: names of parents, spouses and children. Also included are references to military and civil service, as well as any changes in title. Each member of the Romanov family is highlighted with a photograph or image.
The personal bibliography includes major monographic research and publication sources, and the latest articles published in journals, etc. Such publications which offer electronic versions are supplied with a link.
The electronic resources section provides links to web sites, forums and articles available in the electronic media. I am pleased to note that Royal Russia is included in this section of the database, and one of the few foreign sources cited.
Posted by Paul Gilbert
at 6:08 AM EDT
Updated: Monday, 13 May 2013 3:21 PM EDT
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Wednesday, 24 April 2013
The Romanov Dynasty and Kolomenskoye Topic: 400th Anniversary
The golden age of Kolomenskoye, which was known as Grand Princes’ and later, Tsars’ residence from the XIV century onward, came with the ascension of the Romanov family to the Russian throne. In many respects the residence retained its role as a second Kremlin until the capital was moved to Saint Petersburg.
Rare graphic representations of palaces built in Kolomenskoye for Romanov Tsars in XVII – XIX centuries, unique authentic items from the palaces, valuable art pieces, portraits of the Tsars and their contemporaries will altogether speak about the history of the royal family and the ancient residence.
The exhibition runs until June 9th, 2013 in the Sitny Yard at Kolomenskoye.
Posted by Paul Gilbert
at 12:15 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 23 April 2013 4:31 PM EDT
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Monday, 22 April 2013
The Romanovs and Russia Film Week Topic: 400th Anniversary
The State Russian Film Fund, with the assistance of the Office of HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna will present The Romanovs andRussia Film Week at the Illusion Cinema in Moscow from April 19th - 25th, 2013.
The grand opening of the film events was held on April 19th at the State Film Archives theater with masters of Russian cinema in attendance.
In the lobby of the cinema is an exhibition dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the reign of the Romanov dynasty.During the Film Week viewers will have the opportunity to see more than 15 feature and documentary films made in different periods of the last century, and the modern interpretation of the events of the past through the eyes of filmmakers of the century. On the first night film expert E.M. Barykina addressed the attendees on the catalog of films dedicated to Russian rulers of the Rurik and Romanov dynasties.This year's catalog was reissued in an expanded form by Gosfilmofonda Russia.
The Romanovs and Russia Film Week will end on April 25th with a screening of the award willing film Russian Ark by Alexander Sokurov.
A portrait of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna entitled The Nun by the Russian artist Mitrofanov
An exhibition dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty has opened at the Orel Regional Museum in the Russian city of Orel which is situated approximately 360 km (220 miles) southwest of Moscow.
According to museum director Andrew Minakova, the uniqueness of the exhibition is that is it presents items stored in the collections of various institutions for the first time - museums, archives and libraries. On display are portraits of the Romanov monarchs and their families, lithographs, paintings, medallions and rare photos and prints, albums and magazines, and a coronation album.
Of particular interest are the original autographs of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, who owned land in the region, and the Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, known in the literature as the poet KR.
In addition, a portrait of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna entitled The Nun, by the Russian artist Mitrofanov. The portrait comes from the collection of the Turgenev Museum and the current Romanov exhibit marks the first time that the portrait has been put on public display.
Posted by Paul Gilbert
at 4:28 PM EDT
Updated: Wednesday, 17 April 2013 5:17 PM EDT
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Saturday, 6 April 2013
The 400th Anniversary of the Romanovs Exhibition - Engineers Castle Topic: 400th Anniversary
This exhibition is dedicated to the significant event of the Russian history - the anniversary of the election of Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov as tsar, who was a founder of the new dynasty.
The last time that the anniversary of this historic event was marked was celebrated as a State holiday in 1913. After the October Revolution the significant event, that ended the epoch of the so-called Time of Troubles, as a rule, had been distorted or forgotten.
In 2013 the anniversary of the House of Romanov would once again be celebrated as a significant event in Russian history. The exposition includes about 150 paintings, sculptures, graphic works, applied arts works and coins from the collection of the Russian Museum's collection in St. Petersburg that are connected with the theme of the foundation of the new dynasty.
Among these works are the monumental canvas The Election of Mikhail Romanov as Tsar (1799)that was created by G.Ugryumov for the St. Michael's Castle; graphic works devoted to this event; paintings and sculpture portraits of members of Emperor's family by L.Karavak, G.Odolsky, F.Shubin, S.Torelli, S.Shchukin, G.Dow, M.Antokolsky and other artists of the 18th - beginning of 20th centuries.
Also on display at the exhibition is a working on-line catalogue which allows visitors an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the Album of Drawings, created by the artists during the Sacred Coronation in 1896.
The exhibition runs until July 15th, 2013 at the Engineers Castle (St. Michael's Castle) in St. Petersburg.
Photo: Portrait of Tsesarevich Alexei (1911) by Sergei Yegornov
Prominent historians from all over the world have gathered in Moscow to discuss the history of the Romanov dynasty, which marks its 400th anniversary this year. The conference aims to break stereotypes, reconsider perceptions, and root out "unprofessional" ways of looking at history.
Voice of Russia's Anastasia Fedorova reports from Moscow.
The historians met at the Russian State University for Humanities to discuss the legacy of the royal family.
Posted by Paul Gilbert
at 12:37 PM EDT
Updated: Thursday, 14 March 2013 1:06 PM EDT
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Friday, 8 March 2013
Quartercentenary of the House of Romanov - Exhibition Topic: 400th Anniversary
The exhibition Quartercentenary of the House of Romanov features objects drawn from various collections held by the Bakhmeteff Archive and the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University. It consists of books, correspondence, original charters, maps, photographs, posters, personal documents, ephemera, and books and other possessions that belonged to the Russian Imperial Family. The exhibition will be on display from February 14th – June 28th, 2013 in the RBML’s Kempner Gallery.
One highlight of the exhibition is the 1622 manuscript Charter of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov granting land and other privileges and rights to Onufrii, Archbishop of Astrakhan and Terek. Never shown before and unpublished, this charter is a very rare and significant document from the reign of the first Romanov tsar. Another highlight is the recently opened collection of nearly 500 letters sent by Dowager Empress Maria Fedorovna, mother of the last Russian Emperor, and her two daughters, Grand Duchess Ksenia and Ol’ga, to their close friend and companion, Princess Aleksandra Obolensky. There letters are written in French and Russian and reflect the daily life and expectations of the Imperial family in exile.
Most poignant is a white lace parasol that belonged to Aleksandra Fiodorovna (1872-1918), the last Russian Tsarina, along with a never-shown-before while lace pillow, that was also her property, preserved by one of her ladies-in-waiting, Countess Mariia Semenovna Benckendorff. Other items from the reign of the last Romanovs include a variety of elaborate menus and other ephemera relating to the coronation festivities of Nicholas and Aleksandra in 1896, a print announcing of the birth of the Tsarevich, Grand Duke Aleksei Nikolaevich, in 1904, a draft of Nicholas II’s abdication manifesto, 1917, and a volume of Nikolai Sokolov’s Preliminary Investigation into the Death of Nicholas II and His Family, Ekaeterinburg, 1918.
Posted by Paul Gilbert
at 6:30 AM EST
Updated: Friday, 8 March 2013 6:33 AM EST
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Thursday, 7 March 2013
Romanov Dynasty Marks 400 Years as Remains of Tsar's Children Are Left Unburied Topic: 400th Anniversary
This year, Russia celebrates 400 years of the Romanov dynasty, which goes back to 1613 when nobleman Mikhail Romanov was elected to rule the country. The grand celebration plans are perfectly in keeping with Russia's recent political trend of recognizing its historical roots.
Meanwhile, the remains of the last Romanov heir, Tsesarevich Alexei, and his sister, Grand Duchess Maria have still not been buried. While their remains are stored in boxes at the National Archives, the Moscow Patriarchate continues to be at the center of a scandal.
The theme of children is exceptionally popular these days. Heated debates continue over adoptions, child abuse, and the frequent kidnappings and killings of children in Russia. And there is one more notorious “child” problem there for all to see but going completely ignored: a murdered child that has not been able to rest in peace for almost 100 years now.
In 1998, the remains of Nicholas II, his wife, Alexandra, and their three daughters, discovered near Yekaterinburg, were buried in a crypt in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. It was not until nine years later that the remains of the heir and another grand duchess, Maria, were found, not far from the rest of the family. The fragments of bones, weighing only a few grams, were given over for investigation purposes until the summer of 2011, when they were handed over to the National Archives – almost discreetly, in the presence of just an investigator, the archive director and a few others.
It was stressed that the archives would store the remains only temporarily before they were to be buried next to the family in the crypt. That was 18 months ago.
“Last summer we held a special exhibition dedicated to the last years of the Romanov family and their murder,” say the staff of the Exhibition Hall at the National Archives. “We were hoping to remind the officials of the two Imperial children that are still waiting to be buried, but it didn't happen. “The people who are supposed to bring an end to this tragic story are reluctant to disturb the past. It is up to top officials to take the initiative and arrange a burial ceremony but they are keeping silent. The president and the government prefer to avoid the issue. There do not seem to be any obstacles standing in the way of arranging a proper funeral though. Russian Orthodox Church officials refuse to accept the fact that the bones belong to the Imperial family and this may in fact be the real reason behind the reluctance to put the matter to rest.
The State Russian Film Fund, with the assistance of the Office of HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna will present The Romanovs and Russia Film Week at the Illusion Cinema in Moscow from April 19th - 25th, 2013. 
