Nicholas II

The myth that Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich was Russia’s last Tsar

Posted on 29 Minutes Ago by Paul Gilbert

NOTE: this article was originally published on 6th November 2020, it has been revised and updated with additional facts and information on 16th March 2026 – PG

The question of whether Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich (1878-1918) was the last Emperor of Russia, remains a subject of debate among many historians and monarchists to this day.

A heartbeat from the throne

Mikhail Alexandrovich was the youngest son and fifth child of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, and youngest brother of Emperor Nicholas II.

At the time of his birth, his paternal grandfather Alexander II was still the reigning Emperor. Mikhail was fourth-in-line to the throne after his father and elder brothers Nicholas and George. After the assassination of his grandfather in 1881, he became third-in-line and, in 1894, after the death of his father, second-in-line. His brother George died in 1899, leaving Mikhail as heir presumptive. The birth of Nicholas’s son Alexei in 1904 moved Mikhail back to second-in-line.

In 1912, Mikhail shocked Nicholas II by marrying Natalia Sergeyevna Wulfert, a commoner and divorcee. In a series of decrees in December 1912 and January 1913, Nicholas relieved Mikhail of his command, banished him from Russia, froze all his assets in Russia, seized control of his estates and removed him from the Regency.

After the outbreak of World War I, Mikhail returned to Russia, assuming command of a cavalry regiment. When Nicholas abdicated on 15 March [O.S. 2 March] 1917, Mikhail was named as his successor instead of Alexei. Mikhail, however, deferred acceptance of the throne until ratification by an elected assembly. Nicholas was appalled that his brother had “kowtowed to the Constituent Assembly” and called the manifesto “rubbish”.

Mikhail was never confirmed as Emperor and, following the Russian Revolution of 1917, he was imprisoned and subsequently murdered by the Bolsheviks near Perm on 13 June 1918 (aged 39).

Would Mikhail have made a good Tsar?

While many of Nicholas II’s detractors insist that Russia’s last Tsar was unprepared for the throne, his brother Mikhail was even less prepared. Mikhail had no aspirations for the throne, instead he preferred the life a playboy, and his gentle disposition would have made him an easy target for manipulative ministers and generals in helping nurture their own selfish interests.

His letters to his brother the Emperor reveal a rather devious and conniving side of Mikhail. In one such letter dated 7th November 1912, Nicholas writes to his mother:

“What revolts me more than anything else is his [Mikhail] reference to poor Alexei’s [the Tsesarevich] illness which, he [Mikhail] says, made him speed things up. [Mikhail is referring to his marriage. In the event of Alexei’s death, Mikhail would have become heir to the throne]. And then the disappointment and sorrow it brings to you and all of us and the scandal of it all over Russia mean absolutely nothing to him! At a time, too, when everyone is expecting war, and when the tercentenary of the Romanovs is due in a few months! I am ashamed and deeply grieved.”

Many believe that Mikhail’s ascension to the throne would have ushered in a constitutional monarchy and that this in itself would have preserved the dynasty and saved Russia. Russia, however, was not prepared for a constitutional monarchy, nor would it have preserved the dynasty nor would it have saved Russia. A constitutional monarchy would not have appeased the socialists and revolutionaries, and most certainly driven the radical elements such as the Bolsheviks to extreme measures. It has been argued that Russia should have adopted a European style monarchy. There is little similarity. Holy Russia did not need to adopt a Western style monarchy. For centuries Russia had been led by mystic forces. Monarchy was the social system that fit Russia best.

Opposition to Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich

Just after midnight on 3rd March 1917, Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich (1869-1918) and several officers were assembled in the room of the officer on duty, next to the telegraph office, at the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Mogilev. They smoked incessantly as they awaited news. At 1:30 in the morning, the nervous atmosphere of the room was punctured by the arrival of a fateful telegram, which read “The Sovereign Emperor then signed the act of abdication from the throne to be transferred to Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich

The officers reeled. Grand Duke Serge shouted: “Why on earth, Mikhail? This is such a joke!” He collapsed on the sofa, exclaiming: “This is the end!” Frantic questions swirled among those present. Wast the succession even legal? Could Mikhail, who preferred to remain in the shadows, even secure the people’s respect?

The legality of Nicholas II’s act of abdication

Some historians further argue that Nicholas II’s act of abdication on 15 March 1917 (O.S. 2 March) 1917 was invalid for two reasons: one, because it was signed in pencil, violating all the necessary legal and procedural methods and format, and thus had no legal force; and two, because the instrument of abdication was never officially published by the Imperial Senate.

In his scholarly book ‘Russia 1917. The February Revolution,’ historian George Katkov, throws yet another interesting coal into the fire:

“ . . . when the Tsar abdicated, and later on behalf of his son, he was accused of having done so in contravention of the law of succession and with the aim of introducing a legal flaw into the instrument of abdication that would later allow him to declare it invalid.”

If this is true, it was a very clever move on the part of Nicholas II, not realizing the terrible fate which awaited him and his family 15 months later in Ekaterinburg.

Grand Duke Mikhail was not “Tsar for a day”

One thing, however, is certain—Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich was NOT Russia’s last tsar! Nicholas II remained Emperor and Tsar of Russia until the day of his death and martyrdom on 17th July 1918.

As God’s Anointed, Nicholas II could not be displaced during his lifetime. Since the will of God was nowhere manifest, neither in the naming of his brother Grand Duke Mikhail to the throne, nor in the Tsar’s signing of the instrument of abdication, his status as Tsar remained inviolate and unassailable.

* * *

MISHA: GRAND DUKE MICHAEL ALEXANDROVICH
Compiled and Edited by Paul Gilbert

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO ORDER FROM AMAZON

PAPERBACK EDITION – PRICE $12.99

BOOK DESCRIPTION

This book explores the milestones in the life of Grand Duke Michael in a series of essays by four distinct authors, and complemented with 50 black and white photographs.

Paperback edition. 136 pages + 50 black & white photographs

The Abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, March 1917

Posted on 1 Day Ago by Paul Gilbert

On this day – 15th (O.S. 2nd) March 1917 – an illegal coup forced Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar to abdicate, bringing an end to more than 300 years of the Romanov dynasty, the monarchy and the Russian Empire. Upon Nicholas II’s abdication, power in Russia then passed to the Russian Provisional Government, signaling victory for the February Revolution.

It was also on this day in 1917, that the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God was revealed to a peasant woman in Kolomenskoye (near Moscow). Many believe the reappearance of the icon was an indication that the Virgin Mary was displeased with Russia for dethroning the Tsar during the February 1917 Revolution.

Emperor Nicholas II abdicated in the heartfelt belief that his abdication would save the honour of the army, prevent civil war and keep Russia in the war against Germany. Sadly, it did not. In his diary, Nicholas wrote: “I am surrounded by betrayal, cowardice, and deceit.“

The Emperor came under heavy fire of criticism, some of it coming from close relatives.But,Nicholas II’s younger sister Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960), was staunch in her defence of her brother’s difficult decision. “Not only did he want to prevent further disorders when he gave up his crown but he had no other choice.”

The French tutor to Nicholas II’s children, Pierre Gilliard, who followed the Tsar and his family into exile, recalls in his memoirs Thirteen Years at the Russian Court: “I then for the first time heard the Tsar regret his abdication.”

PHOTO: the Manifesto of the Abdication of Nicholas II – English translation, below

English translation of the Act of Abdication

“In the days of the great struggle against the foreign enemies, who for nearly three years have tried to enslave our fatherland, the Lord God has been pleased to send down on Russia a new heavy trial. Internal popular disturbances threaten to have a disastrous effect on the future conduct of this persistent war. The destiny of Russia, the honour of our heroic army, the welfare of the people and the whole future of our dear fatherland demand that the war should be brought to a victorious conclusion whatever the cost. The cruel enemy is making his last efforts, and already the hour approaches when our glorious army together with our gallant allies will crush him. In these decisive days in the life of Russia,

We thought it Our duty of conscience to facilitate for Our people the closest union possible and a consolidation of all national forces for the speedy attainment of victory. In agreement with the Imperial Duma We have thought it well to renounce the Throne of the Russian Empire and to lay down the supreme power. As We do not wish to part from Our beloved son, We transmit the succession to Our brother, the Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, and give Him Our blessing to mount the Throne of the Russian Empire. We direct Our brother to conduct the affairs of the nation with the representatives of the people in the legislative bodies on those principles which will be established by them, and on which He will take an inviolable oath. In the name of Our dearly beloved homeland, We call on Our faithful sons of the fatherland to fulfill their sacred duty to the fatherland, to obey the Tsar in the heavy moment of national trials, and to help Him, together with the representatives of the people, to guide the Russian Empire on the road to victory, welfare, and glory. May the Lord God help Russia!” Nikolai

VIDEO: ‘The Conspiracy Against Nicholas II’, written and narrated by Paul Gilbert.
Duration: 7 minutes, 36 seconds. CLICK on the image above to watch this video

Shrouded in controversy, myths and lies

More than a century after this tragic event, the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II continues to be the subject of debate among many historians.

Some historians argue that the act of abdication was invalid for two reasons: one, because it was signed in pencil, violating all the necessary legal and procedural methods and format, and thus had no legal force; and two, because the instrument of abdication was never officially published by the Imperial Senate.

Another Russian historian further adds that “the Tsar’s signing of the instrument of abdication, his status as Tsar remained inviolate and unassailable”.

Further, in his scholarly book ‘Russia 1917. The February Revolution,’ the Russian-born historian George Mikhailovich Katkov (1903-1985), throws yet another coal into the fire:

“ . . . when the Tsar abdicated, and later on behalf of his son, he was accused of having done so in contravention of the Law of Succession and with the aim of introducing a legal flaw into the instrument of abdication that would later allow him to declare it invalid.”

If this is true, it was a very clever move on the part of Nicholas II, not realizing the terrible fate which awaited him and his family 15 months later in Ekaterinburg.

Faithful to the end: three generals who remained loyal to Nicholas II

In addition, historians have also led us to believe that Nicholas II was betrayed by all of his generals in the days leading up to his abdication.

This is incorrect.

Few people realize that when Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917, three generals remained faithful to their oath to the Emperor: Nikolai Iudovich Ivanov (1851-1919), Fyodor Arturovich Keller (1857-1918), and Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski (1863-1919).

The generals sent telegrams to the Tsar at Mogliev expressing their loyalty to Nicholas II, offering their troops to defend the monarchy. The telegrams never reached the Sovereign, having been intercepted by traitors and supporters of the Provisional Government.

Source: “They did not betray their oath” – the fate of the generals who remained loyal to Nicholas II + PHOTOS

in 1997, a memorial plaque pictured above) was installed at the entranve of the railway station in Pskov. The translation of the text reads: “On March 2 (15), 1917, at 3:05 p.m., in the saloon car of the Tsar’s train at the Pskov station, Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne of the Russian State”.

FURTHER READING:

The Tsar’s Chapel in Pskov, in memory of the Tsar’s abdication + PHOTOS

Nicholas II’s stop at Dno, one day before his abdication in 1917

Last church where Nicholas II prayed before his abdication will be restored

15th March: Reigning Icon of the Mother of God Revealed

Posted on 1 Day Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: the original Reigning Icon of the Mother of God in
the Church of Our Lady of Kazan, Kolomenskoye (near Moscow)

NOTE: this article was originally posted on 15th March 2019. It was updated
with additional information and photos on 15th March 2026 – PG

***

On 15th (O. S. 2nd) March 1917, Emperor Nicholas II abdicated from the throne. That same day, the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God was revealed to a peasant woman in Kolomenskoye. Many believe the reappearance of the icon was an indication that the Virgin Mary was displeased with Russia for dethroning Nicholas II during the February 1917 Revolution.

The Reigning Icon of the Mother of God is believed to date from the 18th century. It is considered one of the most revered icons both inside Russia and in Russian emigre circles.

The icon was originally venerated in the Ascension Convent, in the Chertolye neighborhood near the Moscow Kremlin. In 1812, as Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grande Armée approached Moscow during the French invasion of Russia, the icon was taken to the village church in Kolomenskoye for safekeeping and subsequently forgotten until 1917.

At the end of the February Revolution of 1917, on 15 March (O.S. 2 March) 1917, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated the throne. That same day, Evdokia Adrianova, a peasant woman in the village of Pererva in Moscow Province, dreamed that the Blessed Virgin appeared and spoke to her. She was instructed to travel to the village of Kolomenskoye, where she would find an old icon which, “will change colour from black to red.”

PHOTO: the Church of Our Lady of Kazan in Kolomenskoye (nearMoscow)

Upon her arrival, the parish priest Father Nikolai Likhachev (1865-1893) took Evdokia at her word and together they searched until they found, in an old storage room located in the basement, an icon covered with candle soot. When they took the icon outdoors, the sunlight revealed that the Mother of God was wearing the scarlet robes of a monarch. She also wore the Imperial crown and held a sceptre and orb — the symbols of Imperial power.

Since all this took place on the same day as the Tsar’s abdication from the throne, the appearance of the icon was immediately thought to be connected with that event. What is more, the priest was given to understand that the Crown that had fallen from the head of the Tsar had been taken up by the Theotokos, the Mother of God: henceforth, She would be the reigning Tsarina of the Russian State. Thus the icon was named the ‘Reigning’ icon and became widely revered among the Russian people.

The discovery of the miraculous appearance of the Reigning Icon spread instantly, and crowds of pilgrims began to flock to the Church of Our Lady of Kazan, Kolomenskoye (near Moscow) to venerate it.

PHOTO: The original Reigning Icon of the Mother of God in
the Church of Our Lady of Kazan, Kolomenskoye (near Moscow)

Russian monarchists believe the reappearance of the icon was an indication that the Virgin Mary was displeased with Russia for dethroning Tsar Nicholas II during the February 1917 Revolution. They believe that She will hold the Imperial Crown for safekeeping until the House of Romanov is restored.

After the revolution, efforts were made to protect and preserve the icon. It was transported from one place to another. She visited the Marfo-Mariinsky [Martha and Mary] Convent – founded by the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (1864-1918) – in Moscow, where she was greeted with great honours. Later, in Soviet times, the icon was kept in the vaults of the State Historical Museum in Moscow.

On 27th July 1990, the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God was returned to the Church of Our Lady of Kazan in Kolomenskoye. Today, anyone can come to Moscow, to the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve, and pray before the miraculous image.

PHOTO: A copy of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God
is carried in a cross procession held in Moscow

After the reunification of the Moscow Patrichate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) in August 2007, the icon was taken to Russian parishes in Europe, the United States and Australia.

In modern times, Orthodox believers celebrate the day of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God on 15th March. The significance of the Reigning Icon for the Russian people is enormous: it reminds them that even when earthly power collapses, heavenly protection remains with them. The icon has become a symbol of the inflexibility of the Russian spirit and protected Russia for more than a century.

The Reigning Icon does not require a special complex prayer. You can turn to the Mother of God in your own words, the main thing is to do it from the bottom of your heart. Traditionally, an akathist to the Reigning Icon or a troparion to the feast is read before the icon. Many Orthodox Christians come to church on 15th March or 2nd March (according to the Old Style Julian Calendar). On this day that worshippers light a candle and ask for intercession. During the Great Lent (from 23rd February to 11th April 2026), prayer before the Reigning Icon acquires a special meaning. Lent is a time of purification and repentance, and turning to the Mother of God helps to strengthen the spirit and walk this path with dignity.

PHOTO: a contemporary Russian icon depicting the Holy Royal
Passion-Bearers standing under the image of the Mother of God

During the service held on the eve on the day of the discovery of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Evgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye diocese noted that the mystery of what happened that night at the Dno station is completely hidden from us, as well as what happened in the heart of the Tsar on the day of his abdication.

“We must warm our hearts with the Mother of God. To tell Her that Her appearance in Kolomenskoye was not in vain. It was not in vain that all those labours and prayers that She lifted up for Russia, so that Russia would be called Holy Russia and the home of the Most Holy Theotokos,” – His Eminence noted.

FURTHER READING

The Abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, March 1917 + PHOTOS and VIDEO

Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna’s Archive Donated to GARF

Posted on 7 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: photos of Grand Duchess Xenia and her family
are among the archive donated to GARF

NOTE: the following article was originally published in Royal Russia No. 13, Winter 2017, and updated with additional information and photos on 3rd March 2026. While this article is dated, I believe that it is still relevant and will be of interest to my readership – PG

On 6th December 2017, a portion of the archives of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (1875-1960), the eldest daughter of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, was presented to the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF) in Moscow. The gift was presented to GARF by the Chairman of the St Basil the Great Charitable Foundation Konstantin Malofeev, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the media group Tsargrad.

The archives of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna was purchased five years ago at an auction in London. It consists of 95 documents, which include five diaries, family photos unknown to Russian archivists, and in a separate canvas bag decorated with a satin ribbon, 25 letters from Xenia’s brother Grand Duke George Alexandrovich to their mother Empress Maria Feodorovna.

Especially valuable, are her diary entries of 1914-1919, in which she details the events of the First World War, the collapse of the monarchy and the Russian Revolution. “These documents allow us to see a crucial and very complicated period in the history of our country through the eyes of a representative of the imperial family,”- said the head of the Federal Archival Agency Andrey Artizov, who took part in the ceremony. “I want to emphasize that the archives of the Grand Duchess have not been studied and are almost unknown to both historians and the general public, so its future publication will be of particular interest” – he added.

PHOTO: In happier times, Emperor Nicholas II and his siblings from left to right: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, Emperor Nicholas II and Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna. Year and location unknown

After the revolution, in 1919, the Grand Duchess along with her mother – the widowed Empress Maria Feodorovna, her family and relatives, left Russia forever. In exile Xenia Alexandrovna lived first in Denmark, and then moved to the UK, where she died on 20th April 1960, at Wilderness House, situated on the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames England.

The State Archive of the Russian Federation currently have in their collection 44 notebooks with Xenia’s diary entries dating from 1884 to June 1914. The five additional diaries, which refer to 1914-1919 now complete the collection, and are of immense historical importance. The last entry was made on the day which Xenia departed Crimea with her mother Maria Feodorovna and family. Her last tragic record of 1919 reads: “We are leaving Russia!”.

Konstantin Malofeev, the entrepreneur and founder of the St Basil the Great Charitable Foundation, said: “The main task of our organization is historical enlightenment, the cleansing of Russian history from slander and distortion. This can not be achieved without painstaking work with historical sources. Hence our close attention to various archival documents and the desire that they be accessible to the broad scientific community. After all, thorough study of sources and their publication is a necessary step towards establishing historical truth.”

PHOTO: one of five diaries of Grand Duchess Xenia donated to GARF

The acquisition of the archives was made in 2012, in London. “After we contacted the owners,” Konstantin Malofeev said, “and they found out that we are from Russia and are going to return this archive home, they removed the archive from the auction and we agreed to buy it separately.”

The Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna’s archive is part of a large project carried out by the Society St Basil the Great Charitable Foundation, to return to the people the knowledge of life in Russia before 1917.

FURTHER READING

The jewel albums of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna + PHOTOS

Anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov, 1913

Posted on 9 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: Postcard in honoir of the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov

NOTE: the date of 6th March 1913 is the day of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary according to the New Style Gregorian calendar, which is now 13 days ahead of the Old Style Julian calendar, used in Russia during the reign of Russia’s last Tsar. Therefore, the date of 21st February (O.S.) is in fact 6th March (New Style – PG

On 6th March (O.S. 21st February) 1913, the grandiose celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov began in St. Petersburg. It was on this day in 1613, that a Zemsky Sobor; elected Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov (1596-1645) as Tsar, establishing the House of Romanov.

The day of the “solemn celebration marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov” approved by the “Ceremonial” was 21st February) 1913, [according to the Old Style Julian calendar]. The “Ceremonial” provided that “solemn liturgies will be celebrated in all cathedrals and churches of the Russian Empire, followed by thanksgiving prayers with the intonation of “Many Years to Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich <… >and to the entire reigning house”. The document also described the procedure for the celebration of solemn services and the arrival of the Emperor and his family in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, as well as the offering of congratulations to Their Imperial Majesties and other events in St. Petersburg.

In addition, the Emperor ordered a pannikhida [memorial service for the dead] be served in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg on the eve of the day of celebration, on Wednesday, 20th February.

By a resolution of 4th February 1913, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decreed that Divine Liturgies be performed on 21st February, in all the cathedrals and churches of the empire.

On 13th February 1913, Emperor Nicholas II approved the resolution of the Council of Ministers “on declaring 21st February, 1913 [according to the Old Style Julian calendar] a holiday for all citizens of the Russian Empire. February 21st 1913 fell on the on the eve of Great Lent.

A special role in the upcoming celebrations was assigned to Moscow and Kostroma, from which Mikhail Romanov was called to the throne in 1613^. In general, the celebrations took place throughout the Russian Empire. Three years before the upcoming celebrations, the “Committee for the Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Reigning House of Romanov was formed, and Aleksandr Grigoryevich Bulygin (1851-1919) was appointed its chairman.

As part of the preparations for the 300th anniversary, a number of charitable events throughout the Russian Empire were initiated by Nicholas II. Financial resources were allocated for the care of children, and assistance to advanced farmers.

PHOTO: Procession headed by Emperor Nicholas II and his family arrive in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan on the day of the beginning of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, on 6th March (O.S. 21st February), 1913

PHOTO: Preparations for a ‘Te Deum’ in honour of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, St. Petersburg on 6th March (O.S. 21st February) 1913.

Preparations for the 300th anniversary

Preparations for the celebration began three years before the celebration. The “Committee for the Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Reigning House of Romanov” was formed, the chairman of which was appointed Aleksandr Grigoryevich Bulygin, a member of the State Council and Hofmeister of the Imperial Court. The newly formed committee proposed to Nicholas II to promulgate the “Imperial Manifesto” on the occasion of the anniversary, which, among other things, read:

“<… > Through the combined efforts of our crowned predecessors on the Russian throne and all the faithful sons of Russia, the Russian state was created and strengthened <… > In unfailing unity with our beloved people, we hope to continue to lead the state along the path of peaceful organization of the life of the people’s <… > The nobility of Russia sealed with their blood their devotion to the Motherland <… > In the radiance of glory and greatness, the image of a Russian warrior, defender of the faith, throne and fatherland… >May the reverent memory of the feats of the departed serve as a testament for generations to come, and may it unite around our throne all faithful subjects for new labours and feats for the glory and prosperity of Russia <… >». The “Highest Manifesto”, according to the “Ceremonial”, was read in all Russian churches after the Divine Liturgy, and before the solemn prayer service, on 21st February 1913.

On 5th August 1911, in the presence of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich (the august patron of the building committee), a church was laid in St. Petersburg in honour of the Feodorovskaya Icon, in memory of the 300th anniversary of the reigning house; the main side chapel of the upper church was consecrated on 15th January 1914 by Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) in the presence of Emperor Nicholas II and members of his family.

In St. Petersburg, sculptors and architects worked on a monument to the anniversary. Not far from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, a church in honour of the Romanov dynasty was being built (the Cathedral of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God), and a rotunda was being erected on St. Isaac’s Square. For the celebration, jubilee medals were issued – gold, silver, dark bronze and light bronze – these medals were produced by the Mint in St. Petersburg. In addition, commemorative coins, stamps, postcards, Fabergé eggs, and even household items such as glasses, tablecloths, headscarves and brooches were issued. Thousands of workers were involved in the construction of stalls and kiosks, as well as the installation of masts for standards, banners, and the decoration of buildings.

On the eve of the day of celebration, 20th February 1913, at three o’clock in the afternoon, Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch (who was invited to Russia for the celebrations), along with Metropolitan Dimitrije of Belgrade and other hierarchs, performed a pannikhida in the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in the presence of Their Majesties.

PHOTO: a host of Russian and foreign hierarchs took part in the the solemn liturgy in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral, situated on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg

PHOTO: Kazan Cathedral House, situated on Nevsky Prospect, 25. The two-storey building served as the residence of the clergy of Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral Photo by Karl Bulla. 1913.

Events in St. Petersburg, on 21st February 1913

On 21st February 1913, at 8 a.m., twenty-one cannon shots from the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, signaled the beginning of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty began in the Russian Empire.

The Imperial Family travelled from the Winter Palace in a grand procession of carriages and horses to Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky Prospekt, to take part in a prayer service. The route to the Kazan Cathedral was lined with regimental troops and cadets of military educational institutions. Tens of thousands of people crammed the route, all hoping to get a glimpse of the Tsar and his family.

Emperor Nicholas II and his son, the heir to the throne Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich travelled in an open carriage together. They were followed by the four-horse ceremonial carriage of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, followed by a four-seater carriage with the the Tsar’s daughters: Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna. The “Imperial convoy” consisted of 100 members of the Imperial Family, which included grand dukes, grand duchesses and princes and princesses of the Imperial Blood.

At the entrance to the cathedral, the Emperor and his family were met by Patriarch Gregory and Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of St. Petersburg and Ladoga.

At 11 a.m., the solemn liturgy in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral was led by Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch, co-served by a host of Russian and foreign hierarchs.

Inside the cathedral, the protodeacon read the manifesto of the jubilee before the moleben [a liturgical service of supplication or thanksgiving]; the service of the prayer service was led by the Antiochian Patriarch Gregory IV, who read the Gospel in Arabic. The protodeacon then proclaimed “Many Years to Their Imperial Majesties” and to the entire reigning house. The troops outside the cathedral saluted; began the solemn trezvon [bell ringing] of all the churches of St. Petersburg. Cross Processions from many city churches arrived at the cathedral), followed bya salute from the cannons of the St. Petersburg fortress.

Recall that Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg served as the court church for the House of Romanov and was dedicated to the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan. which was the most important icon in the Russian Orthodox Church, for it protected Russia and consequently the Romanov dynasty. When the Kazan Cathedral was built, it inherited both the icon and the role of the court church. Imperial family weddings and thanksgiving prayers were all held in the cathedral.

When in St. Petersburg, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna went to the Kazan Cathedral to pray, kneeling in the shadow of a pillar, unrecognized by anyone and attended by a single lady-in-waiting.

PHOTO: Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and his father Tsar Nicholas II, passing the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan in St. Petersburg, during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 1913.

PHOTO: tens of thousands of people lined Nevsky Prospekt on the day marking the 300th anniversary, with the hope of catching a glimpse of their Emperor and his family, on their way to Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral

Tercentenary Tour

Three months later, in May, the Imperial Family went on a pilgrimage, following the route of Mikhail I after his election as the first Romanov Tsar in 1613. Nicholas II and his family set off to visit the ancient towns of Muscovy associated with the founding of the Romanov dynasty. The tour started off in Kostroma, where they arrived in a ‘flotilla of steamboats’ on the Volga, greeted by a large crowd of townspeople. Here Nicholas visited the Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail had sought refuge from the invading Poles and the Muscovite civil wars. From there, the tour went to Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod and Yaroslavl, by rail on the Imperial Train. During their visit to the monastery town of Suzdal, the Imperial Family had to travel in thirty open-top Renaults, as there were no railways.

The pilgrimage ‘climaxed’ when the imperial family triumphantly arrived in the historical capital Moscow, site of the crowning of the first Romanov ruler. The Tsar and his family were greeted at the Alexandrovsky train station, by a large number of dignitaries.

The Tsar mounted a white horse and rode alone, sixty feet ahead of the rest of the party and his Cossack guard escort, towards the Kremlin. All along the route, he was greeted by large cheering crowds. The decorations along Tverskaya Street, included velvet banners donning Romanov symbols spanning the boulevard, buildings covered in pennants, flags, and lights. Even more inventive than those in the capital, garlanded statues of the tsar and a showering of confetti from the people, were ‘even more magnificent than in St. Petersburg.

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II is greeted by thousands of his subjects on Red Square during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov in Moscow. Many Western historians claim that Nicholas II was not popular during his reign, however, I think that this photo says otherwise.

The Tsar dismounted in Red Square, the convergence point of the religious processions throughout the city. Rows of priests echoing chants and prayers entered the Dormition [aka Assumption] Cathedral. The young Tsesarevich Alexei was, along the rest of the family, was supposed to walk the last hundred yards, however, due to haemophilia, had to be carried by a Cossack guard to the “exclamations of sorrow” from the crowds.

This was all followed by, in the words of historian Orlando Figes, “another round of pageantry and gastronomy. The ball in the Assembly of the Moscow Nobility was particularly lavish.”

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II takes part in a solemn prayer service on Red Square in Moscow, during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, 1913.

Letters of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna donated to St. Petersburg Museum

Posted on 10 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

NOTE: the following article was originally published in Royal Russia No. 14, Summer 2018, and updated with additional information and photos on 3rd March 2026. While this article is dated, I believe that it is still relevant and will be of interest to my readership – PG

On 17th April 2018, the collection of letters written by Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960) from the family archive of Princess Nadezhda Vladimirovna Volkonskaya were presented as a gift to the All-Russian Museum of Alexander Pushkin. The solemn ceremony took place in the Concert Hall, situated on the embankment on the Moika River in St. Petersburg.

“This archive is unique – it is not known to anyone, the letters have never been published any where, nor have they ever been translated into Russian. A total of 65 letters (in French) written by Grand Duchess Olga Aleksandrovna and addressed to Madame René Brizak, from the 1920s to the 1930s, during years in exile in Denmark”, noted a museum spokesperson.

René Brizak was a prominent couturier in St. Petersburg, during the 19th to early 20th centuries. Madame Brizak’s fashion house was situated at Malaya Konyushennaya, 8, which employed 60 dressmakers. She designed dresses and gowns for members of the Imperial Family and aristocracy. Among her most prominent clients were Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her four daughters, as well as the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Many of these gowns are today in the Collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

The owner of the archive is Princess Nadezhda Vladimirovna Volkonskaya, the maternal great-granddaughter of Madame Brizak. Her great-grandmother was friends with Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, because they both spoke excellent English. “I am very happy that I am giving these letters to the All-Russian Museum of Alexander Pushkin. I planned to return them to my homeland, to Russia, for several years already. And now my soul is at peace,” said the princess.

PHOTO: one of the letters written (in French) by Grand
Duchess Olga Alexandrovna to Madame René Brizak

The correspondence of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna and Madame Brizak was of a systemic nature and came to an end due to the demise of the latter. At first glance, the letters are personal: Olga Alexandrovna describes everyday life, writes with special tenderness about her children Tikhon and Guri, her beloved husband Nikolai, shares family joys and sorrows, and worries about her friends in Russia.

However, the persons and events mentioned in them go beyond private, because they are connected with history, culture, public and political life – with the life of Russians in emigration. Among the characters of the letters are numerous relatives – members of the Russian Imperial family, Princess Margaret of Denmark, Countess Maria Vorontsova-Dashkova, King George V of Great Britain, as well as artists, musicians, literary publishers and theater figures.

From the letter of the Grand Duchess of April 1920: “In the end, we had to leave our homeland. We absolutely could not live there anymore. But it was very painful to break away from what I had loved all my life, so many friends remained. Here in Denmark you can calm down a bit’ …. Olga Kulikovskaya. The Palace of Marienburg.

Olga Aleksandrovna Kulikovskaya-Romanova was born on 14th June [O.S. 1st June] 1882, she was the youngest child of the Emperor Alexander III and the Empress Maria Feodorovna, as well as the younger sister of Emperor Nicholas II.

She became one of the few representatives of the Imperial family who managed to escape Bolshevik Russia after the 1917 revolution. She emigrated to Denmark, and later – to Canada, where she died on 24 November 1960. During the First World War, she worked in the hospital as a sister of mercy, and also engaged in charity.

Madame René Brizac (née Valentine Emans De Ricles), was born in London on 17th February 1865. At the age of twenty, she went to Russia, right after her marriage with the son of the founder of the St. Petersburg couturier A. Brizak, the main designer and Supplier to the Imperial Court. The couple had four children. Madam Brizak was a talented fashion designer, she created such styles that later gave the memoirists a reason to mention that the female half of the family of Nicholas II “dressed simply, but with taste.” The first House of Haute Couture in Russia lasted about 50 years and was closed by the decree of Lenin in 1918.

***

In 2019, Princess Nadezhda Volkonskaya published Сердцем с Вами, Ольга / My heart is with you, Olga which includes 65 letters written by Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna to the famous couturier Madame René Brizac, when both women were living in exile from Russia. Their correspondence lasted ten years (from 1920 to 1930), until the death of the latter.

Below, are some of excerpts from her letters to Madame Brizac:

“Dear Madame Brizac! I am happy, every time I receive a letter with your handwriting on the envelope,” Olga Alexandrovna writes, she then goes on to tell how she had to stop sending parcels to friends in Russia because of new restrictions. “It’s terrible to think how they will be without them now. They are starving.”

Olga also writes about the impostor who pretended to be her niece Grand Duchess Anastasia – Anna Anderson.

“You understand the absurdity of the story as well as we do! More and more I am convinced that this story was conceived for the sake of blackmail and money. Let us say that I am mistaken, but how can it be then, that her governess, Madame Gilliard, who knew Anastasia when she was six weeks old, and that Monsieur Gillard, who was also with the dear family until they parted in June, 1918, could also be mistaken?”

Olga rejoiced at every guest from Russia. She was impressed by the Don Cossacks, and she sincerely regrets their fate.

“Our people are so poor, they are exploited, they come from Bulgaria, where they worked in the mines, in various terrible places. Dear, poor Russians, what a difficult life they now have!”

Olga writes bitterly about the Russian general kidnapped by the NKVD [Soviet secret police] in Paris in January 1930:

“How horrible it is to have what happened in Paris!” Poor General Kutepov! Who would have thought that such a thing could happen today, in the civilized world, in broad daylight!”

It should be noted that Сердцем с Вами, Ольга / My heart is with you, Olga was only published in the Russian language, in a limited edition of only 700 copies. The design was designed by Vyatka artists Olga Kolchanova and Alexander Selezenev.

In addition to translation [from French to Russian], the book also contains digitized originals of the original letters, which is the best way for the reader to personally get in touch with the story of Grand Duchess Olga Romanova-Kulikovskaya.

Nicholas II Vintage Newsreels No. 6 – 10

Posted on 15 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

This is the second installment of a new monthly feature to my Nicholas II. Emperor. Tsar. Saint. blog, which showcases the vast collection of vintage newsreels which are now available to watch on YouTube and other online media sources. I have taken the liberty of selecting 5 interesting newsreels which depict Emperor Nicholas II and his family attending events in various cities throughout the Russian Empire.

Many of these newsreels include background music, with tunes of the Russian Empire or Orthodox music. Others are narrated in Russian, however, that should not deter the viewer from watching. You can turn on the English (or other language) subtitles by clicking on Google translate and then turn on the closed captioning [CC] button, found at the bottom of the newsreel. ENJOY!

No. 6 – Nicholas II attends the opening of the Alexander III Museum of Fine Art 1912

Emperor Nicholas II attends the opening of the Alexander III Museum of Fine Arts, later renamed the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, in Moscow. He is accompanied by his mother Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, and his four daughters Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. 13th June [O.S. 31st May] 1912.

Duration: 1 minute, 19 seconds with musical background

***

No. 7 – Emperor Nicholas II in Crimea (Livadia, 1909)

Digitally remastered by the Russian State Film and Photo Archive (RGAKFD). This video features wonderful vintage footage of the old woodern palaces at Livadia. English captions.

Duration: 10 minutes, 348 seconds

***

No. 8 – Nicholas II at the exhibition of Crimean Tatar handicrafts. Yalta

This colourized video depicts Emperor Nicholas II and his family at the exhibition of Crimean Tatar handicrafts, which was held in Yalta, Crimea on 30th September 1913. He is accompanied by his four daughters and retinue.

Duration: 1 minute, 5 seconds with musical background

***

No. 9 – The Imperial Family in Nizhni Novgorod 1913

On 17th May 1913, Emperor Nicholas II and his family visited Nizhny Novgorod. It was just one of many visits to cities and towns across the Russian Empire marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty. This video has been colourized.

Duration: 1 minute, 25 seconds with musical background

***

No. 10 – Emperor Nicholas II’s visit with Emperor Wilhelm II. 1913

In 1913, Nicholas II visited Germany and is greeted by the Kaiser. The two Emperors are shown riding in a horse drawn carriage, flanked by regiments on horseback, crowds cheer along the parade route. An outstanding chronicle of history.

Duration: 1 minute, 51 seconds with musical background

***

Previous Post Featuring MORE Vintage Newsreels of Nicholas II

Nos. 1 – 5

My Nicholas II blog now features 1,000 articles!

Posted on 19 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

Well, I did it! Today, I posted the 1,000th article on my ‘Nicholas II. Emperor. Tsar. Saint.’ blog, which is dedicated to clearing the name of Russia’s much slandered Tsar. This is indeed a major milestone, and one worth celebrating! 🎉🎉🎉

I think it is safe to say, that my blog is now one of (if not the largest) sites dedicated to the study of Nicholas II, his family, the Romanov dynasty and the history of Imperial Russia, the articles of which have been researched from Russian archival and media sources and translated into English.Since September of 2019, my blog has received more than 1.6 MILLION hits, from people all over the world.

I have been researching, writing and publishing books and articles on these topics, on a full-time basis for more than 35 years. My blog, books on Nicholas II and semi-annual publication SOVEREIGN have become rich resource tools for scholars, historians and writers from all walks of life.

My works reflect a truthful assessment of events in the life and reign of Emperor Nicholas II (1868-1918), based on reliable Russian and English language sources, which often challenge the popular held negative Bolshevik and Soviet historiography, which academically lazy historians and writers in the West continually rehash.

I retired from publishing and bookselling in 2021, however, my dedication to preserving the memory of Nicholas II has not waned. Despite personal health issues, I continue to write daily, with more than half a dozen new book titles in the works I pray the Lord grant me many more years 🙏

THANK YOU / БОЛЬШОЕ СПАСИБО
for your ongoing interest and support of my research

First governor or Sverdlovsk regrets that the ROC has not recognized the Ekaterinburg Remains

Posted on 19 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: the first governor of the Sverdlovsk region, Eduard Rossel
and Ural geologist Alexander Avdonin

*** Please note that this is my 1,000th article, researched from
Russian archival and media sources, and translated into English – PG

In 1991, Valery Nikolaevich Shevelin found himself in the center of historical events by accident. A friend and neighbor, Alexander Avdonin (1932-2026), who was searching for the remains of Russia’s last Tsar and family, asked him to guard the excavations on the old Koptyaki Road near Sverdlovsk [Ekaterinburg].

Avdonin was sure that he would find the remains of the Imperial Family, so he asked his friend Eduard Rossel, who served as the Head of Sverdlovsk Oblast [Region] Administration, to help organize the expedition. Soon the soldiers arrived. They built a tall palisade, pitched tents, brought beds and deployed field kitchens.

On Sunday, 22nd February, Alexander Avdonin (1932-2026) was laid to rest in the village cemetery in Kurganovo, Sverdlovsk region, where the famous Ural geologist recently lived.

Recall that Alexander Avdonin died in Ekaterinburg on 20th February 2026. – NOTE: click on the link, to see little known photos of Avdonin with Prince Michael of Kent, during the latter’s visit to the Urals in 2012.

During the funeral service, the first governor [from 1995 to 2009] of the Sverdlovsk region, Eduard Rossel, said goodbye to his friend Alexander Nikolaevich Avdonin, the man who, together with his colleagues, discovered the remains of Emperor Nicholas II and his family.

Below is the full text of the eulogy that Rossel gave at Avdonin’s funeral, this past Sunday:

PHOTO: Avdonin, and the abbot of the Verkhoturye Monastery, Hegumen Tikhon, view sculptural portraits of members of the Imperial Family at the exhibition ‘The Romanovs: Return to History‘. 17 April 1997.

“I was acquainted with Alexander Nikolaevich for many years. Together, we honoured the memory of the the last emperor and his family. We took many risks, persevered and, finally, brought the true fate of the Imperial family out of darkness and oblivion,

“If it were not for Alexander Nikolaevich and his associates: Geliy Ryabov, Kochurov and Vasiliev, the incredible story of finding the Tsar’s remains would not have happened. There would have been no Church on the Blood, no Ganina Yama, no annual Tsar’s Days, no museum exhibitions, no books, and no educational events – which reflect one of one of the most tragic events in Russian history.

“In recent years, Alexander Nikolaevich was very ill, so we we were not able to communicate as much, but I will always remember our first meeting in the Regional Executive Committee, which saw the beginning of our working together on the extraction and identification of the Tsar’s remains, but also an enduring friendship.

“I will forever remember him as a man who opened my eyes to true patriotism – a positive attitude to one’s history, and that without paying tribute to it’s memory, it is impossible to move forward!

“And indeed, the development of the Tsarist project began here in the Sverdlovsk region, which I headed, emerging from the most severe socio-economic and spiritual crisis caused by the collapse of the USSR and the formation of a new Russia.”

PHOTO: Alexander Avdonin examining items found during excavations in and around the site where the remains of Nicholas II and his family were exhumed in 1991

During the eulogy, Eduard Rossel expressed his sincere disappointment in the Moscow Patriarchate of f the Russian Orthodox Church, who have still not recognized the Ekaterinburg Remains as those of Emperor Nicholas II and his family.

“My soul aches from the fact that the remains of the Imperial Family are not as yet, recognized as *Holy Relics. Alexander Nikolaevich and I, had even selected the particles [from the bones] of which, wanted to place in the reliquaries in the Lower Church of the Church on the Blood, near the place [today, the Imperial Room] where the the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers met their deaths.

For more information on the remains of the Imperial Family being reconised as Holy Relics, please refer to my article – The Fate of the Ekaterinburg Remains

“Everything was done for this: the best genetic research in the world was financed and carroed out, the reliability of the results was provided to the investigation committee and proven with one hundred percent result, but, apparently, the time has not yet come,” said Rossel

Recall that the Russian Orthodox Church have yet to offficially recognize the remains discovered in two graves on the Old Koptyaki Road as those of Russia’s last Tsar and his family. In the summer of 1998, when, by decision of the government of the Russian Federation, to bury the remains took place in the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

Patriarch Alexei II (1929-2008) and other bishops did not attend the commemorative event. The final decision on this issue was to be made by the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, but its meeting has not yet taken place.

“Today, thousands of people venerate the memory of the Nicholas II and his family, through events marking the annual Tsar’s Days, bishops pray, the Church on the Blood receives believers, but the end of this sorrowful matter has not yet been made.

“Deepest condolences to Alexander Nikolaevich’s wife Galina Pavlovna, to his family, relatives and friends. Eternal memory to the man who opened the way to true repentance for all of us by deeds, not words!” concluded Eduard Rossel.

PHOTO: Alexander Avdonin (right) with histirian Nikolai Neuymin (left) Sverdlovsk Museum of Local Lore, at the cross at the Romanov Memorial, at Porosenkov Log, near Ekaterinburg.

Nicholas II visits St. Barnabas of Gethsemane, 1905

Posted on 20 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: fresco depicting Emperor Nicholas II meeting the Elder Barnabas

Emperor Nicholas II was known for his piety and religiosity. During his 22-year reign, he loved to visit monasteries and speak with the elders. In early 1905, the Emperor visited the famous Elder Barnabas – shortly before the elder’s death – in the Gethsemane Skete near the Trinity-Sergius Lavra at Sergiev Posad.

Following the tragic events of Bloody Sunday in January 1905, Nicholas II’s visit itself was timely. Although the Tsar was not to blame for the tragedy, he wanted in conscience, to repent in the presence of the man of God and listen to his instruction and admonition.

It is known that the Elder Barnabas not only confirmed the prophecy already known to the Emperor about the fate that awaited him, but also gave him his blessing to accept this fate, strengthening in him the will to bear his cross when it pleased the Lord to lay this cross on him.

Nicholas was already aware of the prophecies of the monk Abel (1801) in 1901 and St. Seraphim of Sarov (1833) in 1903.

In 1909, during the Emperor’s visit to the ancient St. George Monastery near Sevastopol, two devout schema-monks, who never showed themselves to people from their cells, suddenly came out, approached the Sovereign, silently fell down in prostration, stood up, crossed themselves, and also silently departed.

Elder Barnabas died on 17th February 1906. The famous elder and ascetic, was officially canonized by the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1995. He is celebrated for his spiritual wisdom, prophecies, and for serving as a confessor to Emperor Nicholas II in 1905.

PHOTO: icon depicting St. Barnabas of Gethsemane