Author: Paul Gilbert

The Rehabilitation of Emperor Nicholas II

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

On 1st October 2008, the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation granted the judicial rehabilitation of Emperor Nicholas II and his family. Ninety years after a Bolshevik execution squad gunned down the last Tsar and his family, the country’s supreme court declared the Imperial family as “victims of political repression.” The regicide was condemned, and that the false accusations against the Tsar, that he was an enemy of the people…were at long last proven to be false.

By finding the Tsar a victim of political terror, the court has completed the remarkable transformation of the discredited man who died with his family in the cellar of the Ipatiev House in the early hours of 17th July, 1918 on the orders of the Ural Soviet.

Throughout the years of the Soviet Union, government propaganda vilified the last Tsar, giving him the derogatory nickname “Bloody Nicholas” and accusing him and his family of a litany of crimes.

It is important to note, that the Supreme Court’s decision overturned a ruling by the same court in November 2007 that the killings did not qualify as political repression, but premeditated murder. The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation, stated in court that “the requirements for rehabilitation do not comply with the provisions of the law due to the fact that these persons were not arrested for political reasons, and no court decision on execution was made.”

Four weeks later, on 30th October 2008, it was reported that the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation ruled to rehabilitate 52 people from the entourage of Emperor Nicholas II and his family.

Some readers will argue that the Court’s judicial rehabilitation was unnecessary because the Tsar had not committed any crime, which of course is true! For the sake of historical justice, however, it was the responsibility of a post-Soviet Court to overturn the Bolshevik’s decision to condemn and justify the murder of Russia’s last Tsar. In addition, his rehabilitation defeats the myths and lies of both the Bolshevik and Soviet regimes.

Up until the Supreme Court’s ruling, Nicholas II remained falsely accused of crimes in which he did not commit. According to the existing code of laws, the Russian Federation is the lawful successor of Soviet Russia and of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]. From the purely juridical stand­point, all the criminal charges, incriminations and verdicts of repression pronounced since 7th November 1917 continue to carry legal authority until the government officially rehabilitates the victims. A paradoxical situation thus occurred, where the head of the Russian government has offered up repentance for the bloody violence carried out by representatives of the government on members of the Imperial House and their servants, relatives and friends; where the immediate members of the family of Emperor Nicholas II along with Grand-Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna have been recognized as saints by the Russian Orthodox Church; yet where, from the judicial point of view, they can legally be considered “criminals,” since they were executed as “enemies” of the government.

Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that Nicholas II, was unlawfully killed by Bolshevik authorities. The ruling negates the Bolshevik claims used to instigate the 1917 revolution, and the murder of the Tsar and his family the following year. His rehabilitation reinstates the good name of Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov, and to legally declare that he was innocent and had suffered unjustly.

Georgy Ryabykh, a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church said the “decision can only be welcomed. It strengthens the rule of law, restores historical continuity and 1,000 years of state tradition”.

Ivan Artsishevsky (1950-2021), Director of the Romanov Family Association also praised the ruling: “the fact that the Russian state took responsibility for that murder is a step towards repentance … and the rehabilitation of all innocent (Bolshevik) victims.”

It should come as no surprise that the rehabilitation was denounced by the Communists, who said it was “cynical” and would “sooner or later be corrected.” In response, Russian lawyer German Lukyanov (1961-2022) noted that the ruling was “a final decision that cannot be challenged.” 

“Rehabilitation is necessary for the modern state, so that the image of Russia throughout the world is associated not with basements covered in blood, but with the image of a civilized state that has renounced the Soviet past and condemned it,” he added.

© Paul Gilbert. 1 October 2023

Tsarskoye Selo launches ‘The Blooming Palace’

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO © Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

The Tsarskoye Selo State Museum has launched a very innovative new project: “Blooming Palace”, to be held in the Alexander Palace over the next 12 months. Once a month, flower arrangements created by modern designers and florists will be displayed in different interiors of the Alexander Palace, the favourite Imperial residence of Nicholas II and his family.

Arrangements will include hydrangea, chrysanthemum, forsythia, camellia, lilacs and other flowers and plants. The flower marathon will last a year, ending in August 2024. The museum is implementing this project in partnership with representatives of various creative industries in St. Petersburg.

PHOTO © Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

“We set ourselves the most important task – to create an atmosphere of family warmth in the private rooms of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, said Olga Taratynova, director of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum.

“At the beginning of the last century, there were fresh flowers all year round, the floral theme was also present in the upholstery of the walls, furniture, stucco reliefs on the walls and ceilings. We supplemented the recreated interiors with freshly cut flowers and decorative plants. In addition, more than a hundred years later, the Empress’s tradition of decorating her rooms with lilacs was revived – their fragrant aroma fills the interiors from late January to March, “she added.

PHOTO © Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

The first compositions were created in September, for the Maple and Rosewood Drawing Rooms, located in Alexandra Feodorovna’s rooms. The main flower was hydrangea – in total, florists used more than 80 luxurious flowers of white, pink, blue and green blooms. The idea was initiated by a colour autochrome of the interior, taken in 1917 by Andrei Zeest. The photographer took this photo with hydrangea in a vase in the Rosewood Drawing Room just a few hours after the Imperial Family were sent into exile to Tobolsk on 1st August 1917. In addition to hydrangea, designers used autumn flowers and plants, including live branches with paradise apples, rose hips and various types of grain plants.

PHOTO © Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

In total, the “Blooming Palace” project involves the creation of 12 compositions under the guidance of designer, florist, designer Maxim Languev. Each of them will be in one way or another be connected with the history of the Alexander Palace as an Imperial residence, and the personal tastes of the family of the last Russian emperor. Sources of inspiration includes – historical facts (i.e., the eastern journey of the heir, engagement, wedding, the stay of the Imperial Family in Livadia); floral motifs in the decoration of interiors (symbolism of lilies in the decoration of the palace); items of the museum collection (vases in the technique of cloisonné enamel, Venetian glass, incense burners); documentary evidence – photographs, autochromes, paintings.

PHOTO © Tsarskoye Selo State Museum

The “Blooming Palace” project is a joint prohect with the Higher School of Economics, the museum will hold a creative competition among students to create souvenirs based on the Blooming Palace. Interest in the project and readiness to support it was expressed by the organizers of the federal competition “Young Design”.

The project “Blooming Palace” is the winner of the “Creative Museum” competition of the Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation. The information partner of the project is the magazine “Interior + Design”.

© Paul Gilbert. 28 September 2023

Alexander Palace hosts ‘Romanovs in the Crimea’ exhibition

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On 21st September 2023, a new exhibition ‘Imperial Visits to the Crimea: 1900, 1902, 1909‘ opened in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.

NOTE: during their visits to Crimea, Nicholas II and his family stayed in the Small (Maly) Palace, until 1911, when the iconic white stone palace was constructed on the site of the Large (Bolshoi) Palace, by the Russian architect Nikolai Krasnov (1864-1939).

The Small Palace survived until the Great Patriotic War (1941-45). While there is no exact information about the destruction of the palace, some say it was the work of the Nazis, while others cite evidence from local eyewitnesses that it was the Soviets who set fire to the historic wooden palace – PG

PHOTO: early 20th century postcards depicting palaces along the Black Sea coast, including the wooden palaces at Livadia – the Large (Bolshoi) and Small (Maly) Palaces are depicted above the photo of the Rotunda at Oreanda (bottom)

The exhibit is a joint project of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum and the Alupka Palace Museum (Crimea), which showcases photographs from the private albums of Emperor Nicholas II and his family, as well as imperial memorabilia from the Tsarskoe Selo collection.

The albums with photographs capturing Emperor Nicholas II and his family during their visits to the Crimea in 1900-1909 were made for the Romanovs by K.E. von Gan & Co., a famous photography atelier in the town of Tsarskoye Selo, who were licensed to photograph the imperial family.

Their photographer and cinematographer Alexander Karlovich Yagelsky (1861-1916) used a then-innovative approach by printing still frames from film reels and thus getting more real, ‘live’ photos instead of stiff, staged shots. 

The photographs on display show the Imperial Family in Livadia, Yalta, Oreanda and Sebastopol, visiting infirmaries, regimental celebrations, the ship Rostislav and cruiser Pamiat’ Merkuria (Memory of Mercury), meeting with veterans and sisters of mercy of the Crimean War, as well as walking around or playing ball and lawn tennis. 

“This is not just a series of photographs from beautifully designed albums with impeccable artistic taste. Before us are documents of the era that allow us to look into the past and see the people and events of the early 20th century through the eyes of the last Tsar and his family,” said Iraida Bott, Deputy Director for Research at the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Reserve.

An interactive touch table at the exhibition gives access to other over 130 digitized photos from the imperial albums.

Among the items of imperial memorabilia on display are Tsesarevich Alexei’s hat of a lower-rank officer from the imperial yacht Standart, Emperor Nicholas II’s jacket of a Naval Captain 1st rank, Empress Alexandra Fiodorovna’s dress, worn during their visits to Crimea in the early 20th century.

The exhibition runs until 20th November 2023.

***

In 2013, the photographs from this exhibition were published in a large 240-page hardcover album – *Августейшие визиты в Крым. 1900, 1902, 1909 (Imperial Visits to Crimea. 1900, 1902, 1909). Only 1000 copies were printed.

*I regret that I do not know how to obtain copies, or where copies can be obtained. Current financial sanctions imposed on Russia by the West, it is impossible to order from Russian booksellers in the Russian Federation – PG

© Paul Gilbert. 27 September 2023

NEW BOOK: Most Pious Tsar

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

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

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE HARD COVER @ $50.00 USD

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK EDITION @ $40.00 USD

English. Large 7″ x 10″ format. 162 pages with 132 photos in FULL COLOUR

In 1938, Russia’s last tsar Nicholas II was canonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church. On 1st November 1981, he was canonized as a new martyr by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). On 20th August 2000, after 8 years of study, he was canonized as a passion bearer by the Moscow Patriarchate, although the people had already been venerating him as a saint for a long time, and this canonization was simply a confirmation of a fact that already existed by itself.

Since these historic dates, icons of Russia’s last Tsar have been installed in Orthodox churches across Russia and around the world. In addition home icons have been mass produced and sold for veneration by Orthodox Christians. This book features more than 130 of these icons in full colour.

Inside, are a series of articles, plus an introduction, in which the author explains iconography, Nicholas II as a martyr or passion bearer, the veneration of icons, intercession, miracles, non-canonical icons, frescoes, and more.

This book also includes a Prayer and Akathist to the Holy Martyred Tsar.

This book will not only appeal to Orthodox and non-Orthodox persons, but for any one who shares an interest in icons and iconography, as well as adherants to the Holy Royal Martyr Nicholas II.

© Paul Gilbert. 8 September 2023

Nicholas II assumes command of the Russian Imperial Army, 1915

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

On this day – 5th September (O.S. 23rd August) 1915 – Emperor Nicholas II assumed the position as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Imperial Armed Forces.

After the great retreat of the Russian army in the summer of 1915, the Tsar removed his cousin Grand Duke Nicholas “Nikolasha” Nikolaevich (1856-1929) of the position on 21st August 1915.

In the order, the Tsar wrote with his own hand: “With firm faith in God’s mercy and with unshakable confidence in the final victory, we will fulfill our sacred duty of defending the Motherland to the end and will not disgrace the Russian land. Nicholas”.

Some historians have wrongly suggested that Nicholas II’s decision was disastrous, citing that the move was largely symbolic. It was at this stage of his reign that the Tsar’s patriotism reached its zenith. He travelled up and down the Eastern Front on the Imperial Train, in his motorcars and even on horseback to show himself to his troops, boasting morale, reviewing troops, inspecting field hospitals and preside over meetings with his chief-of-staff General Mikhail Vasilyevich Alekseyev (1857-1918).

PHOTO: Nicholas II with his chief-of-staff General Mikhail Vasilyevich Alekseyev

When Nicholas II assumed command of the Russian armed forces, he appointed Alekseyev as Chief of Staff of the General Headquarters and placed in charge of all military operations. He served in this capacity from August 1915 to March 1917.

According to Russian historian George Mikhailovich Katkov (1903-1985): “Alexeev was a modest and reserved man, an educated general, to whom the Tsar treated extremely attentively . . . . Every morning the Tsar and Alexeev discussed the affairs of the front for several hours. They apparently understood each other well, and there is no indication that the Emperor tried to impose any strategic or tactical ideas on his Chief of Staff. In fact, Alexeev was the commander-in-chief, and each of his undertakings was supported by the Sovereign.”

History has now proved that Russia made great gains under Nicholas II’s command. For instance, shortly after he assumed command of the armed forces, the Russian Imperial Army carried out at least 15 major victorious operations, not counting the Brusilov Breakthrough. Russia’s military historians now believe that had the revolution not interfered, Russia was bound to have won the war.

On 1st September (O.S. 19th August) 1916, he wrote the following in a letter to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna:

“Thank God, the news is good – on the first day of our offensive we captured 300 officers and more than 15,000 Austrian and German soldiers…”

On 16th December 2013, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu opened a sculptural composition dedicated to the heroes of World Wars I and II on the grounds of the National Defense Control Center (NDCC) building – situated on Frunze Embankment in Moscow. The WWI monument (above) features Nicholas II on horseback, recognizing and honouring his efforts during the Great War.

FURTHER READING:

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

© Paul Gilbert. 5 September 2023

Life-sized brass image of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II removed from Kiev cathedral

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

On 22nd August 2023, a life-sized brass image of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II was removed from the doors of St. Nicholas Cathedral, situated at the *Pokrovsky [Holy Intercession] Convent in Kiev, Ukraine.

*The convent was founded in 1889 and developed in the last decade of the 19th century by the Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna (1838–1900), the estranged wife and later widow of Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, Sr. (1831-1891). The laying of the St. Nicholas Cathedral took place on 21st August (O.S.) 1896. The first stone in the foundation of the cathedral was laid by Emperor Nicholas II. Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna died on 25th (O.S. 12th) April 1891, and was buried in the convent, according to her wishes.

PHOTO: a beautiful autumn view of St. Nicholas Cathedral, situated at the Pokrovsky [Holy Intercession] Convent in Kiev, Ukraine

On 15th August, Ukrainian People’s Deputy Rostislav Pavlenko published a post on social media, in which he pointed out that “despite the war with the Russian Federation, an image of the last Russian tsar can be seen on the doors of the Kiev convent”. Pavlenko was responding to complaints from local residents, who demanded the removal of the image.

He then filed a deputy appeal to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), regarding “the inadmissibility of the image of Nicholas II the bloody on the doors of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Kiev”. Two weeks later, the SBU, in response to the deputy’s appeal, reported that on 22nd August, at the direction of the administrator of the Kiev Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the doors with the image of the Russian tsar were dismantled. Pavelenko personally went to the convent to confirm that the doors of St. Nicholas Cathedral with the image of Nicholas II was no longer in place.

PHOTOS: before (above) and after (below) views of the life-sized brass image of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II, depicted on the doors leading into St. Nicholas Cathedral

***

On 3rd April 2023, Ukrainian nationalists hung a large black banner denouncing the Moscow Patriarchate, across the facade of the Chapel in Honour of the Miraculous Image of the Lord Jesus Christ in Odessa. In addition, two icons including one depicting the Holy Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II were dismantled.

In July 2022 Ukrainian nationalists destroyed a bust-monument to Emperor Alexander III in the village of Pershotravneve, located in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. The bust of the “Tsar-Peacemaker” was knocked to the ground, while the plaque, which included Putin’s name was also removed from the front of the pedestal.

The bust-monument was erected in 2013 on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and the 125th anniversary of the BorkiTrain Disaster on 29th October 1888, when the Imperial Train carrying Alexander III and his family from Crimea to St Petersburg derailed at high speed at Borki.

© Paul Gilbert. 2 September 2023

Cathedral in memory of Nicholas II under construction in Murmansk

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PHOTO: artist concept of the cathedral named in honour of Nicholas II in Murmansk

Construction has begun on a new cathedral named in honour of the Holy Royal Martyr Nicholas II in Murmansk, Russia’s first ice free port founded in 1916 by Nicholas II and named Romanov-on-Murman.

“With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the new Russian Orthodox temple will bear the name of the Holy Transfiguration of St. Nicholas Cathedral,” stated Metropolitan Mitrofan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk.

The idea to build a church in honour of the last Tsar in Murmansk is the initiative of the Murmansk diocese. The cathedral will be erected on the site of a former amusement park on the street named after Konstantin Burkov, a veteran of the Soviet-Finnish and Great Patriotic Wars, a Pomeranian sailor who made a significant contribution to the development of the Kola Arctic and was awarded the highest state award of the USSR – the Order of Lenin. In November 2022, Metropolitan Mitrofan presented the project to Patriarch Kirill. During that meeting, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church noted that the style of the temple should correspond to the traditions of the Russian North and promised to support the project.

***

In recent years, Emperor Nicholas II has been commemorated in a number of projects in Murmansk and the surrounding region:

  • In June 2019, Murmansk Airport was reamed Nicholas II-Murmansk Airport
  • In July 2019, plans were announced for a bust-monument to Nicholas II, to be installed in front of the main terminal at Nicholas II-Murmansk Airport

© Paul Gilbert. 27 August 2023

‘The Romanovs: An Imperial Family’ a film by Gleb Panfilov

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“A legacy that defied Bolshevik and Soviet attempts of erasure”

***

OBITUARY: the famous Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter Gleb Anatolyevich Panfilov (1934–2023), died on 26th August 2023, at the age of 89. Memory Eternal! Вечная Память!

***

More than a century has passed since the murder of Emperor Nicholas II and his family brought an end to the Russian monarchy and the Russian Empire. The Soviet Union is no more. But the grandeur of pre-Soviet, Tsarist Russia continues to occupy the imagination of people across the world and the last Russian Imperial family has entered the annals of cinema in many a memorable work of moving images.

Among the cinematic works created around the Romanov family who were brutally murdered by the Ural Soviet on 17th July 1918, is the historical drama film ‘The Romanovs: An Imperial Family’. The Russian made which was released in 2000 having premiered at the 22nd Moscow Film Festival. This film is a must watch not only for ‘Romanovophiles’ but also for history buffs and movie lovers who enjoy the historical drama genre. Directed by internationally acclaimed Russian film director Gleb Anatolyevich Panfilov (1934-2023), it is a Russian language movie with Russian actor Aleksandr Galibin as Emperor Nicholas II and British actress Lynda Bellingham as Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

The directorial craft of the movie brings to life the perceptions and perspectives of Nicholas II and his family during the last stage of their lives and shows how the imperial family perceived and responded to news of the turmoil in the country that was creating a tide of antipathy towards the monarchy. The narrative shows the humaneness of the Tsar and his family bringing to life their humanity which makes this an endearing film.

Contrary to what Soviet propaganda sought to perpetuate during the reign of communism in Russia, that the Imperial family were cold and uncaring towards the masses, Panfilov’s vision shows how the Romanovs were caring people with admirable humane qualities and talents which even their captors could not help but secretly appreciate.

The movie is quite compelling with a cast of good actors and a plot structure that drives forward the drama of events and action principally through the somewhat insular characters of the Imperial family. Galibin delivers a superb performance as His Imperial Majesty Tsar Nicholas. The character that is brought to life in Panfilov’s directorial vision is one who is much a human with his principal weakness being perhaps that he was torn between how to focus and devote himself and his efforts on being a good father while also being a good monarch and to win the love and respect of all.

The Tsar and Tsarina are shown as two loving humans who are solid in their spousal and parental love. The Imperial children are portrayed as children who feel emotions of sadness, fear, anger and love just like any other, and how they are made hapless victims of a political agenda that overawes all forms of governance and power that formed the old order of imperial Russia.

The revolution is not shown in prominence through extensive scenes of armed conflicts but as more a series of events brought to the knowledge of the Tsar and his family at various stages from February 1917 to the fated day of their massacre in Ekaterinburg on 17th July 1918. Their grasp of matters that near their unseen doom, as a gradual and coldly unnerving series of changes in their household brings to life the ‘psychological environment’ the Imperial family inhabited in their last days. The Tsar and his family are meant to endure suffering that is much more psychological than physical and thus the slow torment and torture of the Romanovs at the hands of the communist red army captors are brought to life.

The Ipatiev House, In what is called the ‘House of Special Purpose’ by the Bolsheviks, a residence located in Ekaterinburg in Western Siberia, the Imperial family is kept under guard, after the Tsar’s abdication and monarchical rule ends and the family finds themselves being political prisoners. However, the ‘House of Special Purpose’ becomes the slaughter house where the massacre of the imperial family and their remaining staff takes place past midnight on 17th July 1918. The murder carried out by the Bolsheviks brings the narrative of the Romanovs to an end. The scene which follows as the end of the film is documentary footage of the scene of canonization of the Romanov family in Russiain 2000.

The final scene is a strong message that one sees at the end of the film when reading it in context of post-Soviet Russia. The statues of Lenin who founded the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) have been brought down with the end of the Soviet Union and his legacy now enjoys no glory among Russians. The Romanovs, however, have once again been reborn in their nation’s collective heart and soul, to remain adored in the Russian people’s memory.

‘The Romanovs: An Imperial Family’ is presented in this post in 13 x 10 minute videos, with ENGLISH subtitles.

This film presents the most historically accurate version of events available to an English audience to date. Unlike Massie’s ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’ (1971), Panfilov filmed entirely in Russia, with many scenes filmed inside the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo. Furniture was specially created for this film, which can be seen on display in the palace to this day. The recreation of the private apartments of the Imperial family in the Alexander Palace and the Tsar’s Imperial Train are truly remarkable.Overall, the film is visually stunning!

I invite you to make yourself a cup of tea or pour a glass of your favourite wine, sit back, relax and enjoy ‘The Romanovs: An Imperial Family’ – PG

© Dilshan Boange / Paul Gilbert. 20 September 2020

Imperial Family inspire 12-year-old cancer patient

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

On 28th August 2023, a special exhibit ‘Dedication to the Romanovs’ will open at the Poklevsky-Kozell House Museum in Ekaterinburg.

The exhibit will feature seven works by Vasilisa Kudrina, a 12-year-old artist from Nizhnyaya Tura (a town located in the Sverdlovsk region).

Earlier this year the young artist was diagnosed with cancer. She spent 4 months in the Children’s Cancer Center in Ekaterinburg, where she underwent two surgeries and four courses of aggressive chemotherapy. During her recovery Vasilisa found comfort through painting and drawing, it was the Russian Imperial Family who inspired her.

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II by Vasilisa Kudrina

PHOTO: Empress Alexandra Feodorovna by Vasilisa Kudrina

PHOTO: Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich by Vasilisa Kudrina

Vasilisa is the eldest of three children of Yulia Kudrina, a photographer from Nizhnyaya Tura. The birth of a girl was a miracle for the family. Vasilisa was born pre-mature and forced to fight for her life. Over time, it seemed that everything was getting better. Vasilisa went to school and began to study well. From an early age, the girl was fascinated by painting and drawing. Today, Vasilisa receives a scholarship at the Children’s Art School from the town of Nizhnyaya Tura.

Her favorite genre is portraits, she draws with gouache, ink, markers, even ordinary pencils. Despite her young age, she already shows great talent. Her portraits are very expressive, especially the eyes of her subjects. Recently, she has been fascinated by digital graphics, and is now drawing on a tablet.

Last year, Vasilisa became very interested in the Romanov dynasty, particularly the last Tsar and his family. Her passion for their history is clearly reflected in her work. She created a whole series of portraits of the Imperial Family in her own special style. In the hospital, where she spent four months, Vasilisa continued to paint and draw. She painted portraits of members of the Imperial Family, including Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and their five children.

PHOTO: Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna by Vasilisa Kudrina

PHOTO: Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna by Vasilisa Kudrina

PHOTO: Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna by Vasilisa Kudrina

PHOTO: Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna by Vasilisa Kudrina


When asked about her hobby and her dreams, Vasilisa replied: “I love to paint portraits of people. For example, in the classroom I sometimes draw my classmates, and at home I draw my family. My dream is to study at an art school, and then paint pictures or work somewhere as an artist. I really want to study at the Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. After that, I have not yet made any further plans, but I think that I would like to stay in St. Petersburg and work there in some creative profession.

The exhibition ‘Dedication to the Romanovs’ runs from 28th August to 17th September 2023 at the Poklevsky-Kozell House Museum in Ekaterinburg.

***

Dear Reader

Please join me in offering prayers, hugs and words of encouragement to 12-year-old Vasilisa Kudrina – seen in the photo above – in her battle against cancer. May the Holy Royal Martyrs protect her and intercede for her before Christ. We pray that this dear child will make a full recovery.

Holy Royal Martyrs, pray to God for us! ☦️
Святы Царственные мученики, молите Бога о нас! ☦️

© Paul Gilbert. 24 August 2023

NEW BOOK: Ella. Grand Duchess Elizabeth. Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr

Posted on by Paul Gilbert

*You can order this title from AMAZON in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia,
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Japan
*Note: prices are quoted in local currencies

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE PAPERBACK EDITION @ $13.99 USD

English. 160 pages with 48 black & white photos

More than a century after her death and martyrdom, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (1864-1918) remains of one of the most beloved and respected members of the Russian Imperial Family. Affectionately known as Ella, she became famous in Russian society for her dignified beauty and charm, and later for her piety and acts of charity among the poor.

This new book features 7 essays – including 2 researched and written by Paul Gilbert. Read about Ella’s Hessian family; her relationship with her British grandmother Queen Victoria and her sister Alexandra, the last Russian Empress; her life in Imperial Russia; her years a a nun and abbess of her own convent of mercy in Moscow; her arrest, imprisonment and brutal murder; her burial in the Holy Land; her canonization; and how she is commemorated today in post-Soviet Russia.

Learn about her marriage and often misunderstood relationship to Sergei, a Russian grand duke and son of Emperor Alexander II, who from 1891 and 1905 served as Moscow’s Governor-General. Learn why the couple had no children and rumours that Sergei was homosexual. After her husband’s assassination in 1905, Ella departed the Imperial Court and became a nun, founding the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent dedicated to helping the downtrodden of Moscow.

In 1918, Ella was arrested and subsequently murdered by the Bolsheviks near Alapaevsk. In 1981, she was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and in 1992 by the Moscow Patriarchate.

© Paul Gilbert. 21 August 2023