PHOTO: this bust is considered the most faithful
to the likeness of Emperor Nicholas II

NOTE: this article was originally published on 7 December 2019,
it was revised and updated on 4th October 2024 – PG

On 17th July 2018, the feast day of the Holy Royal Passion-bearers, a bust of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II, was installed and consecrated in the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York City. The bronze bust is considered to be the most faithful to the likeness of Emperor Nicholas II.

The bust was donated to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) by the head of the Foundation “Under the Protection of the Mother of God” Eugene (Evgeny) Korolev, with the organizational participation of the head of the Military Orthodox Mission, Igor Smykov.

Attending the divine services were parishioners and faithful of various parishes, representatives of the Romanov family, and Cossack delegates.ners and faithful of various parishes, representatives of the Romanov family, and Cossack delegates.

Upon completion of the service, Fr. Tikhon read aloud Metropolitan Hilarion’s Epistle on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom of the holy and right-believing Royal Passion-bearers: Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Tsesarevich Alexei, and Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatian, Maria and Anastasia.

His Eminence and the clergy served a short moleben [service of intercession] before icons of the Royal Passion-bearers and other holy relics housed at the Synodal cathedral: a reliquary with the right hand of the Holy Nun-Martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara.

Metropolitan Hilarion then thanked all those who prayerfully honored this day with their presence, and gave the floor to the general director of the Russian National Creative Workshop “Art-Project,” LLC, and the International Foundation for Mutual Development & Strengthening of Spiritual Unity and the Religious & Historical Values of Russian Orthodoxy in the Homeland & Abroad “Under the Protection of the Theotokos,” Eugene (Evgeny) Korolev. It was these organizations that presented the cathedral a gift: a bust of the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II.

 

CLICK on the above image to watch a VIDEO of the consecration of the bust.
DURATION: 3 minutes, 30 seconds. LANGUAGE: Russian

“This image was first made before the revolution, out of stone. During Perestroika in the Soviet Union, vandals desecrated it,” Korolev explained. “After the fall of the USSR, in 1993, the bust was brought from Crimea to Moscow, to the workshop of Russian national artist Vyacheslav Klykov. They created a mold of the bust and poured it in bronze. Unfortunately, we do not know the identity of the original artist who created this marvelous work. But we do know that this monument is considered the most faithful to the likeness of Emperor Nicholas II. I would like to offer my respect to Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Klykov (1938-2006) for granting new life to this work of art.

“In Russia they are currently celebrating the ‘Tsar’s Days,’ and I think the most important thing for us is to learn lessons from this tragedy and never repeat them.”

Korolev congratulated everyone on the occasion of the feast, and presented Metropolitan Hilarion with a dove prepared in the workshop, as well as pouches with soil from the holy sites of Yekaterinburg, where Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, and their children were held captive, and where they were all murdered.

For his work with the Cossacks, Eugene Korolev presented Fr. Tikhon with the Order of Emperor Nicholas the Second.

Flanked by clergy, the First Hierarch proceeded to the entrance to the cathedral, where the bust of the Tsar-Passionbearer Nicholas II had been installed, and blessed it. The festivities concluded with a banquet in the cathedral hall.

PHOTO: Metropolitan Hilarion (1948-2022) of Eastern America and New York, talks
with members of the media in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

© Eastern American Diocese | Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Originally published 7 December 2019 and Updated on 4 October 2024