Author: Paul Gilbert

Studio-apartment of former Court artist to Nicholas II sells for 80 million rubles

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: Ernst Karlovich Liphart in his St. Petersburg studio. Artist unknown.

On 20th March 2026, I reported that Ernst Liphart’s former apartment-studio in St. Petersburg would be sold at auction. The multi-level studio-apartment was listed at 110 million rubles [$1.3 million USD]. The auction was held at the Litfond Auction House in St. Petersburg, on 18th April 2026, and sold for 80 million rubles [$1,058,400 US dollars].

What made the sale of this property so interesting, was the history behind it. The studio-apartment was built and designed in 1906 by the the Russian architect Vasily Vasilyevich Schaub (1861-1934), for Ernst Karlovich Liphart (1847-1932) – the famous court artist of Emperor Nicholas II and the chief curator of the Hermitage.

Situated on the 6th floor of No. 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, the artists’ apartment-studio consisted of four levels with a total area of 150 sq. meters[1,614 sq. ft.].

PHOTOS: views of the Studio Hall of Liphart’s former
apartment-stidio, as it looked during the Soviet years

PHOTO: view of the Studio Hall of Liphart’s
former apartment-stidio, as it looks today

The original layout has been preserved in the studio, but the space looks completely different than under Liphart. Only a small number of elements remain from it’s original neoclassical style of the early 20th century, and many interior details are reminiscent of the modernism of the 1960s.

Despite the changes made during the Soviet years, the studio hall has retained the mezzanine and columns (seen in the photos above), but also the multi-meter windows, which offer a commanding view of the historic area. The windows of the apartment overlook Avstriyskaya Ploshchad (Austrian Square) and Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, as well as the neighboring Gorbov apartment building, and the architectural dominants of the historic Petrograd district.

Other details of the apartment-studio which have been preserved include a belvedere, an oval study, a spiral staircase leads to the mezzanine and then to a small secluded tower where you can enjoy the silence while admiring the city from round windows.

PHOTO: view of one of the rooms in Liphart’s apartment-studio

PHOTO: view of the studio of Vladimir Sokolov during the Soviet years

The first owner of the studio-apartment, Ernest von Liphart, became famous not only for his portraits of the Tsar and members of the Imperial Family, but also for his scientific work. It was he who determined that the famous painting “Madonna with a Flower” belongs to the brush of Leonardo da Vinci, and helped the Hermitage Museum to buy it. After the 1917 Revolution, Liphart remained in Russia and continued to work in the museum.

In the second half of the 20th century, the Soviet artist Vladimir Sokolov (1923-1997) lived and worked in the same studio. He is known as the artist of “blockade” posters and postcards, as well as portraits of world leaders such as Che Guevara and Pablo Neruda. Today, the works of both famous owners of the apartment-studio on Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt are stored in the collections of Russian museums and libraries.

PHOTO: Liphart’s apartment-studio is located at No. 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt

PHOTO: view of Avstriyskaya Ploshchad from the studio of Ernst Liphart

© Paul Gilbert. 27 April 2026

Moscow exhibit showcases items belonging to Dr. Eugene Botkin

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

On 25th April 2026, an exhibition dedicated to the family physician of Nicholas II, Dr. Eugene Botkin opened at the Museum of Emperor Nicholas II in Moscow. The exhibition By Faith, Loyalty, Work runs until 15th May 2026.

This unique exhibition showcases personal items belonging to Dr. Evgeny (Eugene) Sergeievich Botkin (1865-1918), which which were purchased at auction[1] by collector Alexander Voronov and returned to Russia. “The items will be exhibited for the first time,” said Voronov

“Several items that belonged to the Botkin family, I purchased in Paris at an auction last year. In 1919, when Botkin’s children Tatyana and Gleb fled Russia all they could take with them were a few icons and photographs gifted to them by the Empress. In particular, is an icon depicting John of Tobolsk, dated 1918 with the letter “A”, such an autograph was put by the Empress,” added Voronov. “The second icon in a silver frame is “The Saviour Not Made by Hands”, its story is described in the book[2] of Botkin’s daughter, published in 1921. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna gave the icon to Botkin, who in turn gave it to her daughter Grand Duchess Tatiana, when she was very ill, so that he could bless her with it, ” said Voronov.

Voronov said that the icon of the “Saviour Not Made by Hands” was used at the baptism of Botkin’s great-grandson Jean Smulwood, who put the family heirlooms up for auction in Paris, in the hope that someone from Russia would buy them. According to the collector, the exhibition will also feature a number of the Botkins’ personal belongings, including the author’s copy of the book by Tatyana Botkina, photographs, one of which was autographed by Nicholas II’s daughters Olga and Tatiana, and an icon of the daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich.

The family physician of Nicholas II and his family, Evgeny Botkin, followed the Imperial Family into exile, first to Tobolsk, and then to Ekaterinburg. The Bolsheviks offered him the option to leave the Tsar, but the doctor remained faithful to him. Botkin and three other retainers were all murdered along with the Imperial Family in the Ipatiev house on the night of 16/17 July 1918.

In 2016, the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Nicholas II’s doctor, and a decision was made on the church-wide glorification of the passion-bearer Righteous Evgeny (Eugene) Sergeievich Botkin (1865-1918).

The exhibition program includes a series of events – lectures, excursions, etc. The organizers of the exhibition are the Foundation of Emperor Nicholas II and the Russian collector of Russian history Alexander Voronov.

The exhibition By Faith, Loyalty, Work runs until 15th May 2026, the Museum of Emperor Nicholas II in Moscow. Admission to the exhibition is FREE. Donations to the Emperor Nicholas II Foundation for the maintenance of the museum are welcome.

NOTES

[1]  View the catalogue from the Auction: Tatiana Botkin Collection – held in Paris on 15 May 2025.

[2] Воспоминания о царской семье [Memories of the Tsar’s Family]. 84 pages. Russian language only.

© Paul Gilbert. 26 April 2026

Lenin’s presence on Red Square continues to rile Russians

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: the remains of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin

More than a century after his death, the body of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin laying in a marble and granite mausoleum on Red Square continues to raise the ire of many Russians.

During the afternoon of 8th April 2026, upon entry to the “mourning hall” of Lenin’s mausoleum, an 18-year-old student began yelling screaming obscenities about the Bolshevik leader. He then took off one of his shoes and threw it, striking the glass-enclosed sarcophagus holding the remains of the Bolshevik leader.  

Konstantin Sergeyevich Bodunov was promptly arrested by police, who stand guard both inside and outside the mausoleum. Bodunov appeared in Tverskoy District Court of Moscow and was sentenced to 10 days in jail. During the trial, the young man pleaded guilty to being in the mausoleum and throwing his shoe. He explained his actions by condemning Lenin’s “economic and religious policy.”

The incident is just one of a string of protests, made over the years by Russians, who share their hatred towards Lenin and the Bolsheviks. Many of these incidents never reach the Western media.

In February of this year, the Kuzminsky District Court of Moscow found Olga Fedosova guilty of threatening to “blow up Lenin’s Mausoleum and set fire to his corpse”. Fedosova was found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison.

On 18th June 2024, a man threw a Molotov cocktail at the Mausoleum, but it hit the fence and did not explode. He was detained on the spot by police officers. The Tverskoy Court of Moscow sentenced Konstantin Starchukov to four years in prison.

In May 2023, Kostya Starchukov, from the Trans-Baikal region, was detained by police on Red Square. The 37-year-old man had two bottles of gasoline on him, and told police that he wanted to set fire to Lenin’s Mausoleum.

Then, on the night of 6th February 2023, a man tried to get into Lenin’s Mausoleum with the intention of “stealing” Lenin’s corpse! The 42-year-old man, tried to open the door of the mausoleum, before he was detained by police. The detainee, who suffered from a mental disorder, admitted that he wanted to steal Lenin’s body. 

Even when Lenin was alive, several attempts are known to have been made on his life. The most famous of them was committed on 30th August 1918, by the Socialist Revolutionary Party member Fanny Kaplan tried to assassinate Lenin.

During the Soviet years, several incidents took place against the remains of the Bolshevik leader.

In March 1934, a peasant managed to smuggle a gun under his shirt past the guards. He considered himself “deceived by the authorities and decided to seek revenge”. The man took out his gun in the “mourning hall” of the Mausoleum, and fired two shots at Lenin’s sarcophagous, but he missed. He then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide with the third shot.

In March 1959, a man threw a hammer into the glass of Lenin’s sarcophagus. The crack left by the hammer remains to this day. The man was declared mentally ill, and was subsequently sent to an institution for treatment.

In 1967, a man from Lithuania attempted to blow up an Lenin’s Mausoleum. An explosion thundered outside the building, how he managed to get an explosive past the guards remains a mystery to this day. The bomber later claimed that the guards “paid no attention to him”.

On 1st September 1973, a man with a briefcase went into the “mourning hall” of the mausoleum. Once inside, he joined two wires in the area of the shirt collar – a deafening explosion thundered. A married couple who were in close proximity to the man were killed, two soldiers of the Kremlin regiment and several schoolchildren were among the injured. The sarcophagus was not damaged.

PHOTO: Yuri Shabelnikov life-size cake of Lenin’s body – see below

Why target Lenin?

It is widely agreed that the Bolshevik government came to power by criminal means, and that Lenin personally gave the order to murder Tsar Nicholas II and his family in 1918.

Not only was he responsible for the destruction of the Russian Empire, he was also responsible for the deaths and suffering of millions of innocent people when he unleashed the Civil War and the first Red Terror that followed.

His hatred towards religion led to endless violence and persecution against the Russian Orthodox Church. Lenin also signed the shameful Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany on 3rd March 1918.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991,there have been numerous calls for the removal of Lenin’s remains from Red Square. The topic is a “hot potato”, one of which even Vladimir Putin does not want to address, for fear of a backlash from Russian Communists.

On the morning of 1st April 1997, at 05:25 am, a monument to Emperor Nicholas II near Moscow, was blown up by members of the left-wing extremist organization Revvoensovet [named after the Revolutionary Military Council of 1918]. Their reason, was their opposition to a proposal to remove Lenin’s corpse from the mausoleum in Red Square.

In 1998, Russian president Boris Yeltsin actually considered removing Lenin’s body and burying his remains next to that of his mother in the Volkovskoye Cemetery in St. Petersburg, as the Bolshevik leader had requested prior to his death. Yeltsin’s plan was never carried out.

Lenin’s body was ultimately embalmed and placed in a marble and granite mausoleum on Red Square instead. It is interesting to note that the architect Alexey Viktorovich Shchusev (1873-1949), is the same architect who designed the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin in the Marfo-Mariinsky [Martha and Mary] Convent, founded in Moscow by Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (1864-1918).

Up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the preservation of Lenin’s remains was funded by the Soviet government. After 1991, the government discontinued financial support, after which the mausoleum was funded by private donations – mostly Communist sympathizers. In 2016 the Russian government reversed its earlier decision and announced it would spend 13 million rubles [$171,000 USD] to preserve Lenin’s body.

In 1998, a provocative event staged by the Russian artist Yuri Shabelnikov at the Dar Gallery in Moscow, titled “Lenin is in You and in Me”. Shabelnikov created a life-size cake (see photo above) shaped like Lenin’s embalmed body, presented as if lying in a coffin, and invited guests to eat it. The act turned a once-sacred revolutionary icon into something fleeting and consumable, symbolizing how Lenin’s ideological authority had faded in the 1990s and become an object of irony rather than reverence. Such an event would have been unimaginable during Soviet rule. [Source: Constantine Goh]

PHOTO: artist concept of the Church of the New Martyrs
proposed for the site of Lenin’s Mausoleum on Red Square

“Sooner or later, Lenin’s body will be buried”

In October 2020, a Prominent representative of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) spoke out on the burial of Lenin

“Vladimir Lenin has no place in Red Square. Nevertheless, one should proceed with caution in the matter of his burial.” This statement was made by the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion, on the Russia 24 TV channel.

“I have no doubt that sooner or later Lenin’s body will be buried. It is another matter, however, when this will take place, and under what circumstances,” he said.

The high ranking representative of the Russian Orthodox Church called Lenin a “traitor to the Motherland” who came to Russia on German money. In his opinion, Lenin was a revolutionary who should be judged according to ordinary laws.

“In 1918 Lenin unleashed the Red Terror, which resulted in the repression and mass killings of the Russian population, therefore, the Bolshevik leader has no place in Red Square, he has no connection to it whatsoever,” the Metropolitan added.

“Lenin’s funeral will take place only when the communist ideology finally fades into the past. And this will still take some time,” the priest said.

The Metropolitan proposes to leave the mausoleum as is, since it is the work of the outstanding architect Alexey Viktorovich Shchusev (1873-1949). He supports the idea of converting it into a museum of mass repression during the Bolshevik years.

In September 2025, Advisor to the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation demanded the renaming of all toponyms in Russia bearing the name of the former Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin . . .

Natalia Poklonskaya sent a letter to the Cabinet of Ministers with a proposal to rename all toponyms in Russia bearing the name of Vladimir Lenin: streets, squares, parks, as well as the demolition of monuments to the Bolshevik leader, who ordered the murder of Russia’s last Tsar and his family.

“Each of us recalls the horrors of the Red Terror and the shooting of the Imperial Family,” she noted. “It’s time to get rid of the symbol of the Bolsheviks and Soviet era . . . “

As a replacement for Lenin, Poklonskaya proposed to assign toponyms the names of Nicholas II, Paul I, Catherine II and other Russian monarchs.

In July 2025, a Russian Orthodox social media group proposed the demolition of the Lenin Mausoleum on Red Square in Moscow, and replacing it with a Church of the New Martyrs (see photo above).

The author of this article supports such an idea, and I am sure that I pray and speak for many others, that we shall live to see the day when both Lenin’s corpse and Mausoleum are permanently erased from the Russian landscape!

© Paul Gilbert. 19 April 2026

NEW BOOK – ‘Memories of Russia: My Travels in Post-Soviet Russia’ by Paul Gilbert

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

*You can order this title from most AMAZON outlets, including
the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Sweden,
Brazil, Mexico and Japan
*Note: prices are quoted in local currencies

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE HARD COVER EDITION @ $25.00 USD

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK EDITION @ $20.00 USD

English. 9″ x 6″ format. Hard cover and paperback. 314 pages.

***

This year marks the 40th anniversary of my first visit to Russia. During the past four decades, I have visited Russia 29 times!

I travelled to Moscow, St. Petersburg – and the suburban towns of Tsarskoye Selo, Peterhof, Pavlovsk, Gatchina and Strelna – as well as Yalta and Crimea, Ekaterinburg and Alapaevsk.

In my new book, which is part travelogue, part history, I share my personal impressions and history of a dozen historic sites, that I have visited – some on numerous occasions. Out of the dozen historic sites covered in my book, all but two have a connection to Russia’s last tsar Nicholas II.

Join me as I revisit such places as the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Petrovsky Travelling Palace and the Russian State Archives – where I explore the Romanov archives in Moscow; learn the fate of Nicholas II’s private apartments in the Winter Palace and the State Hermitage Theatre – venue for the famous 1903 Costume Ball; travel with me to the Children’s Island and the Feodorovsky Sovereign Cathedral – Nicholas II’s favourite church at Tsarskoye Selo; the ruins of the Lower Dacha at Peterhof and much more!

On the cover photo above, I am standing in the magnificent St. Andrew’s Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. The date is 27th October 2000 – the day in which I marked my 44th birthday. Of all the wonderful memories I have from the 29 journeys I made to Russia between 1986-2018, this is among one of the most memorable!

Richly llustrated with more than 200 black and white photographs!

Every one has one country in which they are drawn, for me it is Russia
– PAUL GILBERT (Retired)

© Paul Gilbert. 15 April 2026

Livadia Palace and Park to undergo large scale restoration

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: aerial view of the Livadia Palace and Park, Crimea

The Director of the Livadia Palace Museum Larysa Kovalchuk recently announced plans for a large-scale restoration of the Livadia Palace and Park.

“Today we have three main tasks: the renovation of the park, restoration of the palace and the redevelopment of existing exhibition space”, said the museum’s director.

“Each direction is a separate epic with its own challenges and discoveries. The renovation of the 37 hectare [91 acres] Livadia Park is a project which will involve at least five years of work. The situation with landslides is very difficult, and will require some serious engineering investments,” she added.

“In addition, more than 60 small architectural forms – gazebos, fountains, retaining walls – need to be restored. Sadly, some fountains are completely lost, but there are historic photos in our archives that will allow us to recreate them.”

Re-exposition will prove to be is the most challenging project. In 2025, an all-Russian competition for a new concept was announced. Fourteen firms from all over the country presented their projects, divided into two lots: the re-exposition of the existing historic interiors and the creation of a new museum site like New Chersonesos – situated near Sevastopol.

PHOTO: Director of the Livadia Palace Museum Larysa Kovalchuk,
standing in the Italian Courtyard of the Livadia Palace

“We are still more in favour of the museum remaining a memorial museum. After considering all the proposals, a competent panel of experts with the participation of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation and representatives of leading Russian museums came to a consensus: the Livadia Palace should remain a historic memorial museum,” Kovalchuk firmly declares.

Here are some statistics: the number of visitors’ to Livadia Palace increased from 260,000 in 2023 to 385,000 in 2025, with 49% who are interested in the Yalta Conference, and 51% are interested in the Romanovs in Livadia.

“These statistics are very interesting,” said the director – “they clearly indicated that both the Yalta Conference (February 1945) and the Romanovs in Crimea are what interest visitors to the Livadia Palace the most. Therefore, we will not change that, but let’s delve further into both,” she added.

The plan for the restoration of the interiors has been worked out in detail. The museum wants to recreate the original interiors of the palace so that future generations can see how the last Russian Tsar and his family lived, during their stays in Crimea from 1911 to 1914.

Recall that Nicholas II and his family visited Livadia in the autumn of 1911 and 1913 and in the spring of 1912 and 1914, where they took up residence for several months at a time.

PHOTO: Emperor Nichiolas II’s Study at Livadia Palace. as it looks today

The story of the return of furniture and other items to Livadia is interesting, one which reads like a detective novel.

After the 1917 Revolution, the Imperial residences were all nationalized, the furniture in the Livadia Palace was considered “of no use”, it was then “written off” and sold through commission stores. Livadia Palace officials believe that even today, some residents of Yalta may have pieces of furniture from the palace in their homes.

It is interesting to note, that the Maly [Small] Palace at Livadia survived until the Great Patriotic War (1941-45), it was looted and destroyed by the Nazis, following their retreat from Crimea.

The museum issued an appeal through the media offering to buyback items which belonged to Nicholas II and members of his family from the Livadia Palace. The call did not go unanswered . . .

A pair of vases were recently returnd to Livadia Palace. They had been in the possession of a Yalta family, who from generation to generation, the vases were passed down. As it turned out, the vases came from from Empress Alexandra’s Boudoir at Livadia. The museum staff began to look for confirmation of this and discovered a photo of the boudoir, where the vases are in their places. After 95 years, they have now been returned to their historic place.

Another exhibit a kitchen cabinet from the Small Dining Room marked “Grand Palace, Livadia”, has also been returned, discovered in a local warehouse.

The Livadia Palace is currently preparing an exhibit for the 130th anniversary of the Holy Coronation of Emperor Nicholas II, the 170th anniversary of the Coronation of Emperor Alexander II and the 115th anniversary of the completion of the construction of the palace.

FURTHER READING

Nicholas II’s study in Livadia Palace to be recreated + PHOTOS

Livadia Palace marks 100th anniversary as a museum + PHOTOS

Act of historical justice: restored bust of Nicholas II returned to Livadia + PHOTOS

FDR wanted to buy Livadia Palace in final days of WWII + PHOTOS

© Paul Gilbert. 14 April 2026

Paul Gilbert: “Ekaterinburg is my favorite Russian city”

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

Ekaterinburg was founded on 18th November 1723, by decree of Emperor Peter I (1672-1725), however, its ‘City Day is officially celebrated on the third Saturday of August. The name of the city was given in honor of Empress Catherine I (1684-1727), the second wife of Peter the Great. The Ural city celebrated it’s 300th anniversary in 2023.

In 1924 Ekaterinburg was renamed Sverdlovsk – after the Bolshevik leader Yakov Sverdlov – and lived with the Bolshevik name for 67 years. It was during the Soviet years that Sverdlovsk was a “closed city”, particularly foreigners. Everything changed after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the city returned to its historical name of Ekaterinburg. Since that time, the city has boomed, attracting both business and tourism from across Russia, the former Soviet republics, Europe, the UK and the United States.

In the May 14th 2020 issue of ‘Forbes Magazine,’ travel writer Jared Ranahan named my favourite Russian city of Ekaterinburg as one of the ‘Five Underrated Russian Cities To Explore After Moscow’

Ranahan writes: “Though often overshadowed by its larger neighbours to the west, Yekaterinburg is a major cultural hub for the country, often referred to as the “third capital of Russia” as well as the “Window to Asia” thanks to its location on the eastern edge of the Ural mountain range. While the city is home to a truly impressive skyline featuring some of Russia’s tallest buildings, a major draw for tourists is the city’s rich cultural legacy. Of the many historic sites scattered throughout Yekaterinburg, one of the most significant is the Church of All Saints in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land [Church on the Blood]. This grand Russian Orthodox structure marks the location where Bolshevik forces executed Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia, and his family.”

* * *

PHOTO: St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Novo-Tikhvinsky Convent, Ekaterinburg

Why is Ekaterinburg my favourite city in Russia?

People often ask me “Why Ekaterinburg?” as opposed to the former Imperial capitals of St. Petersburg or Moscow and “Ekaterinburg has such a dark history.”

Ekaterinburg has done more to honour Nicholas II and his family than any other city in Russia. Thanks to my visits to Ekaterinburg in 2012, 2016 and 2018, it is a city which I have grown to love.

“On a spiritual level, Ekaterinburg was the last capital of the Russian Empire, because the residence of the Sovereign was always considered the capital in Russia. Peter the Great never officially transferred the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg, but since he lived there, it was the capital,” says Russian historian Peter Multatuli.

Multatuli noted that in 1918, for 78 days, Emperor Nicholas II and his family lived in Ekaterinburg, and that is why the Ural capital can be considered the last capital of the Russian Empire. [It is important to note that many historians – myself included – firmly believe that the Tsar’s signing of the instrument of abdication, his status as Tsar remained inviolate and unassailable – PG]

“Petrograd and Moscow to one degree or another welcomed his overthrow, and they bear a greater responsibility in this than any other Russian city. No matter what anyone says, it was Ekaterinburg that served as the last Imperial residence, which, according to God’s special plan, became the Royal Golgotha,” added Multatuli.

According to him, in the near future, Ekaterinburg will play a great role in the history of Russia, because “the city named after St. Catherine and becoming the Royal Golgotha ​​will be the city of Russian resurrection.”

Once a bastion of Bolshevism, Ekaterinburg has slowly shed its status as the “capital of atheism”. Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Urals have experienced a revival of faith, with Ekaterinburg at the center of Orthodox Russia in the Urals.

Below, is a list of places associated with the last days of Nicholas II and his family, during their house arrest from April to July 1918, which are worth visiting. More than a century after his death and martyrdom, churches, monasteries, monuments, museums and exhibitions honour him and his beloved family. These are just some of the reasons “why” Ekaterinburg is my favourite city in Russia.

PHOTO: the author of this article standing next to the bust-monument to Tsar Martyr Nicholas II, located on the grounds of the Monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Beaers at Ganina Yama. July 2018 – Tsar’s Days

Places in th Ekaterinburg worth seeing

Tsar’s Days – an annual event which marks the anniversary of the death and martyrdom of Emperor Nicholas II, his family and four faithful retainers. Each year it attracts tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians, monarchists and adherents of Russia’s last Tsar, from across Russia and around the world. In 2018 – the year marking the 100th anniversary of the regicide – more than 100,000 faithful attended. The event culminates on the night of 16/17 July, with an outdoor divine liturgy, followed by a a 21-km (13 mile)  Cross Procession to the Monastery of the Holy Royal-Passion Bearers at Ganina Yama.

Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land [aka the Church on the Spilled Blood] – built in 2000-2003 on the site of the former Ipatiev House, which was demolished in 1977. The completed complex comprises two churches, a belfry, a patriarchal annex, and a museum dedicated to Nicholas II and his family. The altar, which is situated in the Lower Church is directly over the site where the Romanovs were murdered. A large monument to Nicholas II and his family stands outside the church. The staircase on the left of the monument represents the 23 steps the Imperial Family and their retainers descended to their death and martyrdom in the Ipatiev House in the early morning hours of 17th July 1918.

Patriachal Compound – situated on the square across from the Church on the Blood, the Patriachal Compound serves as the residence of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, when he is visiting the region. The compound is also home to the Tsarsky Cultural Educational Center and the Museum of the Holy Royal Family. A bust-monument on pedestal of Emperor Nicholas II stands at the top of the stairs leading to the museum.

The Romanovs in the Urals – the permanent exhibition opened in the Poklevsky-Kozell House Museum of the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore in July 2023. Among the exhibits is the original cast iron fireplace (among other items), salvaged from the dining room of the Ipatiev House before its demolition in September 1977, and evolvers used by the regicides – including Peter Ermakov’s – to murder the Imperial Family in the Ipatiev House on 17th July 1918.

PHOTO: watercolour depicting the Church on the Blood

The Path of Sorrows – a route which passes through the places associated with the final days of Russia’s last Tsar and his family in the Ural capital, which includes:

Church in honour of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God, near the Yekaterinburg-I Railway Station was located here, where on 30th April (new style), 1918, the train carrying Nicholas II, his family members and their five retainers stood for several hours, before proceeding to the the Shartash-Yekaterinburg-II Railway Station, where they disembarked.

The Shartash-Yekaterinburg-II Railway Station where Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna and their five faithful retainers disembarked from the train on 30th April 1918. Here, near the Shartash-Yekaterinburg-II Railway Station, a Memorial Cross and a foundation stone were installed. There are plans to build a church in honour of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God on this site – one of the three miraculous icons that appeared during the reign of Nicholas II.

Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Port Arthur”, built in 2017. Here, according to historical records, on 23rd May (new style), 1918, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, abd the Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana and Anastasia Nikolaevna arrived by train. They too, were subsequently placed under arrest, and then taken to the Ipatiev House.

PHOTO: this splended view of Ekaterinburg is highlighted by the Churh on the Blood

Monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers – at Ganina Yama is the site of the Four Brothers mine, which is located near the village of Koptyaki, 15 km north from Ekaterinburg. It was here, on 17th July 1918, that the regicides tried to hide the remains of the Imperial Family. Seven wooden chapels were constructed around the site, one for each member of the Imperial Family. A tall Orthodox cross marks the edge of the mine shaft, visible by a depression in the ground. Several monuments can be found on the grounds of the monastery, including Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, OTMAA (the children of Nicholas II) and Nikolai Sokolov, who in February 1919, launched an investigation into the murder of Nicholas II and his family. There is a permanent Romanov exhibit in the Museum and Exhibition Cente, located in the basement of Church of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God.

Romanov Memorial at Porosenkov Log – situated about 3.8 km from Ganina Yama, it was here at Porosenkov Log that regicides reburied the remains of the Imperial family and their four faithful retainers in two separate graves. The remains of the Tsar, his wife, three of their five children, and four faithful retainers were discovered in 1978, then exhumed in 1991, while the remains of Alexei and Maria were discovered in 2007. It is the only place in Ekaterinburg, which is associated with Russia’s last Tsar, that has survived to this day unchanged.

Novo-Tikhvinsky Convent – during their house arrest from April to July 1918, the sisters’ helped the Imperial Family by offering prayers, and through deeds: disregarding their own safety, they supported the Tsar and his family by passing over various foods to them through the guards on a daily basis. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is magnificent. The convent is a sanctuary for prayer and reflection in the beautifully landscaped gardens. In June 2022, a monument to four other faithful retainers of the Imperial Family was installed and consecrated in these gardens.

Sredneuralsky Monastery – in 2014, the Trinity Church was consecrated. It is dedicated to Nicholas II and his familyI. The Lower Church reproduces the interior of the basement of the Ipatiev House, where the Imperial Family were shot. Next to the church e is a huge worship cross dedicated to the Romanovs. In 2007, a bronze monument to Nicholas II was installed and consecrated on the grounds of the monastery.

Church of the Holy Passion Bearer Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, in the village of Kashino in the Sysert district, situated about 47 km south of Ekaterinburg. The foundation stone of the wooden church was laid on July 24, 2003 by Archbishop Vikenty of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye. The church was opened on 12th (O.S. 30th July) August 2004 – the day marking the 100th anniversary of Alexei’s birth. The church was consecrated on 22nd January 2005.

PHOTO: a stunning aerial view of Ekaterinburg lit up at night . . . beautiful!

NOTE: to date, I have written more than 100 articles on Ekaterinburg, below are links to just a few of them:

FURTHER READING – ENGLISH LANGUAGE SOURCES

Pilgrimage to Ganina Yama – “for reflection and prayer” + PHOTOS

What is Tsar’s Days? + PHOTOS

Nicholas II monuments in and around Ekaterinburg + PHOTOS

FURTHER READING – RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SOURCES

Пол Гилберт: «Екатеринбург – мой любимый российский город»

Интерес мира к жизни и царствованию Николая II сохраняется по сей день»: британский историк о Царской семье

Британский историк поддержал Средний Урал в продвижении «Императорского маршрута»

Как один британец борется с мифами о Николае II и царской семье

BOOKS ON EKATERINBURG

Tsar’s Days: Journey to Ekaterinburg

Regicide in Ekaterinburg

© Paul Gilbert. 4 April 2026

Nicholas II Vintage Newsreels No. 11 – 15

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

This is the third installment of a 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 another 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. 11 – Nicholas II visits the Iverskaya Chapel in Moscow, 1913

The Great Pilgrimage of Emperor Nicholas II to the beautiful and historic Iverskaya Chapel, situated at the Resurrection Gate which leads into Red Square in Moscow, on May 24-27, 1913. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna can be seen at 3:08, she is dressed in a white nun’s habit. In this video you will hear a unique audio recording of Orthodox hymns for the Transfiguration of the Lord, performed by the Moscow Chudov Choir in 1908.

Duration: 3 minutes, 5 seconds with musical background

***

No. 12 – Nicholas II and his family in Sevastopol, Crimea. 1912

Emperor Nicholas II and his children meet Grand Duke Ernst-Ludwig of Hesse – the brother of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna – and his family at the railway station in Sevastopol, Crimea in the Spring of 1912.

Duration: 1 minute, 12 seconds with musical background

***

No. 13 – French President Raymond Poincare’s State Visit to Russia, 1912-1914

n this newsreel we see Emperor Nicholas II with President Raymond Poincare of France at Krasnoye Selo [near St. Petersburg], the summer military capital of the Russian Empire. We see Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and her daughters getting into some of the fine automobiles which the Emperor was so fond of.

This is followed by a parade of grand dukes and generals on horseback. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna is then seen riding in an open carriage with President Raymond Poincare, the Emperor on horseback riding along side.

Members of the Imperial Family join Poincare in a tent, positioned on a slight hill, where they can witness manoeuvres in honour of the French president’s state visit. Towards the end of the footage, the Empress is seen knodding as soldiers file past the tent and its guests.

Duration: 1 minute, 12 seconds with musical background

***

No. 14 – The Great Pilgrimage of Emperor Nicholas II, 1913

A one-hour newsreel which documents the highlights Nicholas II’s tour of Russian cities and towns during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 1913. A must watch!

Duration: 1 hour, 1 minute, 50 seconds with English-language narration

***

No. 15 – Funeral procession of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, 1915

This vintage newsreel shows the funeral procession of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich [Nicholas II’s first cousin once removed] to the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg on 21st (O.S.) June 1915.

Emperor Nicholas II can be seen at 1:10 following behind the horse-drawn carriage which carries the coffin bearing the remains of the much loved grand duke.

Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich was the last of the Romanovs to die before the 1917 Revolution and the last Romanov to be buried in the Grand Ducal Mausoleum, which is adjacent to the SS Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Duration: 2 minutes, 54 seconds with Russian-language narration

***

Previous Post Featuring MORE Vintage Newsreels of Nicholas II

Nos. 6 – 10

Nos. 1 – 5

© Paul Gilbert. 1 April 2026

Nicholas II in the news – Winter 2026

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

Please note that the articles provided (by links) are for information purposes
only, they do not reflect the opinion of the administrator of this blog – PG

Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar Nicholas II, his family, the Romanov dynasty and the history of Imperial Russia, continue to be the subject of books, exhibitions and documentaries. In addition, the continue to generate headlines in the media.

The following articles were published by English-language media services, in January, February and March 2026. Click on the title [highlighted in red] below and follow the link to read each respective article:

The life of Peter the Great in paintings + PHOTOS

He carried the French king in his arms, condemned his own son to death and saved entire ships during bad weather… See how Russian and foreign artists depicted the most important events in the life of Russia’s first emperor.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 30 March 2026

What did a remonteur do in Tsarist Russia? + PHOTOS

Nikolai Rostov, one of the characters in Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’, was sent on a business trip to Voronezh “to procure supplies for the division”. Where did he go and why?

Source: Gateway to Russia. 29 March 2026

Who was blamed for the imperial train crash? + PHOTOS

In October 1888, Alexander III was returning from a trip to the Caucasus. His family, ministers and courtiers were all traveling with him on the train. Near the Borki Station on the Kursk-Kharkov-Azov Railway, the train derailed and crashed.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 23 February 2026

What Russia was like in 1916 + PHOTOS

World War I, the murder of Grigori Rasputin and everyday life in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg). Check out how the Russian Empire lived and what it looked like in the last year of its existence, exactly 110 years ago.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 15 February 2026

Ukraine removing fresco of Royal Martyrs from church built by Tsar Nicholas II

Ukrainian authorities and the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine” have agreed to remove a fresco of the Royal Martyrs from the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir, which was recently stolen from the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Source: Orthodox Christianity. 10 February 2026

What Russia was like in 1906 + 18 PHOTOS

The First State Duma, agrarian reform, revolutionary riots and other events. This is how the Russian Empire lived and looked like 120 years ago.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 7 February 2026

7 facts about Empress Anna Ioannovna + PHOTOS

She occupied the Russian throne for only 10 years. However, during this time, she managed to instill in her courtiers a love of luxury and prevented the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 7 February 2026

How did Nicholas II & Anton Chekhov end up in Sri Lanka? + PHOTOS

This island was an important point of transit for those who traveled to Asia from Europe at the turn of the 20th century. Many famous people passed through it, from Arthur Conan Doyle to Mark Twain, including iconic Russian figures.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 30 January 2026

How a close associate of Nicholas II’s family became a Soviet comedic actor + PHOTOS

Grigory Pinkovsky (Georgy Svetlani, 1895-1983) was a man of remarkable destiny. He starred in dozens of Soviet comedies, including the cult classic ‘Kidnapping, Caucasian Style’ (1967). Interestingly, he was also close to the imperial family as a child.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 23 January 2026

How the first PET cemetery appeared in Tsarist Russia + PHOTOS

Members of the Russian imperial family loved animals and often kept domesticated dogs, cats and birds near them. They were also buried nearby.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 23 January 2026

Where in Russia did monarchs LOVE to travel? + PHOTOS

Distances are never an obstacle. Especially, if you’re speeding nonstop. Or traveling in the company of ministers and kings of other countries. Read about the travels of Peter the Great. Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas I and Alexander III.

Source: Gateway to Russia. 19 January 2026

From the Sea to the Tsar’s Table: Oysters in the Russian Empire + PHOTOS

While working through the Russian History Mmuseum’s porcelain collection, Anastasia Shteinert, Michael Perekrestov came across a peculiar dish that prompted a deep dive into a little-known chapter in the culinary and industrial history of the Russian Empire.

The piece that launched this gastronomic exploration? A shell-shaped porcelain dish from the coronation service of Alexander III, rimmed with gold and decorated with a black Imperial eagle.

Its sole purpose? Serving a very specific delicacy: shucked oysters.

Source: Russian History Museum 16 January 2026

© Paul Gilbert. 31 March 2026

Russian Geographical Society issues new edition of Nicholas II’s journey to the Far East

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

Earlier this week, a new Russian-language edition of a book dedicated to the 1890-91 Far East journey of the future Emperor Nicholas II, was published by the Russian Geographical Society. The three-volume set of books was presented to business circles, diplomats’ and journalists at the Russian House in Bangkok, Thailand.

The original three-volume “Journey to the East of His Imperial Highness the Sovereign Heir Tsesarevich Nicholas” was created by the orientalist and member of the Russian Geographical Society Prince Esper Esperovich Ukhtomsky (1861-1921), who accompanied Nicholas on his nine month journey.

PHOTO: Prince Esper Esperovich Ukhtomsky (1861-1921)

Recall that on 5th November (O.S. 23rd October) 1890, Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich [future Emperor Nicholas II] embarked on a journey, which took him around the greater part of the Eurasian continent. The total length of the journey exceeded 51,000 kilometres, including 15,000 km of railway and 22,000 km of sea routes.

The map below depicts the Eastern journey of the future and last Tsar of Russia, which took him to Egypt, India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Singapore, Batavia (Jakarta, Dutch East Indies) Siam (Thailand), Saigon (French Indochina), Hong Kong, China, and Japan. It was during his visit to the Empire of Japan, that Nicholas was the target of a failed assassination attempt in Otsu.

On his return to Russia, Nicholas took part in opening ceremony of the Trans-Siberian Railway in Vladivostock. He then made his way across the Russian Empire, through Transbaikalia and Siberiam before arriving back in St. Petersburg on 17th August [O.S. 4th August] 1891.

During the nine month journey, Ukhtomsky kept a travel diary, recording daily the places and landmarks visited, meetings with kings, princes and government officials as well as historical and cultural research, including geographical and ethnographic observations. His vivid essays about the countries and peoples of the East at the end of the 19th century make a fascinating read.

The original Russian-languaged edition of the book was published in three volumes between 1893 and 1897 and brought the author all-Russian fame.

An English-language edition was also published in 1896. Volume One of Travels in the East Nicholas II Emperor of Russia when cesarewitch 1890-1891 is available to read online.

The republication of Nicholas II’s journey to the Far East is timed to coincide with the 135th anniversary of the visit of Tsesarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich to Siam in 1891,” – said Anastasia Timofeeva, Advisor to the Department of Expert, Analytical and International Activities of the Russian Geographical Society.

“The Tsesarevich’s’s journey became symbolic of the beginning of friendly relations between Russia and Thailand. It was during his visit to Siam, that the heir to the Russian throne was awarded the Most Illustrious Order of the Royal House of Chakri. In turn, the King of Siam Chulalongkorn (1853-1910) was presented with the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle First-Called. This helped to establish a trusting dialogue between the two countries. Today, the republication of this historic book, continues the joint historical and cultural heritage which helps to strengthen relations between the business and cultural circles of Russia and Thailand.,” she added.

There are plans to produce a Thai-lanaguage edition of the book, of which copies will be presented to both the National Library of Thailand and the Siam Society Under Royal Patronage.

PHOTOS: an exhibition dedicated to the history of the dynastic friendship between the Russian Imperial House and the Royal House of Chakri (the ruling dynasty in Thailand, was preparted for the presentation of the book

The republished book about the travels of Nicholas II to the East presents 700 illustrations that were handmade by the Russian military officer, painter and writer Nikolai Nikolaevich Karazin (1842-1908).

In addition, the book is illustrated with photographs of Vladimir Dmitrievich Mendeleev (1865-1898), the son of an outstanding Russian chemist.

In the book, you can find sketches and testimonies about Siam (Thailand), which allows a modern reader to see the country through the eyes of the expedition participants.

The updated edition of this publication is supplemented with name and geographical indications and a map of the journey. This makes the publication accessible to both researchers and a wide range of readers.

PHOTO: guests lead through the pages of the book Nicholas II’s journey to Far East

During the presentation, the organizers prepared an exhibition dedicated to the history of the dynastic friendship between the Russian Imperial House and the Royal House of Chakri (the ruling dynasty in Thailand, which has been in power since 1782).

The presentation was followed by a gala dinner, where the cuisines of Russia and Thailand met. The chefs of the two countries prepared an unusual menu. Guests were treated to borscht with coconut milk and shrimp, buckwheat porridge with tree mushrooms and other authentic dishes.

The organizers of the project were Rossotrudnichestvo and the Restaurant Group of Russia, founded by Alexei and Dmitry Vasilchuk. The event was held with the partner support of the Russian Embassy in Thailand. The cuisine of Thailand was represented by chef Phi Thip Pausila (Belle), and the Russian gastronomic school was represented by Alexander Railyan.

© Paul Gilbert. 28 March 2026