Month: August 2024

Update on the next Nicholas II Conference

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

I continue to receive emails and messages from people enquiring about another Nicholas II Conference. First of all, I would like to say how grateful I am for the interest and support shown for this event. In answer to all these queries, I can say that YES!, I am intend planning on organizing and hosting a second conference. I can also confirm that several discussions on the proposed event have already taken place.

Once this dreadful war is over, I have every intention of hosting a 2nd International Nicholas II Conference, which will most likely be held in the UK.

As some of you may recall, my initial plan to host the conference in May 2021 at the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.

My second attempt to host the conference in September 2023 at St. John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester, England was also cancelled, due to the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.

So, will I have better luck the third time?

The number of people who have followed my work, since the 1st conference in October 2018, has grown substantially, especially in the UK, therefore, I am anticipating an even larger number of attendees at the next conference.

Stay tuned for further updates on dates, venue, speakers, topics, and much more.

PHOTO: this is the first of two 6-ft. banners, that I have
designed for the 2nd International Nicholas II Conference

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1st International Nicholas II Conference
St. John’s Orthodox Church, Colchcester, England
27th October 2018

PHOTO: researcher and author Paul Gilbert presenting one of his two lectures on Nicholas II, at St. John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester, England. 27th October 2018

The 1st International Nicholas II Conference was timed to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Nicholas II in 1868, and the 100th anniversary of his death and martyrdom in 1918.

More than 100 people from nearly a dozen countries attended the event, which featured 5 speakers, who presented 7 lectures on the life and reign of Russia’s last Tsar, including Paul Gilbert, Archpriest Andrew Philips (ROCOR), Nikolai Krasnov, authors Frances Welch and Marilyn Swezey presented seven papers on Nicholas II.

In addition, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanov Society UK provided a small exhibit, which generated much interest among those attending. Two stalls were set up during the conference, which offer an interesting selection of new book titles for sale. A light lunch was provided for those attending.

Click HERE to read more about the 1st International Nicholas II Conference in Colchester, England, which includes photos from the event.

© Paul Gilbert. 8 August 2024

Artist concept of Imperial Railway Pavilion restoration project at Tsarskoye Selo

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

CLICK on the above image to watch the VIDEO
Duration: 1 minute

The Tsarskoye Selo Railway Station Charitable Foundation has released a stunning video which presents the Foundation’s concept for the restoration of the Imperial Railway Pavilion at Tsarskoye Selo [now part of the town of Pushkin], which began in the summer of 2023.

According to the concept being developed, it is planned to restore the Pavilion building with the restoration of its historical appearance based on the surviving photographs, documents and research by specialists. During the restoration of the facades, it is planned to restore the plaster layer and decorative elements. Inside the Pavilion, it is planned to restore wall and ceiling paintings to their original colours, floor coverings and stucco, and restore lost stoves.

After the completion of the restoration, a museum space with access to the ceremonial rooms will be developed inside the station building. The reconstruction of the Tsar’s Station involves the construction of the lost metal frame of the landing stage (covered railway platform) – as seen in the artist’s drawings (below) and video.

Inside the openwork riveted trusses, it is planned to construct a building in the form of a railway passenger car. Work is also planned to develope the area surrounding the station building.

The former Imperial Railway Pavilion is located a short distance from the Alexander Palace, the Feodorovsky Sovereign Cathedral and the Feodorovsky Gorodok.

Tsarskoye Selo Railway Station Charitable Foundation © 2024

FURTHER READING:

Imperial Railway Pavilion in Tsarskoye Selo is being restored – published on 18th August 2023 – includes 13 colour photos

Update on the restoration of the Imperial Railway Pavilion at Tsarskoye Selo – published on 16th April 2024

The sad state of the Imperial Railway Pavilion in Tsarskoye Selo includes 20 PHOTOS! – originally published on 29th December 2019

Imperial Railway Pavilions During the Reign of Nicholas II – originally published on 23rd October 2019

© Paul Gilbert. 6 August 2024

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COMING SOON!
Publication date to be announced

My book on the Imperial Train was scheduled to be published last year, however, I delayed it, and for good reason. Given that the Imperial Railway Station at Tsarskoye Selo was the main terminus for the Imperial Train, it only stood to reason, that I should devote a chapter to this historic building.

My forthcoming book is the first English language title to explore the history of the Tsar’s luxurious mode of transport on rails. It will include detailed descriptions – including vintage photos and floorplans – of the train’s interiors. My book also tells about the fate of the Imperial Train, the Imperial Railway Pavilions constructed solely for the use of the Imperial Train in Tsarskoye Selo, St. Petersburg and Moscow, and much more.

‘The Imperial Train of Emperor Nicholas II’ will be published in paperback edition, 150 pages, and richly illustrated throughout. It will be available on Amazon shortly after the completion of the restoration of the Imperial Railway Pavilion at Tsarskoye Selo has been completed – PG

‘Nicholas II: The Last Orthodox Tsar of Russia’ with Paul Gilbert

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

CLICK on the above image to watch the VIDEO
Researched, written and narrated by Paul Gilbert
Duration: 20 minutes. Language: English

Emperor Nicholas II reigned for 22+ years – from November 1894 to February 1917. With his murder, the last Orthodox Christian monarch, along with the thousand-year history of thrones and crowns in Russia, ended, ushering in an era of lawlessness, apostasy, and terror, one which would sweep Holy Orthodox Russia into an abyss which would last more than 70 years.

This new video production is based on the research of project colleague and independent researcher Paul Gilbert, who also narrates this video.

In the first 24 hours of it’s release on YouTube, some 3,000 people had watched the video! Since it’s release in July 2020, it has been viewed by more than 134.000 people.

The creators have done a remarkable job of incorporating a wonderful collection of photos – both vintage B&W and colourized by Olga Shirnina (aka KLIMBIM) – historical newsreel film footage and music.

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Vintage B&W photo of Nicholas II colourized by Olga Shirnina (aka KLIMBIM)

One viewer noted on social media: “Only 20 minutes long, this is the BEST portrayal of the last Tsar’s Orthodox faith I have ever seen. Very well-made, historical and moving.”

The crowning moment of this video is near the end, which shows film footage of the actual canonization ceremony of Emperor Nicholas II and his family, performed on 20th August 2000 by Patriarch Alexei II (1929-2008) in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. You can hear His Holiness calling out each of the names of the Imperial Family. The footage is extremely moving to watch.

This 20-minute video is presented in the framework of the production of the book The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal published by Mesa Potamos Publications in 2019.

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The Romanov Royal Martyrs is an impressive 512-page book, featuring nearly 200 black & white photographs, and a 56-page photo insert of more than 80 high-quality images, colourized by the acclaimed Russian artist Olga Shirnina (Klimbim), and appearing here in print for the first time.

Click HERE to read my review Romanov Book of the Year: The Romanov Royal Martyrs

Click HERE to explore the book. Click HERE to order the book

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I am truly honoured to be a research colleague of this important publishing project. I am most grateful to Father Prodromos Nikolaou and the Holy Monastery of St. John the Forerunner of Mesa Potamos in Cyprus for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this new video which tells the story about Russia’s last Orthodox Christian monarch.

NOTE: my name is now inscribed as a project colleague in the 2nd edition of this book, which also includes several corrections, which I suggested to the publisher after reading the 1st edition – PG

Below, is my second video produced within the framework of the production of the book The Romanov Royal Martyrs: What Silence Could Not Conceal published by Mesa Potamos Publications in 2019. My first video The Conspiracy Against Nicholas II was released in 2018 with more than 32,000 views to date:

CLICK on the above image to watch the VIDEO
Researched, written and narrated by Paul Gilbert
Duration: 7 min. 36 sec. Language: English

© Paul Gilbert / Holy Monastery of St. John the Forerunner of Mesa Potamos. 4 August 2024 (Originally published on 9 July 2020)

Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich Exhibition opens in Livadia Palace

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

On 1st August 2024, a new exhibition dedicated to Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (1904-1918) opened at Livadia Palace in Crimea. The exhibition simply titled “Наследник / Heir” is timed to the 120th anniversary of the birth of Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, who was born on 12th (O.S. 30th July) August 1904.

The grand opening of the exhibition on 1st August was attended by those who received invitions and to members of the press. The exhibit opened to visitors the following day, in the Music Room, located on the second floor of the palace.

Visitors to the exhbition will see authentic items from Tsesarevich Alexei’s rooms, and which are now in the collection of the Livadia State Palace-Museum. Among these items are religious paintings and sketches, including a sketch entitled “Bayan” by the famous Russian artist Viktor Mikhaylovich Vasnetsov (one of Nicholas II’s favourite artists), and “The Tsar’s Family in Livadia” a watercolour by Elena Samokish-Sudkovskaya, as well as pieces of furniture, photographs, etc.

The exhibition explores Alexei’s short life [he was murdered just weeks before his 14th birthday], the long-awaited heir to the Russian throne, and beloved son of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. The exhibition looks at his hobbies, the close ties he shared with his parents, sisters and tutors, the piety of the family, and the happy times Alexei spent in Livadia. In addition, the exhibit looks at the First World War and Alexei’s visits and stays with the Tsar at Mogilev. In the last part of the exhibition, visitors will see rare artifacts associated with the tragic death of the Imperial Family in Ekaterinburg in July 1918.

The exhibition will be complemented by authentic items from the collection of the Yalta Historical and Literary Museum, the archive of the Livadia Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross as well as from private collections.

The exhibition “Наследник / Heir” is open to visitors in the Music Room of the Livadia Palace, from 2nd August to 19th August 2024.

CLICK on the IMAGE above to watch the VIDEO. Duration: 2 mins., 47 secs.

NOTE: the video is in Russian only, however, you can watch an English language version by
clicking on the Closed Captioning [CC] button and adjusting Google Translate to English. ENJOY!

© Paul Gilbert. 3 August 2024

Visitors to the museum will see authentic items from the museum’s funds, once located in the rooms of the Tsarevich and other living rooms of the palace. Among them are engravings on religious subjects, the engraving “Bayan” from the painting by Viktor Vasnetsov, Elena Samokish-Sudkovskaya’s watercolor “The Royal Family in Livadia”, pieces of furniture, etc.

The exhibition will show the short life of the heir to the Russian throne, the most long-awaited child in the family of the last emperor – his hobbies, close ties with loved ones, the spiritual world of the family, happy times spent in Livadia. One of the topics will be the difficult period of the First World War and staying with the Tsar at headquarters. Also, visitors to the museum will see the rarest artifacts associated with the tragic death of the royal family in Yekaterinburg in 1918.

The exhibition will be complemented by authentic items from the collection of the Yalta Historical and Literary Museum, the archive of the Livadia Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and private collections.

The opening of the exhibition “The Heir” will take place on August 1 at 12:00 in the Music Salon of the Livadia Palace. Admission by invitation.

The exhibition will be available to visitors from August 2 to August 19, 2024.

Is it true that Nicholas II wanted to move the Russian capital to Crimea?

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

Emperor Nicholas II was all very fond of his residence in Livadia, a magnificent white limestone palace perched on a ledge overlooking the Black Sea on the southern coast of Crimea.

The old Large wooden palace[1] was demolished to make way for the new Imperial Residence. Construction on the new palace began on 21st January 1910, and after only 17 months, was inaugurated on 11th September 1911. The Tsar spent about 4 million gold rubles – from his own funds – to finance it’s construction. The palace had 116 rooms, with interiors furnished in different styles, and surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens.

The Imperial Family stayed in the new Livadia Palace in the autumn of 1911 and 1913 and in the spring of 1912 and 1914, their visits lasting months at a time.

But, is it true that Nicholas II wanted to move the capital of the Russian Empire to Yalta?

PHOTO: Northern facade of the Livadia Palace
Watercolour by Nikolay Petrovich Krasnov (1864-1939)

A diplomat, a Russian general, Alexander Mossolov[2], wrote in his diary, noting a conversation he had had with the Emperor, who told him about his idea of ​​transferring the capital from rainy St. Petersburg to sunny Crimea.

According to Mossolov, while returning from Uchan-Su[3] along a path high above the highway with a beautiful view of Yalta, the Emperor noted that he was tied to the southern coast of Crimea and did not want to leave. And when Mossolov inquired whether the Emperor would have liked to transfer the capital to Yalta, Nicholas II replied: “This idea has flashed through my mind more than once.”

True, after a few minutes the Emperor admitted that it was impossible to do this.

“And if it were the capital, I probably would have stopped loving this place.” Some dreams, the diplomat quoted the emperor.

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Any one who has ever visited Livadia, and stood at the windows on the balconies admiring the magnificent views of both the mountains behind and the Black Sea in front, can appreciate why this place was so loved by the Imperial Family.

Following the Tsar’s abdication in February 1917, the Imperial Family were held under house arrest in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, until the end of July. It was the decision of the Head of the new Provisional Goverment Alexander Kerensky who decided to send the Imperial Family into exile. Nicholas hoped that they would be allowed to settle in Livadia, where they would be far removed from the capital, however, Kerensky had other plans – he sent them to Tobolsk in Siberia.

Sadly, the Imperial Family’s “peace” would have been short lived. During the First World War, Crimea was occupied by German forces. On 30th April 1918, German troops entered Livadia, and immediately began to plunder the palace, many of its artefacts lost forever. The Imperial Family would have been forced to flee or be captured by the enemy.

NOTES:

[1] The Large or Grand Imperial Palace was constructed between 1862-66 by the famous Russian architect Ippolit Antonovich Monighetti (1819-1878) for Emperor Alexaander II, his wife Empress Maria Alexandrovna and their children. Emperor Nicholas II and his family resided in the nearby Small or Maly Palace (where Nicholas’s father Emperor Alexander III died on 2nd November (O.S. 20th October) 1894). from 1894 until 1911. The

[2] Lieutenant-General Alexander Alexandrovich Mossolov (1854-1939) served as Head of the Office of the Ministry of the Imperial Court. He was one of the few people of who remained faithful to Nicholas II. Mossolov is the author of ‘At the Court of the Last Tsar.’ The English language edition was published in 1935, the content of which is somewhat different from the Russian version.

[3] Uchan-Su is the highest (98 metres /322 ft) waterfall in Crimea, situated 7 km from Yalta, on the southern slopes of the Crimean Mountains.

© Paul Gilbert. 3 August 2024