Events and Exhibitions | Nicholas II

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s photo album on display in St. Petersburg

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

CLICK HERE TO BROWSE THE 1907-1908 PHOTO ALBUM
OF GRAND DUCHESS OLGA NIKOLAEVNA

A photograph album belonging to the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna (1895-1918) from the collection of the State Archives of the Russian Federation (Moscow) is currently on display at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Library in St. Petersburg.

The photographs are dated 1907-1908. The cover of the album is decorated with the Imperial Crown, and in the upper right corner is Olga’s monogram O. N.

In total, the album contains 294 photographs, of the Romanov family during the early 20th century. The pictures depict the day to day life of the Imperial Family: Olga and her siblings playing games, picnics, snowball fights and walks in the Alexander Park at Tsarskoye Selo, sailing on the Imperial Yacht Shtandart, New Year’s celebrations, and the Romanov family at home.

It also depicts photos of the Imperial Family: Empress Alexandra Feodorovna at Tsarskoye Selo with her children, with maids of honour, Emperor Nicholas II with his family and entourage.

Olga was the eldest daughter of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. She was the favorite of her father, and was considered the most gifted of the August children. Olga had a philosophical mind, loved to read and wrote poetry. According to Anna Vyrubova, Olga was ‘extremely pretty, with brilliant blue eyes and a lovely complexion, and resembled her father in the fineness of her features, especially in her delicate, slightly tipped nose’.

All the photos in the album are cheerful and serene. During the First World War, Grand Duchesses Olga and her sister Tatiana, together with their mother, completed Red Cross training, passed an exam, and swapped their Imperial dress for nurses uniforms and began to help wounded soldiers in a special hospital set up not far from the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.

Next year, will mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of the Grand Duchess, on 16th (O.S. 3rd) November 2025.

‘The Tsar’s Family: Service, Love, Mercy’ photo exhibition opens in Kostroma

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 1st November 2024, the photo-exhibition The Tsar’s Family: Service, Love, Mercy opened in the Zdemirov Rural House of Culture, situated in the village Zdemirovo of the Kostroma region. The exhibition was organized by the Union of Orthodox Women of the Kostroma Region, with the assistance of the clergy and parishioners of the local Church of the Prophet Elijah.

Photographs for the exhibition were provided by the brethren of Sretensky Stauropegial Monastery in Moscow. The photographs reflect the warmth and love the Imperial Family shared with one another.

What is a true Christian family? In the eyes of the Russian Orthodox Church, that example was set by the family of Emperor Nicholas II.

How selflessly they helped people, their fellow citizens of the Russian Empire. Despite their August positions in life, they worked on an equal basis with others, they worked as nurses, bandaged the wounded and participated in operations. In spite of of everything, they remained a strong family, always supporting each other. They were aN example of true service to God, the Motherland and people.

The photo-exhibition is timed to the 130th anniversary of the ascension of Russia’s last Emperor and Tsar to the throne, on 2nd November (O.S. 20th October) 1894.

Tsesarevich and Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich was 26 years old at that time. He was to stand at the head of the Russian Empire for more than 22 years, he marrued his fiancée, the Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt, the future Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

On 27th (O.S. 14th) November 1894, on the birthday of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, the wedding of Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich with Grand Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna took place in the Grand Church of the Winter Palace. The couple were blessed with 5 beautiful children: four daughters and a son.

The The Tsar’s Family: Service, Love, Mercy photo-exhibition runs until 4th December 2024. Admission is FREE!

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As I have noted in similiar posts, I support any initiative – big or small – to help keep the memory of Nicholas II and his family alive in post-Soviet Russia – PG

Tsar Nicholas II Men’s Choir perform in the UK

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

Photo © Diocese of Sourozh

On 24th October 2024, with the blessing of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, the Tsar Nicholas II Men’s Choir performed a concert of sacred music at the Cathedral of the Dormition in London, England.

The creative team under the direction of Adrian Fekula unites choir directors and singers from the USA, France and Great Britain. The choral ensemble aims to preserve the heritage and traditions of Russian Orthodox music abroad, focusing on the works of Russian church composers of the 20th century.

During the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated by the Secretary of the Diocese of Sourozh, Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, assisted by Priest Vasily Gandzyuk, Protodeacon Vadim Santsevitch, Protodeacon Ioan Sîlnic and Deacon Alexander Kapustin, a mixed group of singers sang, which included the choir of the Dormition Cathedral and the singers of the Tsar Nicholas II choir. The choirmaster was Dmitry Tugarinov.

Photo © Diocese of Sourozh

After the divine service, a concert was held in the church. Archpriest Dimitry Nedostupenko, addressing the participants of the performance, warmly greeted the guests on behalf of the Rector of the Dormition Cathedral, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, and thanked them for the opportunity to hear the masterpieces of the Russian church singing, reports the diocesan website.

The choir’s program included works by famous Russian church composers B. Ledkovsky, S. Taneyev, M. Ippolitov-Ivanov, A. Nikolsky, N. Cherepnin, N. Golovanov, P. Chesnokov, N. Kedrov, S. Trubachev, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, and A. Kastalsky.

The concert was attended by parishioners of the London Cathedral and parishes of the Diocese of Sourozh, who came from various cities of Great Britain. Among those gathered were a large number of British people interested in Russian sacred music.

Photo © Diocese of Sourozh

Click HERE to read more about the Tsar Nicholas II Men’s Choir

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna exhibition opens in Ryazan

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 24th October 2024, a travelling exhibition dedicated to Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, opened at the Pozhalostin Art Museum in Ryazan[1]. The exhibition is timed to the 140th anniversary of the birth of the last grand duchess of Russia, who was born on 13th June (O.S. 1st June) 1882, in the Cottage Palace, situated in the Alexandria Park at Peterhof.

The youngest daughter of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna was a philanthropist of numerous schools and hospitals, during the First World War she went to the front as a nurse. In addition, she was a gifted artist. Throughout her life, she painted more than 2000 watercolours.

Some of the grand duchess’s watercolours are on display at the exhibition, painted in different years of her life. These are complemented by photographs, letters, diary entries and memoirs from the family’s personal archive. Among her letters on display, are those written to her brothers: Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich and Emperor Nicholas II. The exhibits are from the funds of the Historical and Cultural Center of the Oldenburg Palace Complex, located in the village of Ramon[1], Voronezh Region.

The traveling exhibition has already visited the cities that were dear to the heart of the grand duchess. Among them are Gatchina (where Olga spent her childhood), Borovichi (a place close to the estate of her first husband Peter Alexandrovich[2]), Livadia in the Crimea (where Olga lived with her mother after the February 1917 Revolution), as well as the Mirsky Castle in Belarus (the Imperial Family was in close contact with the family of princes Svyatopolk-Mirsky).

The exhibition runs at the Pozhalostin Art Museum in Ryazan until 1st December 2024.

NOTES:

[1] Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna has a close connection with Ryazan and Ramon. It was here, near the Oldenburg Estate, “Ramon” (in the Voronezh region), that she had her own villa, called “Olgino” after the local town. She subsidised the village school out of her own pocket, and established a hospital. Sadly, the villa has not survived to the present day.

[2] On 27th July 1901, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna (1882-1960) married her first husband Duke Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg (1868-1924), in the family church in Gatchina Palace. In 1915, the couple separated; Olga had no children from this marriage. On 27th August 1916, Emperor Nicholas II approved the definition of the Holy Synod, which recognized her marriage to Prince of Oldenburg dissolved.

“The Last Romanoff” musical drama opens in Moscow

Posted on October 5, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 2nd October 2024, a new musical drama The Last Romanoff premiered at the International House of Music in Moscow. The intriguing plot of the production is based on real events of Russia’s last Tsar, the causes of the revolution and its consequences.

The creator of the libretto, composer and director is Alexander Ragulin. The main roles in the production are performed by popular stars of Russian musicals, as well as theater and film actors.

The Last Romanoff is not for those who love rock music, contemporary, impressive scenery, or musical comedy shows. Instead, this musical-drama takes an historical turn, one which focuses on the horrific events that took place in Russia in 1918, events which plunged the Russian Empire, the monarchy and the Imperial Family into an abyss.

The musical tells, and most importantly, shows the story of the tragic fate of the last Russian emperor, Nicholas II, who was shot along with his family and faithful retainers in the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg on 17th July 1918. As it should be in this genre, music dominates, the vocals reveal the character of the Tsar and his family, and other characters, which “transmit” to the audience the story that turned the world upside down.

Without colourful background scenery and special effects, it is music which present the plot of this drama. The acting, the dynamics of the performance, the mood of the characters, all set against the backdrop of a dark, gloomy, dimly lit stage, help in telling the story.

Actor, composer, vocalist, producer and director Alexander Ragulin (who plays the role of Rasputin) has assembled an amazing cast: Igor Balalaev, Valeria Lanskaya, Alexander Marakulin, Yaroslav Bayarunas and others – a total of 12 artists.

The Imperial Family: Nicholas II, his wife, four daughters, the sick Tsesarevich Alexei – and further down the list all the famous historical figures: Rasputin, Kerensky, Yusupov… The emperor’s daughters work in the hospitals and wonderful singing are all featured in this production.

The musical drama The Last Romanoff runs until 24th December 2024 at the International House of Music in Moscow.

New Fabergé exhibition opens in Vladivostock

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 5th September 2024, a new exhibition The Age of Fabergé. The Golden Age of Russian Jewelry Art opened at the Arseniev Museum-Reserve of the History of the Far East, situated in Vladivostock. The exhibition is a joint project with the State Armoury Chamber Museum of the Moscow Kremlin.

Grandiose in terms of the number of valuable exhibits from the funds of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, the exhibition showcases about 300 items, including three Fabergé Imperial Easter Eggs commissioned by Emperor Nicholas II for his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, for Easter in 1908, 1913 and 1916 respectively.

The Imperial Easter Eggs held in the Moscow Kremlin Museums are only ten Imperial Fabergé eggs that were not sold by the Bolsheviks in the 1920s, and are now held in the funds of the State Armoury Chamber Museum of the Moscow Kremlin. The Armoury Museum will be moving to a massive new museum complex, located on Red Square in 2024.

The famous Imperial Easter Eggs with intricate surprises, commissioned by Emperor Nicholas II, occupy a central place at the exhibition: the Alexander Palace Egg, gifted to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Easter 1908) ; the Romanov Tercentenary Egg, gifted to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Easter 1913); and the Steel Military Egg, gifted to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (Easter 1916).

PHOTO: the Alexander Palace Egg (1908). Moscow Kremlin Museums

PHOTO: the Romanov Tercentenary egg (1913). Moscow Kremlin Museums

PHOTO: the Steel Military Egg (1916). Moscow Kremlin Museums

The exhibition showcases about 300 items, including masterpieces of the famous Russian firm of Carl Fabergé (1846-1920) as well as works of his contemporaries, including Suppliers of the Imperial Court I. Khlebnikov, P. Ovchinnikov, the Grachev brothers, F. Kechli, as well as other firms, factories, workshops and artels. The three Imperial Easter Eggs on display, were created by the chief jeweler of the Fabergé firm, Henrik Wigström (1862-1923).

In addition to exclusive and commissioned works, are gifts from the Guards to their august chiefs, seals with the coats of arms of members of the Romanov family, stone-cutting products of the Ekaterinburg Imperial Lapidary Factory bearing Imperial monograms, and precious church utensils for the Marfo-Mariinsky (Martha and Mary) Convent in Moscow, the abbess of which was Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (1864-1918).

The Age of Fabergé. The Golden Age of Russian Jewelry Art exhibition runs until 12th January 2025 at the Arseniev Museum-Reserve of the History of the Far East in Vladivostock.

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PHOTO: the Arseniev Museum-Reserve of the History of the Far East, situated in Vladivostock

The memorial house was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Vladimir Klavdievich Arsenyev (1872-1930) moved into apartment number 4 on the second floor in June 1929. He was a famous Russian traveler, geographer, ethnographer, local historian, writer, and explorer who made a significant contribution to the development of the Far East.

Imperial Yachts exhibition opens in Kaliningrad

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 31st August 2024, a new exhibition The Imperial Yachts opened at the Museum of the World Ocean in Kaliningrad. The exhibit is joint project with the Peterhof State Museum. The exhibition explores the history of the Imperial Yachts, and their role in the life of the Russian Imperial Court, from Peter the Great to Nicholas II.

The Russian Imperial Yachts fell under the administration of the Naval Guards, founded in 1710, during the reign of Peter the Great. The Naval Guards conducted their service on the Imperial Yachts, and carried out regularl inspections of the vessels. In 1912, the Naval Guards also included Emperor Nicholas II, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, Tsesatevich Alexei Nikolaevich, Grand Dukes Alexander and Nikolai Mikhailovich, Kirill Vladimirovich, Konstantin and Dmitri Konstantinovich.

During the 18th century, the Baltic Fleet already had more than 30 court and admiralty yachts. Some of them, for example, the yacht Happiness, impressed with their rich exterior décor and luxurious interior decoration. Over time, the design and appearance of Imperial Yachts change significantly. In the middle of the 19th century, during the reign of Emperors Nicholas I and Alexander II, elegant high-speed ships appeared, designed for better seaworthiness and increased comfort. Their interior decoration close ly resembled that of “floating palaces”.

The exhibition introduces visitors to the construction and operation of the Shtandart / Standart, the favourite Imperial Yacht of Emperor Nicholas II. The Shtandart / Standart, was the largest ocean-going yacht in the world, with the most advanced engineering and naval technology of it’s time. Other Imperial Yachts included the Livadia, Tsarevna, Alexandria, Derzhava and Polar Star – the personal yacht of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. Both the Shtandart / Standart and the Polar Star had their own on-board chapels, in which members of the Imperial Family could attend services and pray while at sea.

The exhibition features more than 100 items, including maritime paintings and graphic works, a unique collection of services – porcelain and glassware – made for the Imperial Yachts, as well as navigation and other maritime items used on board. The exhibition is further complemented by scale models of the Imperial Yachts, uniforms, clothing and personal items of members of the Imperial Family, books and photographs which reflect life on board these luxurious vessels and their respective sea voyages.

The Imperial Yachts exhibition runs until 25th November 2024 at the Museum of the World Ocean in Kaliningrad.

Nicholas II’s uniforms on display in Tula

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 21st August 2024, a new exhibition The Forgotten War opened in Tula. The exhibition is dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. The venue for the exhibit is the Tula branch of the State Historical Museum,

The exhibition is a joint project of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum in Pushkin and the State Historical Museum in Moscow, showcasing about 200 items from the collections of the two museums.

Of particular interest to visitors will be uniforms and portraits of Emperor Nicholas II and his son Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich, on loan from the Sovereign’s Military [aka Military] Chamber in Tsarskoye Selo. Among the uniforms of Nicholas II is the Tsar’s cherkeska and beshmet of His Imperial Majesty’s Own Escort and pelisse of His Majestey’s Life-Guards Hussar Regiment. Other items on display include WWI vintage news reels, weapons, documents, photographs, awards and a tactile model of the Military Chamber.

The exhibition is divided into four sections: The War Image, The History of the Sovereign’s Military Chamber, The Imperial Family during WWI, and The St George’s Chevaliers Portraits.

The exhibition is designed to draw attention to the preservation of the historical memory of the military conflict, which for Russia has long been the “Forgotten War”. Recall that during the Soviet years, Russia’s contribution and sacrifices made during the First World War were neither discussed or commemorated. In destroying the tsars, the Bolshevik revolutionaries denounced the Great War as “imperialist”, thus robbing it of its potential for a popular legacy. It was not until 1st August 2013 that Russia marked Russian Soldiers’ World War I Remembrance Day for the first time.

The collections of the Sovereign’s Military Chamber – which includes the State Historical Museum on the First World War – are both part of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum. The Sovereign’s Military Chamber was founded in May 1913.

Following the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, it was decided to create a war museum, which included a gallery of portraits of the Knights of St. George among other exhibits. Some of the museum’s employees were sent to the Front. Subsequently, they returned with “trophies” which were added to the museum’s funds. Additional items were transferred from other museums and private collections, as well as items donated by the families of those who particpated in the Great War.

The dedicated employees of the Sovereign’s Military Chamber and the Historical Museum carefully preserved their collections even during the Soviet years. It is thanks to their efforts that this priceless collection of Russian World War One artifacts has been preserved to the present day.

The exhibition The Forgotten War. The Military Chamber and the Historical Museum: Keepers of Memory runs until 21st October 2024, at the Historical Museum, which is housed in the the former mansion (above photo) of the merchant Belolipetsky family in Tula, located 193 kilometers (120 mi) south of Moscow.

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PHOTO: the Sovereign’s Military Chamber – which includes the State Historical Museum on the First World War – are both part of the Tsarskoye Selo Museum

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II’s uniforms on display in the Sovereign’s Military [aka Military] Chamber in Tsarskoye Selo. The uniforms were previously on display in the Alexander Palace, before the private apartments of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna were recreated in the eastern wing of the palace between 2015 and 2021.

Tsesarevich Alexei exhibition opens in Moscow

Posted on August 14, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

Clicke HERE to watch a VIDEO – Duration: 2 mins., 30 secs.

On 12th August 2024, a new exhibition dedicated to Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich opened at the Museum of Military Uniforms in Moscow. The exhibition is timed to the 120th anniversary of his birth on 12th August (O.S. 30th July) 1904.

The exhibition “If one day I became Tsar…” was organized by the Russian Military Historical Society, the The Museum of Education (Moscow) and the State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF), as well as from private collections..

Visitors to the exhibition will have an opportunity to see authentic items which belonged to Alexei Nikolaevich, including toys, drawings, and his personal belongings. In addition are photographs and documents. Of particular note are a series of watercolours depicting Alexei’s rooms in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoye Selo.

The opening ceremony was attended by Andrei Kokhan, Deputy Executive Director of the History of the Fatherland Foundation:

“120 years ago, an heir was born in the Imperial Family. His birth marked a new era, which was to be happy for the Russian people. However, his death, which coincided with one of the darkest and most terrible events of our Fatherland, unfortunately extinguished these hopes and dreams,” said Kokhan.

“For many decades, the history of the Imperial Family was not considered in Russian historiography. It was, by and large, forgotten. Shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, however, Russians took a keen interest in their past, the life and reign of Russia’s last Tsar and his family in particular. The Romanov archives, which were sealed during the Soviet years, revealed documents and photographs which helped reshape Russia’s history. The canonization of the Tsar and his family by the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000, helped present the lives of the Imperial Family in a whole new light. Today, Nicholas II and his family are the subjects of countless books, in addition to exhibitions, documentaries, films and conferences, among other events. I am sure that the exhibition opening today will make a great contribution to the study and rethinking of the events of late 19th to early 20th century Russian history,” he added.

The exhibition explores the short but important life about the boy whom everyone adored. Alexei combined unique qualities, none of which any of the Romanov grand dukes could boast of. “When I am Tsar, there will be no more poor and unfortunate! I want everyone to be happy,” he often repeated. Those who knew him personally were sure that with the Tsesarevich Alexei’s ascension to the throne, that the golden age of the Russian Empire would begin. Sadly, it was not to be.

The exhibition “If one day I became Tsar…” opens to the public on 13th August 2024 and runs until 16th February 2025, at the Museum of Military Uniforms in Moscow.

Update on the next Nicholas II Conference

Posted on August 7, 2024 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.