PHOTO: on 15th July 2026, a moleben was served for Nicholas II, near the Church of the Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God, n the village of Taininskoye

On 15th July 2026, a Cross Procession was held in the village of Taininskoye (Mytishchi district). situated 19 km northeast of Moscow. The village is home to Russia’s greatest monument to Emperor Nicholas II – by the Russian sculptor Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Klykov (1938-2006).

A Divine Liturgy was performed in the beautiful 17th-century Church of the Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God [built in 1675-1677]. From there, some 500 pilgrims walked to the nearby monument to Emperor Nicholas II.

PHOTO: View of the Church of the Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God [built in 1675-1677], in the village of Taininskoye [Mytishchi district]

The Orthodox faithful gathered at the monument, where a moleben [a liturgical service of supplication or thanksgiving] was served to the Holy Passion-Bearer The service was performed by Priest Victor Seleznev, who serves as chairman of the Department for Organized Orthodox Recreation, Pilgrimage and Tourism of the Sergiev Posad Diocese.

From there, the pilgrims set off on a 5-day Cross Procession, on foot to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra – a distance of nearly 100 km. [62 miles] This year, they were joined by Cossacks of the Central Cossack Army. The event has been held annually since 2017, one which has the blessing of Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov with the support of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS).

Recall that since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, more than 100 monuments, busts and memorial plaques have been installed in 36 regions across Russia. As of 16th July, there have been 9 monuments installed in cities and towns across the Russian Federation this year alone.

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PHOTO: Cross Procession at the monument to Nicholas II in Taininskoye (2024)

PHOTO: Cross Procession at the monument to Nicholas II in Taininskoye (2025)

FURTHER READING

Taininskoye: the site of Russia’s greatest monument to Nicholas II + PHOTOS and VIDEO

© Paul Gilbert. 20 July 2026