V. E. Iakobidze interviews HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna in the February edition of the Russian newspaper Dobryeliudi [Kind People].

||| Click Here to Read the Interview With HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna |||

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 11 March, 2013

HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna with Zurab Tsereteli (right) 

HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna has been made an Honourary Member of the Academy of Arts. The award was presented to HIH by Zurab Tsereteli, President of the Academy of Arts in Moscow.

"My parents would be very happy," she said, putting on the traditional hat and mantle of an academician.

In turn, Tsereteli was granted the Imperial Order of St. Anne, Ist Class by HIH. The Grand Duchess Maria had signed the edict for the award in 2009, but was waiting for the right time to present him with the award.

The exchange of honours and awards took place in a symbolic place--set against the backdrop of Night at the Ipatiev House, a sculptural composition dedicated to the last Russian emperor, Nicholas II and his family.

||| Click Here to Learn More About Night at the Ipatiev House by Tsereteli |||

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 07 March, 2013

HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House attended a Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Dormition on Wednesday.

The Liturgy was performed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus, Kirill to mark the 400th anniversary of the election of the first Romanov tsar, Mikhail Feodorovich on March 6th [O.S. February 21st] 1613.

During the Liturgy His Holiness offered prayers "for the repose of souls of the departed servants of God, blessed memory of the rulers of the Holy Rus, the faithful princes and princesses, tsars and tsarinas, and all the power of the former, who had custody of the Immaculate faith and diligence, in the faith of the Christian law governs the Russian empire." The Liturgy also included the names of the emperors and empresses of the Romanov dynasty and proclaimed the health of the current Head of the Russian Imperial House, HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna.

At the end of the liturgy a short service of intercession was said for the Royal Passion Bearers - Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra and the royal children of Alexis, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia.

The Cathedral of the Dormition (also knowsn as the Assumption or Uspenski Cathedral) is located in the Moscow Kremlin. Russian monarchs were crowned here from 1587 to the last coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in 1896.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by a procession to the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, which is the final resting place of Russia's rulers, including the Romanov dynasty.

The procession to the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael was accompanied by ‘the solemn ringing of bells’, a peal used for processions. After the short memorial service in the Cathedral a triumphal royal peal of bells was performed - revived by the bell-ringers of the Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the basis of the peal of bells in the coronation scene in Musorgsky’s opera ‘Boris Godunov’. It was performed on the bells of the first, second and third stages of the bell-tower of Ivan the Great, using the ‘Reut’ bell, which hangs in the Dormition belfry. The ‘Reut’ is the oldest 1000-pood (over 16 tons) Russian bell, and was cast in 1622 by the master-founder Andrei Chokhov. The inscription on the bell mentions Tsar Michael Feodorovich Romanov and his father, Patriarch Philaret Nikitich Romanov.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 07 March, 2013

On November 10th, I reported on HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna's official visit to Ingushetia.

A 48-minute video has been prepared which documents the highlights of HIH's five-day visit to the region, including meetings with Ingush leader Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.

The text and narration of the video are in Russian, however, the visuals are both stunning and inspiring.

During her official visit to Ingushetia, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and members of the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House, along with the President of the Republic of Ingushetia, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, came to the Monument of Memory and Glory of Ingushetia in the city of Nazran. The Grand Duchess and other members of her delegation placed flowers at the Eternal Flame at the Monument Complex to the victims of political repression, and at the memorials to the Ingush Regiment of the Native (Savage) Division, and to the last defender of the Fortress of Brest, Lieutenant U. Barkhanoev.

Her Imperial Highness’s special interest in this historical complex stems from the fact that, as is well known, the sculpture of the horsemen of the Savage Division at this site includes a depiction of Grand Duchess Maria’s kinsman, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich. We recall that in the years of the First World War, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich commanded the Savage Division, which was made up of volunteers from across the Caucuses. “It is very touching that the Ingush people have not forgotten the members of my family, who loved and respected them. Thank very much for preserving this memory,” the Grand Duchess said.

Then the distinguished guests were invited to tour the entire Memorial Complex, where there is located a museum of the victims of the forced deportation of the Ingush people in 1944. The Head of the Imperial House explored the exhibits in the museum and inscribed the following message in the visitor book: “The greatest possible honor is due a people who, even while remembering the bitterest pages of its history, nonetheless keep looking forward toward their future.”

At the Memorial of Memory and Glory of Ingushetia, Her Imperial Highness presided over a review of the Honor Guard of the Southern Military District and of cadets of the Mountain Cadet Corps.

In a speech delivered at that time, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov noted the enormous significance of the visit of Grand Duchess Maria of Russia for the Republic of Ingushetia, and emphasized the fact that the Ingush people have always faithfully served Russia. “This monument—is a tribute to one of the most glorious members of the Imperial family. Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich had a special love for his Ingush regiment, for the Ingush cavalry, which distinguished itself with its unmatched courage and remained true to their oaths they had made to the Fatherland, unto the very end,” the President of Ingushetia said.

In her response, the Head of the Russian Imperial House of Romanoff said: “I am deeply grateful to the President of the Republic of Ingushetia for his invitation to come to this incredible territory, which, after so many, many years, retains the memory of the Imperial family. It is wonderful to see this monument, which depicts not only our relative, but shows him to be surrounded by his true brothers. The pathway now is open for me to return here many times in the future. From the bottom of my heart, I wish for every blessing on the Ingush people. Thank you for your warmth and your hospitality.”

The official part of the event ended with the Grand Duchess being presented with a miniature version of the Monument to the Savage Division, with an inscription plate noting the Imperial Visit to Ingushetia.

||| Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna Visits Ingushetia - Click Here for More Information |||

© Russian Imperial House. 18 December, 2012

HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna is greeted at the Church of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in the Ural city of Zlatoust 

On November 16th, HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna visited the Ural city of Zlatoust. It is the latest stop on her 3-day official visit to the Chelyabinsk region.

The Head of the Russian Imperial House visited the local history museum where they will host an exhibition marking the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 2013.

Grand Duchess Maria remarked: "I really liked Zlatoust, it was good to see that the people remember the history of their country and of my family, and thus supporting the link between past and present."

From there HIH made a short visit to the Church of Saint Seraphim of Sarov to attend a prayer service. She then visited the patriarchal workshops where she was shown samples of of church plate, which the Zlatoust masters make for many of the larger churches across Russia.

Situated 160 km (99 miles) west of Chelyabinsk, the city was documented by Sergei Produkin-Gorsky in 1910. The photographer had been outfitted with a specially equipped railway car darkroom provided by Emperor Nicholas II in which he documented the Russian Empire in colour photographs between 1909 through 1915.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 17 November, 2012

Governor Mikhail Yurevich welcomes HIH Grand Duchess Maria to Chelyabinsk  

HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House has arrived in the Ural city of Chelyabinsk, which is situated about 210 km (130 miles) south of Ekaterinburg.

Today, HIH met privately with Mikhail Yurevich, Governor of the Chelyabinsk region, who informed the Grand Duchess that the region had received three August visitors before the Revolution: Emperor Alexander I in 1824, Grand Duke and Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolayevich (the future Emperor Alexander II) in 1838, and Emperor Nicholas II in 1904. The Governor noted the importance of HIH's visit to the region, noting: "We are very pleased that the Chelyabinsk region has been visited by the Head of the Russian Imperial House."

HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna visits the regional museum in Chelyabinsk 

After her meeting, the Grand Duchess went on a walking tour of the city, which included pre-Revolutionary mansions, and the local regional museum. Later she held a conference on the history of the Romanov dynasty for students at the South Ural State University.

During her stay, HIH will attend the premiere performance of Glinka's Life for the Tsar at the local opera and ballet theatre.

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 15 November, 2012

A.N. Zakatov, HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill 

On November 6th, a meeting took place between Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill and HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladmirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House. The meeting took place at the patriarchal residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Synodal Department for the Cooperation of Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin; Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Abbot Philaret (Bulekov); and Director of HIH Chancellery, A.N. Zakatov.

His Holiness addressed his guests with words of welcome and spoke about National Unity Day. His Holiness said that the establishment of the festival in 2005 dedicated to the liberation of Moscow and all Russia from foreign invaders, is now widely celebrated across Russia. He went on to say that the event acquired a special significance this year noting the events towards the end of the Time of Troubles 400 years ago.

His Holiness further highlighted the role of the Church in Russian society, and the challenges faced by people of faith in the modern world.

In conclusion, HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna presented Patriarch Kirill with the Order of Saint Andrew - the highest order of the Russian Imperial House. Expressing her gratitude to His Holiness, she said that the award  "symbolized the close relationship shared between the Imperial family and the Russian Orthodox Church, of our oneness of mind, a joint understanding of the many challenges which face the Fatherland, and the many problems that exist in today's society."

© Paul Gilbert. 09 November, 2012

HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, Head of the Russian Imperial House has been voted "Person of the Year" by the Russian Biographical Institute in Moscow.

The advisory board announced the decision on November 1st, awarding the Head of the Russian Imperial House in the "Great Russia" category, for her "selfless work in the field of culture, education, philanthropy, and in connection with the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 2013."

The national "Person of the Year" award was founded in 1993 by the Russian Biographical Institute, whose main task has been the study of Russian society through the prism of its most prominent representatives. The prize is awarded to worthy citizens of the Russian Federation, and in some cases from other countries. The prize is awarded for outstanding achievement, and contribution to the development in Russia in the areas of religion, politics, economics, education,  science, culture, medicine, sports, etc.

The prize will be awarded on November 7th, at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. 

© Paul Gilbert @ Royal Russia. 02 November, 2012

The Russian Imperial Union Order (RIUO) has prepared a video of the visit of HIH the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna's visit to the United States in 2010.

© Russian Imperial Union Order. 16 December, 2011