St. Petersburg | Nicholas II

The Church of the Saviour on the Waters to be revived in St. Petersburg

PHOTO: the Church of the Saviour on the Waters in St. Petersburg,

On 23rd March 2026, it was announced that the Church of the Saviour on the Waters, one of the most famous lost churches of old St. Petersburg will be revived. Recall that the church was was constructed in 1910-1911 as a memorial to the sailors who died in the Battle of Tsushima during the Russian-Japanese war (1904-05). The church was destroyed by the Soviets in 1932.

The reconstruction of the Church of the Saviour on the Waters is past of a large-scale renovation of Novo-Admiralty Island.

History and Construction

The site for the construction of the church was at the end of the English Embankment, at the place where the Novo-Admiralty Canal and the Neva river meet, and not far from the Admiralty Shipyards where the ships of the Imperial Russian Navy were built. The location of the church was chosen well. Lined with white stone, it looked very beautiful from the Neva River, closing the perspective of the embankment.

In 1908, a committee was created in St. Petersburg to collect donations for the construction of the memorial church. The honorary chairman of the committee was the only female admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy, the Queen of the Hellenes / Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna (1851-1926).

PHOTO: construction of the church took place in 1910-11

The foundation stone of the church was laid by Bishop Nikon (Rozhdestvensky) of Vologda on 28th (O. S. 15th) May 1910, on the day marking the 5th anniversary of the Battle of Tsushima. The event was followed by a procession of the cross from the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral. Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna laid the soldier’s St. George Cross in the foundation stone.

The white-stone church was built in the Neo-Russian Style, by the Russian architect Marian Marianovich Peretyatkovich (1872-1916). The two-storey church consisted of a lower church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and an upper one in honour of the Gethsemane Agony of Christ the Saviour. The church was designed for 300-400 parishioners.

On 10th August (28th July) 1911, the military protopresbyter Georgy Ivanovich Shavelsky (1871-1951) consecrated the lower church,in the presence of the relatives of the victims of the war. The solemn consecration of the upper church took place on 13th August (O.S. 31st July) 1911. It was attended by Emperor Nicholas II and his daughters, Queen Olga of the Hellenes / Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna, her brother, Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich (1858-1915), among other members of the Imperial Family.

PHOTOS: Emperor Nicholas II along with other members of Imperial family arrive for the consecration of the the Church of the Saviour on the Waters in St. Petersburg, 13th August (O.S. 31st July) 1911

Design and Interior

The church was erected in the likeness of the Vladimir-Suzdal churches of the 12th century. According to the builders, it was supposed to resurrect the wonderful traditions of ancient Russian architecture. Many famous artists participated in the decoration.

The gate led to the church, above which was a belfry and a mosaic icon of the Saviour Not Made by Hands according to a sketch by the famous Russian painter and graphic artist Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov (1848-1926). Relief doors lined with copper imitated the gates of the 13th century in the Suzdal Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. The dome of the church was covered with golden smalt.

PHOTO: a colour view of the upper church and the mosaic
“The Saviour Walking on the Waters”

In the upper church, on the altar wall, there was a mosaic “The Saviour Walking on the Waters” made according to a sketch by the Russian painter Nikolai Aleksandrovich Bruni (1856-1935). Two mosaic icons – “Praying for the Chalice” and “Carrying the Cross” – on the pillars were made according to sketches by artists Viktor Vasnetsov and Nikolai Bruni.

The iconostasis was made in the ancient style of carved light gray stone and had two tiers. The Holy Doors were made of chased bronze. The altar curtain was the St. Andrew’s flag. Bronze choros chandeliers hung on anchor chains. The white-marble tabernacle was carved in the shape of the church itself.

The entrance to the lower church was through a narrow corridor. The low vaults of the lower church were covered with a continuous painting made by the Russian painter and graphic artist Mikhail Mikhailovich Adamovich (1884-1947), depicting the Gospel scenes and the life of the patron saint of sailors, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The wooden two-tiered iconostasis, covered with brocade and basma, was decorated with bronze overlays. The Holy Doors were donated by the builder of the church Sergei Nikolaevich Smirnov (1877-1958) and dated to the 16th century. The Kazan icon of the Mother of God was embroidered with gold.

A covered gallery connected the church with the tower, where the maritime museum was located, and the belfry, which in turn was connected by a gallery with the clergy house.

The unique memorial church became “a symbol of a mass grave for the heroic sailors who died without burial” in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

The Soviet Years to the Present

The Church of the Saviour on the Waters was closed by the Bolsheviks in early 1918. For a short time, irregular services continued to be conducted without too much fuss from the authorities. In 1919, the Soviet authorities concluded an agreement with the parishioners that the building would be transferred to them, and in return, the church was ordered to pay taxes, report on donations, and maintain the building in order. The teaching of doctrine was prohibited. Failure to comply with the orders would result in arrests and imprisonment.

n December 1931, at a meeting of the Presidium of the Leningrad Soviet, it was decided “to transfer the building to the plant for scrapping using materials for construction needs.”

The Soviets wasted little time in looting the church: Icons, vestments, the Gospel, silverware and precious stones were taken during two confiscations. Some were taken to local museums. Less valuable things, such as lamps, chalices, discos – were simply melted down into metal. Some of the mosaics were saved by an employee of the Morozov Museum, and stored in the basements of the museum.

Following the pillaging and looting, the church was blown up in the spring of 1932, despite thousands of signatures collected. The clergy and some of the parishioners were repressed by the local Soviet.

PHOTO: the Church of the Saviour on the Waters
was reduced to a pile of rubble on 8th March 1932

On 27th May 1998, on the 93rd anniversary of the Battle of Tsushima, a small chapel was built on the site of the church. With the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, a foundation stone, a marble plaque with a canonical commemorative text and the St. George Cross, brought from France by the grandson of one of the builders of the Church of the Saviour on the Waters, were laid in the foundation of the new chapel.

PHOTO: members of the planning working committee meet in St. Petersburg to discuss plans for the reconstruction of the Church Savior on the Waters

Reconstruction

On 23rd March 2026, representatives of the working committee gathered at the Russian Geographical Society in St. Petersburg to discuss the project for the reconstruction of the Church of the Saviour on the Waters. Among them were representatives of the St. Petersburg clergy, descendants of the heroes of the Battle of Tsushima and historians.

The decision to revive the church was made as part of the large-scale redevelopment of the Novo-Admiralteysky Island. The Church Savior on the Waters is one of the most famous lost churches of old St. Petersburg, t was created in memory of the sailors who died during the Russo-Japanese War. The church will be restored at the expense of private philanthropists.

Ernst Liphart’s former studio in St. Petersburg to be auctioned

Posted on 9 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

On 18th April 2026, the former apartment-studio of Ernst Karlovich Liphart (1847-1932) – the famous court artist of Emperor Nicholas II, will go under the hammer at the Litfond Auction House in St. Petersburg. Its price starts at 110 million rubles [$1.3 million USD].

Liphart’s heirs managed to preserve the historical layout of the apartment-studio, conceived more than 120 years ago by the painter and portraitist. Recall that during his years in the Russian capital, Liphart painted more than half a dozen portraits of Nicholas II (see below).

Located at 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, this great workshop is a real monument of architecture and art of the early 20th century. The area of the four-level apartment-studio is 150 square meters [1,614 sq. ft.].

PHOTO: Ernst Karlovich Liphart in hist St. Petersburg studio. 1914

PHOTO: a unique four-level studio-apartment that belonged to Ernst Liphart

The Art Nouveau building was built in 1906 by architect Vasily Schaub. A huge multi-meter window overlooking Austrian Square and Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, a hall with columns, an oval office and a secluded tower with round windows – perspective buyers will not find such an apartment anywhere in St. Petersburg.

The history of the workshop on the upper floors of the apartment did not end with Liphart’s departure. Another artist, Vladimir Maksimovich Sokolov (1909-1991), lived and worked here. His works, dedicated to the theme of the struggle for peace and humanity, are now stored in the funds of the largest museums in Russia.

PHOTO: the former apartment-studio of Ernst Liphart is located
at 16 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg

***

PHOTO: Baron Ernst Karlovich von Liphart. 1910

Baron Ernest Karlovich von Liphart (1847-1932) was a Russian painter and graphic artist who is known for his numerous portraits of E,peror Nicholas II, members of the Russian Imperial Family, and other famous Russian public figures.

He was born into a Livonian noble family on 2nd September (O.S. 21st August) 1847. His father, Baron Carl Eduard von Liphart (1808-1891), was an art connoisseur.

Initially Ernst studied painting at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts and then in Paris. From his father, he inherited a deep knowledge in the field of art history. He studied the history of painting in museums in Germany, Spain, England and Italy. From 1877 he exhibited his paintings at the Paris Salon.

Having received an order from the Russian Emperor Alexander III for two paintings on the subject of reasonable and unreasonable wives, in 1886 he brought them to St. Petersburg and remained there until his death in 1932. In 1886-1896, Liphart taught decorative painting at the Drawing School of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts.

PHOTOS: Ernst Liphart painted more than half a dozen portraits of Nicholas II.
Source: ‘Nicholas II. Portraits‘ – published in 2021

He was very popular as a decorator and portraitist. His paintings have been preserved in many St. Petersburg mansions and palaces: Marble Palace of Grand Duke Konstaintin Konstantinovich, three decorative panels for the palace of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich at 122 Moika, in the Derviz Mansion, in the theater of the Yusupov Palace and others.

He was a member of the Society of Watercolorists from its very foundation. From 1886 to 1896 he served as a teacher of decorative painting at the drawing school of the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts.

In 1895, during the renovation of the Hermitage Theater in the Winter Palace, Ernst Liphart developed a sketch according to which the curtain for this theater were made. n 1912 he compiled a catalogue of the collection of paintings, and from 1906 to 1929 he served as chief curator of the Hermitage Picture Gallery.

Baron Ernest Karlovich von 14th April 1932. Liphart died in Leningrad [St. Petersburg] on He was buried at the Smolensk Lutheran cemetery, the oldenst non-Orthodox cemetery in the city; the grave is not marked

Anniversary of the reign of the House of Romanov, 1913

Posted on 23 Days Ago by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: Postcard in honoir of the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov

NOTE: the date of 6th March 1913 is the day of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary according to the New Style Gregorian calendar, which is now 13 days ahead of the Old Style Julian calendar, used in Russia during the reign of Russia’s last Tsar. Therefore, the date of 21st February (O.S.) is in fact 6th March (New Style – PG

On 6th March (O.S. 21st February) 1913, the grandiose celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov began in St. Petersburg. It was on this day in 1613, that a Zemsky Sobor; elected Mikhail Feodorovich Romanov (1596-1645) as Tsar, establishing the House of Romanov.

The day of the “solemn celebration marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov” approved by the “Ceremonial” was 21st February) 1913, [according to the Old Style Julian calendar]. The “Ceremonial” provided that “solemn liturgies will be celebrated in all cathedrals and churches of the Russian Empire, followed by thanksgiving prayers with the intonation of “Many Years to Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich <… >and to the entire reigning house”. The document also described the procedure for the celebration of solemn services and the arrival of the Emperor and his family in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, as well as the offering of congratulations to Their Imperial Majesties and other events in St. Petersburg.

In addition, the Emperor ordered a pannikhida [memorial service for the dead] be served in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg on the eve of the day of celebration, on Wednesday, 20th February.

By a resolution of 4th February 1913, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church decreed that Divine Liturgies be performed on 21st February, in all the cathedrals and churches of the empire.

On 13th February 1913, Emperor Nicholas II approved the resolution of the Council of Ministers “on declaring 21st February, 1913 [according to the Old Style Julian calendar] a holiday for all citizens of the Russian Empire. February 21st 1913 fell on the on the eve of Great Lent.

A special role in the upcoming celebrations was assigned to Moscow and Kostroma, from which Mikhail Romanov was called to the throne in 1613^. In general, the celebrations took place throughout the Russian Empire. Three years before the upcoming celebrations, the “Committee for the Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Reigning House of Romanov was formed, and Aleksandr Grigoryevich Bulygin (1851-1919) was appointed its chairman.

As part of the preparations for the 300th anniversary, a number of charitable events throughout the Russian Empire were initiated by Nicholas II. Financial resources were allocated for the care of children, and assistance to advanced farmers.

PHOTO: Procession headed by Emperor Nicholas II and his family arrive in front of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan on the day of the beginning of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov, on 6th March (O.S. 21st February), 1913

PHOTO: Preparations for a ‘Te Deum’ in honour of the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, St. Petersburg on 6th March (O.S. 21st February) 1913.

Preparations for the 300th anniversary

Preparations for the celebration began three years before the celebration. The “Committee for the Celebration of the Tercentenary of the Reigning House of Romanov” was formed, the chairman of which was appointed Aleksandr Grigoryevich Bulygin, a member of the State Council and Hofmeister of the Imperial Court. The newly formed committee proposed to Nicholas II to promulgate the “Imperial Manifesto” on the occasion of the anniversary, which, among other things, read:

“<… > Through the combined efforts of our crowned predecessors on the Russian throne and all the faithful sons of Russia, the Russian state was created and strengthened <… > In unfailing unity with our beloved people, we hope to continue to lead the state along the path of peaceful organization of the life of the people’s <… > The nobility of Russia sealed with their blood their devotion to the Motherland <… > In the radiance of glory and greatness, the image of a Russian warrior, defender of the faith, throne and fatherland… >May the reverent memory of the feats of the departed serve as a testament for generations to come, and may it unite around our throne all faithful subjects for new labours and feats for the glory and prosperity of Russia <… >». The “Highest Manifesto”, according to the “Ceremonial”, was read in all Russian churches after the Divine Liturgy, and before the solemn prayer service, on 21st February 1913.

On 5th August 1911, in the presence of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich (the august patron of the building committee), a church was laid in St. Petersburg in honour of the Feodorovskaya Icon, in memory of the 300th anniversary of the reigning house; the main side chapel of the upper church was consecrated on 15th January 1914 by Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) in the presence of Emperor Nicholas II and members of his family.

In St. Petersburg, sculptors and architects worked on a monument to the anniversary. Not far from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, a church in honour of the Romanov dynasty was being built (the Cathedral of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God), and a rotunda was being erected on St. Isaac’s Square. For the celebration, jubilee medals were issued – gold, silver, dark bronze and light bronze – these medals were produced by the Mint in St. Petersburg. In addition, commemorative coins, stamps, postcards, Fabergé eggs, and even household items such as glasses, tablecloths, headscarves and brooches were issued. Thousands of workers were involved in the construction of stalls and kiosks, as well as the installation of masts for standards, banners, and the decoration of buildings.

On the eve of the day of celebration, 20th February 1913, at three o’clock in the afternoon, Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch (who was invited to Russia for the celebrations), along with Metropolitan Dimitrije of Belgrade and other hierarchs, performed a pannikhida in the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in the presence of Their Majesties.

PHOTO: a host of Russian and foreign hierarchs took part in the the solemn liturgy in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral, situated on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg

PHOTO: Kazan Cathedral House, situated on Nevsky Prospect, 25. The two-storey building served as the residence of the clergy of Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral Photo by Karl Bulla. 1913.

Events in St. Petersburg, on 21st February 1913

On 21st February 1913, at 8 a.m., twenty-one cannon shots from the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, signaled the beginning of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty began in the Russian Empire.

The Imperial Family travelled from the Winter Palace in a grand procession of carriages and horses to Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky Prospekt, to take part in a prayer service. The route to the Kazan Cathedral was lined with regimental troops and cadets of military educational institutions. Tens of thousands of people crammed the route, all hoping to get a glimpse of the Tsar and his family.

Emperor Nicholas II and his son, the heir to the throne Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich travelled in an open carriage together. They were followed by the four-horse ceremonial carriage of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, followed by a four-seater carriage with the the Tsar’s daughters: Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna. The “Imperial convoy” consisted of 100 members of the Imperial Family, which included grand dukes, grand duchesses and princes and princesses of the Imperial Blood.

At the entrance to the cathedral, the Emperor and his family were met by Patriarch Gregory and Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of St. Petersburg and Ladoga.

At 11 a.m., the solemn liturgy in Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral was led by Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch, co-served by a host of Russian and foreign hierarchs.

Inside the cathedral, the protodeacon read the manifesto of the jubilee before the moleben [a liturgical service of supplication or thanksgiving]; the service of the prayer service was led by the Antiochian Patriarch Gregory IV, who read the Gospel in Arabic. The protodeacon then proclaimed “Many Years to Their Imperial Majesties” and to the entire reigning house. The troops outside the cathedral saluted; began the solemn trezvon [bell ringing] of all the churches of St. Petersburg. Cross Processions from many city churches arrived at the cathedral), followed bya salute from the cannons of the St. Petersburg fortress.

Recall that Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg served as the court church for the House of Romanov and was dedicated to the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan. which was the most important icon in the Russian Orthodox Church, for it protected Russia and consequently the Romanov dynasty. When the Kazan Cathedral was built, it inherited both the icon and the role of the court church. Imperial family weddings and thanksgiving prayers were all held in the cathedral.

When in St. Petersburg, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna went to the Kazan Cathedral to pray, kneeling in the shadow of a pillar, unrecognized by anyone and attended by a single lady-in-waiting.

PHOTO: Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and his father Tsar Nicholas II, passing the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan in St. Petersburg, during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty in 1913.

PHOTO: tens of thousands of people lined Nevsky Prospekt on the day marking the 300th anniversary, with the hope of catching a glimpse of their Emperor and his family, on their way to Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral

Tercentenary Tour

Three months later, in May, the Imperial Family went on a pilgrimage, following the route of Mikhail I after his election as the first Romanov Tsar in 1613. Nicholas II and his family set off to visit the ancient towns of Muscovy associated with the founding of the Romanov dynasty. The tour started off in Kostroma, where they arrived in a ‘flotilla of steamboats’ on the Volga, greeted by a large crowd of townspeople. Here Nicholas visited the Ipatiev Monastery, where Mikhail had sought refuge from the invading Poles and the Muscovite civil wars. From there, the tour went to Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod and Yaroslavl, by rail on the Imperial Train. During their visit to the monastery town of Suzdal, the Imperial Family had to travel in thirty open-top Renaults, as there were no railways.

The pilgrimage ‘climaxed’ when the imperial family triumphantly arrived in the historical capital Moscow, site of the crowning of the first Romanov ruler. The Tsar and his family were greeted at the Alexandrovsky train station, by a large number of dignitaries.

The Tsar mounted a white horse and rode alone, sixty feet ahead of the rest of the party and his Cossack guard escort, towards the Kremlin. All along the route, he was greeted by large cheering crowds. The decorations along Tverskaya Street, included velvet banners donning Romanov symbols spanning the boulevard, buildings covered in pennants, flags, and lights. Even more inventive than those in the capital, garlanded statues of the tsar and a showering of confetti from the people, were ‘even more magnificent than in St. Petersburg.

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II is greeted by thousands of his subjects on Red Square during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov in Moscow. Many Western historians claim that Nicholas II was not popular during his reign, however, I think that this photo says otherwise.

The Tsar dismounted in Red Square, the convergence point of the religious processions throughout the city. Rows of priests echoing chants and prayers entered the Dormition [aka Assumption] Cathedral. The young Tsesarevich Alexei was, along the rest of the family, was supposed to walk the last hundred yards, however, due to haemophilia, had to be carried by a Cossack guard to the “exclamations of sorrow” from the crowds.

This was all followed by, in the words of historian Orlando Figes, “another round of pageantry and gastronomy. The ball in the Assembly of the Moscow Nobility was particularly lavish.”

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II takes part in a solemn prayer service on Red Square in Moscow, during the celebrations marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, 1913.

New monument to Nicholas II installed in St. Petersburg

Posted on December 23 by Paul Gilbert

On 19th December 2025, a new monument to the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer Emperor Nicholas II, was unveiled and consecrated in the rotunda of the Khrulev Military Academy of Logistics in St. Petersburg. The event was timed to coincide with the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Bishop Veniamin of Kronstadt, abbot of the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech, in which, in particular, he drew attention to the aspect of sacrificial service for the good of the Fatherland and the contribution to the history of Russia of Russia’s last Tsar. Let this monument inspire the superiors, teachers and students of the Military Academy to imitate the Holy Emperor.

In addition, the Head of the Academy Ilgar Marish oglu Kahramanov, Deputy Head of the Administration of the Governor of St. Petersburg Olga Ivanovna Arishina and others addressed with welcoming words.

The final part of the ceremony was the rite of consecration, which was performed by Bishop Veniamin of Kronstadt. The deacon was headed by Senior Hierodeacon Elias (Vasiliev). The liturgical hymns were sung by the fraternal choir consisting of Hieromonk Tikhon (Voronov) and Hierodeacon Alexander (Urbanovich).

In 1900, the Holy Royal Passion-Bearer, Emperor Nicholas II, ordered the opening of the Quartermaster Course, which in the future was transformed into the Quartermaster Academy, the forerunner of the modern Khrulev Military Academy of Logistics.

On 17th April 1896, General of Infantry Nikolai Ivanovich Solovyov (1850-1907), was appointed the first head of the Quartermaster Course.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, more than 100 monuments, sculptures, busts and memorial plaques to Nicholas II have been installed in cities and towns across the Russian Federation.

250th anniversary of the Life Guards of His Majesty’s Cossack Regiment

Posted on November 29 by Paul Gilbert

On 18th October 2025, solemn events dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the creation of the Life Guards of His Majesty’s Cossack Regiment were held in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg.

October 18th is the namesday of St. Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich (1904-18), Sovereign Ataman[1] of All the Cossack Troops. His father, Emperor Nicholas II (1868-1918) served as Regimental-Colonel-in-Chief from 2nd November 1894 to 4th March 1917.

After a drill review on the square of the Spiritual and Educational Center at the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in the city of Sestroretsk, the Cossacks of the Convoy in Memory of His Majesty Emperor Nicholas II went to St. Petersburg to the Peter and Paul Fortress to participate in the solemn events dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the creation of the Life Guards of His Majesty’s Cossack Regiment.

The commemorative ceremony brought together representatives of Cossack societies, the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, government officials and the military-historical community, from all across the Russian Federation.

The participants were the Life Guards Cossack Division, the Platov Hundred of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment from Novocherkassk (NPI), the Convoy in Memory of Emperor Nicholas II, the Grebenskaya Embassy Stanitsa of the 1st Cadet Corps, the Cossacks of the St. Petersburg Cossack District, the Cadet Naval Brotherhood from the 245th School of the Admiralty District of St. Petersburg, the Military Historical Society in Memory of the Life Guards Ataman Regiment and a group of drummers of the Moscow Musical Cadet Corps.

The day began with a solemn prayer service in the SS Peter and Paul Cathedral, which was led by the rector of the Church of the Holy Martyr Hierotheos at the Life Guards Cossack Units, Priest Alexei Egorov. He was concelebrated by Priest Timofey Chaikin and the clergy of the cathedral. During the service, the jubilee standard of the St. Petersburg Life Guards Cossack Division was consecrated.

Flowers were laid by the Life Guards of the Cossack Division at the tomb of the founder of the Court Cossack regiments, Empress Catherine II, in the SS Peter and Paul Cathedral. This was followed by a solemn formation of the Cossack units on the Cathedral Square.

Representatives of the Government of St. Petersburg, clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church and atamans of Cossack organizations addressed those who attended the event.

On behalf of Oleg Kapitanov, Chairman of the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Implementation of Migration Policy in St. Petersburg, Sergey Domnin, Head of the Department of Interethnic Relations and Coordination of State Programs, read out a welcoming address to the participants of the ceremony.

Executive Secretary of the Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks, Rector of the Church of St. Priest Timofey Chaikin read out a congratulatory address from the chairman of the Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk.

Welcoming speeches were made by: Vladimir Ivanov, Representative of the Governor of St. Petersburg for Cooperation with Religious Organizations; Prince Vladimir Trubetskoy, representative of the Imperial Guard Memory Association in Russia; Chairman of the Russian All-Military Union (ROVs) Igor Ivanov; the head of the choir of St. John of Damascus at the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Irina Boldysheva; and the oldest ataman of the North-West, the ataman of the “Stanitsa Nikolskaya”, a Cossack of the Convoy in Memory of His Majesty Emperor Nicholas II Vyacheslav Polyakov, the great-grandson of the last Leib, the chamberlain of the Cossack of the Russian Empire Kirill Ivanovich Polyakov.

With the blessing of the rector of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in the city of Sestroretsk, the spiritual father of the Convoy in Memory of Emperor Nicholas II, Archimandrite Gabriel (Konevichenko), the commander of the St. Petersburg Life Guards Cossack Division, Cavalry Sergeant of the Convoy, Esaul Ilya Pivnik, presented the Order of the Emperor Nicholas II[2].

The Order of the Emperor Nicholas II – seen in above photo – was awarded to:

Ataman of the Grebenskaya stanitsa O. Zakharchenko, head of the Interregional Historical and Cultural Center “Healthy Life” M.O. Osadchenko, sergeant of the Platov hundred of the Life Guards Cossack regiment from Novocherkassk (NPI) A. Kovalev.

To the sounds of the historic regimental march of the Life Guards of the Cossack Regiment (Mendelssohn’s march), the column solemnly marched to the Naryshkin Bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The procession was led by a platoon of the Guard of Honor of the Leningrad Military District, accompanied by a military orchestra.

This was followed by a performance of a group of drummers of the Moscow Musical Cadet Corps under the direction of Georgy Posnov took place.

The culmination of the event was the traditional noon cannon shot, which was made by representatives of Cossack units.

At exactly 12:00 p.m., Colonel V.A. Polyakov and Esaul I.I. Pivnik fired a cannon shot from the Naryshkin Bastion of the Peter and Paul Fortress to the glory of the Life Guards of His Majesty’s Cossack Regiment.

Then there was a solemn separation of the company of the Guard of Honor of the Leningrad Military District.

NOTES:

[1] A Cossack leader.

[2] The Order of Emperor Nicholas II was made by order of the St. Petersburg public organization “Convoy in Memory of Emperor Nicholas II” for the following anniversaries:

100th anniversary of the tragic death of the Russian Empire (2017)
-150th Anniversary of the Birth of Emperor Nicholas II Alexandrovich (2018)
100th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Royal Family (2018))

It was on these dates that the “Convoy in Memory of His Majesty Emperor Nicholas II” established this award. The Order Badge “Emperor Nicholas II” is presented by co-workers and missionaries of the Spiritual and Educational Center of the city of Sestroretsk in St. Petersburg with the blessing of the spiritual father of the “Convoy in Memory of Emperor Nicholas II” Archimandrite Gabriel (Konevichenko) and signed by him for loyal feelings and love for the Tsar and His August Family.

Russian President honors the memory of the Emperors of All Russia

Posted on October 10 by Paul Gilbert

On 7th October 2025, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, marked his 73rd birthday, with a visit to the SS Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, where he paid homage to the Emperors and Empresses of All Russia.

The President, who was on a working trip to the Northwestern Federal District, was accompanied by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Active State Counselor of the Russian Federation 1st Class A.R. Belousov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Army General V.V. Gerasimov, Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, Army General A.V. Bortnikov and a number of other high-ranking military officials.

The rector of the cathedral, Archimandrite Alexander (Fedorov), served a moleben [a liturgical service of supplication or thanksgiving] at the tomb of the Most Pious Right-Believing Emperor Peter I Alexeevich (1672-1725).

President Putin laid a bouquet of red roses on the tombstone of Emperor Peter I the Great, whose death on 10th February (O.S. 28th January 2025, marked the 300th anniversary of his death. Note: Peter the Great was only 52 years of age, when he died of uremia or azotemia. An autopsy revealed his bladder to be infected with gangrene.

“I decided to begin this working visit to the region today from here, because this is the burial vault of those people who, in fact, made modern Russia,” said Putin.

Putin and the Romanovs

Vladimir Putin is the first Russian leader to honour the Romanov Emperors and Emperors. While his predecessor Boris Yeltsin attended the burial of Emperor Nicholas II on 17th July 1998, Yeltsin was also the one responsible for the demolition of the Ipatiev House in September 1977.

Since taking office, Putin has touched on the subject of the Romanovs, who ruled Russia for more than 300 years, on numerous occasions, during speaking engagements or honouring them during the installation of monuments.

On 25th January 2016, while speaking at an inter-regional forum of the All-Russia People’s Front, Vladimir Putin denounced Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, for “brutally executing Russia’s last Tsar along with all his family and servants”. Putin further criticized Lenin, accusing him of placing a “time bomb” under the state, and sharply denouncing brutal repressions by the Bolshevik government, murdering thousands of priests and innocent civilians.

On 4th May 2017, the memorial cross marking the spot where Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich was assassinated in 1905, was restored in a ceremony that was attended by President Vladimir Putin. Recall that the original memorial cross was installed in 1908 by his wife Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna at the place were her husband was assassinated on 17th February (O.S. 4th February) 1905. T

On 18th November 2017, Putin unveiled a monument to Emperor Alexander III on the site of the Small (wooden) Palace at Livadia, Crimea.

On 5th June 2021, a new monument to Emperor Alexander III (1845-1894) was unveiled on Arsenal Square in front of Gatchina Palace. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally took part in the unveiling and dedication of the monument.

In May 2025, while this author was watching an interview, a framed portrait of Emperor Alexander III on the mantlepiece caught my eye. It is interesting to note that Alexander III is one of the few Russian Tsars in which he most admires.

Sadly, Putin holds a negative assessment of the 22+ year reign of Emperor Nicholas II, one which reflects that of the old Bolshevik and Soviet history books, which is based on propaganda and lies.

In addition, Putin has visited and toured the former Romanov palaces at Tsarskoye Selo, including the Alexander Palace. Not only has he supported the restoration of the Alexander Palace, he was instrumental in securing funding for the project.

FURTHER READING:

Putin, the Church and the last Tsar

Russia after Putin: would he restore the monarchy? + PHOTOS

The unholy alliance of Maria and Vlad

Putin’s Russia and the ghost of the Romanovs + VIDEO

The St. Petersburg Museum of Easter Eggs

Posted on July 2 by Paul Gilbert

Yet another new museum has opened in St. Petersburg: the Museum of Easter Eggs – not to be confused with the Fabergé Museum. The Museum of Easter Eggs, which opened in 2024, showcases the work of Andrey Georgievich Ananov, the famous Soviet and Russian jeweller, and Honoured Artist of the Russian Federation.

As the photos of Ananov’s creations, the jeweller has clearly been inspired by the Imperial Easter Eggs created by by Carl Fabergé.

Ananov’s works have received international recognition, and showcased at prestigious exhibitions in both Russia and abroad. Today his products are in the collections of Russian Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, Queen Sofia of Spain, Prince Albert of Monaco, and Queen Sirikit of Thailand, among others.

The museum, founded on the basis of the Ananov Jewellery Workshop, is a unique space where history, art and modern technology are combined. The Easter Egg Museum is housed in an Art Nouveau style building, which resembles a small castle. The exposition in two halls introduces guests to the exquisite Easter eggs and jewellery made in Ananov’s workshop in different years.

Like the famous Imperial Easter Eggs produced in the late 19th and 20th centuries by Carl Fabergé for Emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II, Ananov’s Easter eggs, each decorated with enamel, precious stones and mosaics, also contain a “surprise” inside. For example, one of them is dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Inside this egg, the master placed miniature photographs of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna – see photo below.

PHOTO: the 400th Anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty Easter Egg. Inside this egg, contains miniature photographs of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in a heart-shaped frame. © Andrey Georgievich Ananov

The Easter Egg Museum is located at No. 7 Michurinskaya, near the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. Individual visits are carried out during the following hours: 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30. Price of admission is 1500 rubles [$20.00 USD].

Fabergé Museum launches ‘Stories of St. Petersburg Jewellery Houses’ audio tour

Posted on June 25 by Paul Gilbert

The Fabergé Museum in St. Petersburg and a local tour operator Невские Сезоны / Nevsky Seasons have launched a new audio tour, which explores the heyday of Russian jewellery art and the outstanding masters of the “Fabergé era”.

The audio tour dubbed Бриллиантовая улица / Diamond Street: Stories of St. Petersburg Jewellery Houses in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries explores key historical sites in the heart of the city, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the splendour of pre-revolutionary St. Petersburg.

The tour begins on Ulitsa Bolshaya Morskaya (Street) – aka the “street of jewellers”. It was here that the most prestigious jewellery shops (more than 20 enterprises) were located, including the House of Carl Fabergé. Many of these jewellers were awarded the title of Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty and created jewellery for members of the Imperial Family.

On Bolshaya Morskaya, visitors will learn about the history of the former premises of these shops, among other sites, including the Ovchinnikov Company at No. 35, which specialized in silver products; as well as the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of Artists at No. 42, where the great Russian landscape artist Ivan Shishkin (1832-1898) taught; the building of the Sazikov Company at No. 29, one of the oldest jewellery enterprises in Russia; the shop of the jeweller Friedrich-Daniel Butz; and, of course, the building where the House of Carl Fabergé, at No. 24, is located. The Fabergé building has survived to the present day, however. some visitors will be disappointed to learn, that it is no longer a Fabergé shop.

The tour culminates with a visit to the Fabergé Museum, located in the former Shuvalov Palace on the Fontanka River Embankment. Today, it is one of the most famous cultural sites in St. Petersburg, and one of the TOP-10 most visited museums in Russia. It showcases the world’s largest collection of Fabergé masterpieces in the world – more than 4,000 works (including the former collection of Malcolm Forbes ) of decorative applied and fine arts, including gold and silver items, paintings, porcelain and bronze. The highlight of the museum’s collection are the nine Imperial Easter Eggs created by Fabergé for the last two Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II. Fabergé’s Imperial Easter Eggs, are considered a symbol of the lost Russian Empire.

The audio tour was developed by the staff at the Fabergé Museum. Tours run twice a week: on Thursdays and Saturdays at 17:00. The starting point of the tour is the Astoria Hotel – the historic five-star luxury hotel, opened in 1912..

Russian Railways new train named after Nicholas II

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 3rd November 2024, the presentation of the updated branded high-speed train No 001A/002A – Кра́сная стрела́ / Red Arrow, took place, at the Moskovsky (Moscow) Railway Station in St. Petersburg. The luxury overnight train has been running between the Moscow and St. Petersburg for more than 90 years.

At the initiative of Russian Railways employees, the train was named after the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II – the railway workers believe that the Red Arrow should become a symbol of the continuity of national history, combining the best pre-revolutionary and Soviet traditions with modern technologies.

“I would like to remind you that the Red Arrow is the first Soviet branded train, one of the symbols of the USSR. But we should not forget the glorious times of the Russian Empire – after all, it was under Nicholas II that the Trans-Siberian Railway was built,” said Fyodor Gerstner, deputy head of Russian Railways.

The Red Arrow train named after Nicholas II will begin service between Moscow and St. Petersburg from 7th November – the anniversary marking the October 1917 Revolution. The wagons of the train have been replaced, while upgrades include powerful new air conditioning and modern multimedia systems. The Red Arrow has a restaurant car, VIP carriages, as well as 1st and 2nd class carriages. Despite the modernization and rebranding, the cost of train tickets will remain the same until at least the beginning of 2025.

***

The distance between the two capitals is about 650 km, travel time is 8 hours

The Red Arrow luxury overnight train first chugged along the historic railway line between the two capitals of Russia in 1931, and has since been the pride of the Russian Railroad. This Moscow – St. Petersburg train has interiors that feel as if they come from a movie set and an exterior in such bright red that it’s really difficult to mistake, no matter if lit from the platform lights of the Moskovsky Station in St. Petersburg, or the Leningradsky Station in Moscow.

The history that emanates from the very walls of the carriages on the Red Arrow makes this a very popular train. As a result of its increasing popularity among trains from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the Red Arrow has spawned other luxury-oriented night trains, including the Express and the Megapolis. Even with all its retro charm, this one-of-a-kind luxury Russian train is as up-to-date and modern as any sleeper carriage found in just about any country. Passengers with Red Arrow train tickets enjoy high-comfort amenities while gliding through the night between Russia’s historical capital cities on an overnight train from Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Today’s journey by luxury trains meets the demands of most rail travelers, particularly those who seek special and unique train travel experiences from around the world. The Red Arrow’s vibrant red carriages almost glow against the greenery of the countryside, and is as much a part of Russian culture as borsch!

“We went to bed in St. Petersburg, and woke up in Petrograd!”

Posted on September 1, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 31st (O.S. 18th) August 1914, St. Petersburg was renamed Petrograd, by decree of Emperor Nicholas II.

The following day, on 1st September 1914, the Highest Order of Emperor Nicholas II to the Governing Senate was published on renaming St. Petersburg to Petrograd. The decision on renaming the capital of the Russian Empire: Sankt Peterburg / St. Petersburg to Petrograd, meaning “Peter’s City”, was to remove the German sounding words “Sankt” and “Burg”. [ “Sankt-Peterburg,” was actually the Dutch-influenced name that Peter the Great gave the city in 1703].

The Emperor’s decree was just the beginning of a large-scale anti-German campaign that swept Russian society at the beginning of the First World War. Not without excesses: Russian nationalists vented their anger against German shops, restaurants and businesses, even the German embassy was not spared. Anti-German sentiment launched conspiracies, and many people were accused of being spies. The Empress Alexandra Feodorovna herself was even accused of being a German spy! The entire anti-German campaign that swept Russian society was of course further fuelled by the press.

It is believed that the initiator of the renaming of the city was the Minister of Land Management and Agriculture Alexander Vasilyevich Krivoshein (1857-1921). On 11th August 1914, he was received by Nicholas II and convinced the Emperor of the need to issue a decree renaming the capital.

The Russian poet Ivan Ivanovich Tkhorzhevsky (1878-1951), later wrote that Krivoshein himself told him: “Many attack him [the Sovereign] for renaming the city Petrograd. Rukhlov (Minister of Railways) allegedly said to him: ‘who are you, Your Majesty, to correct Peter the Great!,’ of which the Sovereign responded: ‘The Russian name is dearer to the Russian heart … “.

The Emperor received support of the renaming of the capital, from the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Nikolai Alekseevich Maklakov (1871-1918), and the chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod, Vladimir Karlovich Sabler (1845-1929). It is interesting to note that with the outbreak of World War I, with Germany as Russia’s chief opponent, Vladimir Karlovich chose to replace his German sounding surname with his wife’s maiden name, Desyatovsky.

As the military historian Anton Antonovich Kersnovsky (1907-1944) noted, “yesterday’s cosmopolitans have suddenly turned into ardent nationalists. Fury against everything “German” became the dominant note. People who seemed to be quite reasonable, suddenly demanded that their surnames of German origin be changed into a Russian form.”

The very next day after Nicholas II’s decree, one St. Petersburg newspaper announced: “We went to bed in St. Petersburg, and woke up in Petrograd! .. The St. Petersburg period of our history with its German tinge has ended … Hooray, gentlemen! ..”

PHOTO: map of Petrograd. 1914

Their euphoria was echoed by Petrogradskie Vedomosti: “Somehow this name sounds much nicer to the Russian ear! In Petrograd … from now on a new era will shine, in which there will no longer be a place for German dominance which has affected St. Petersburg. Fortunately, it has outlived its time and place in our city’s history”.

It should be noted, that the idea of renaming of St. Petersburg was discussed back in the days of Empress Catherine II and Emperor Alexander I. Writers, in particular Gavril Derzhavin (1743-1816) and Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), sometimes referred to St. Petersburg as “Petropole” in their works. In some decrees issued by Catherine II herself, the place of their publication was the “City of St. Peter”.

The Russkoye Slovo newspaper recalled that as early as the 1870s, Slavophiles began a movement in favor of renaming St. Petersburg to Petrograd: “Historical documents confirm that the Slavophiles tried to introduce the use of this name into all aspects of everyday life in the capital. For instance, in correspondence and in personal conversations, they completely avoided using the name Petersburg, and even on the envelopes of letters they wrote “Petrograd”, as a result of which misunderstandings often arose between the Slavophiles and representatives of the post office, who claimed that they could not guarantee the delivery of letters bearing the destination city as “Petrograd”. This movement, however, failed to have any real effect on changing the city’s name at the time.”

It was assumed that not only the capital would be renamed, but other Russian cities bearing German sounding names as well. They wanted to rename Ekaterinburg – Ekaterinograd, Orenburg – Orengrad. They also wanted to rename both Shlisselburg and Oranienbaum, among many others. These plans, however, did not materialize.

The renaming of St. Petersburg caused a mixed reaction in society. According to Tkhorzhevsky, “the city was renamed without consulting the city’s residents: it was as if St. Petersburg had been demoted.” Lawyer and writer Anatoly Fedorovich Koni (1844-1927) was also not happy: “The historical name associated with the founder of the city and borrowed from Holland, reminiscent of the “eternal worker on the throne [Peter the Great]”, was replaced under the influence of some patriotic whim by the meaningless name of Petrograd, in common with Elizavetgrad, Pavlograd and other similar,” he wrote . Even the mother of Nicholas II, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, sarcastically remarked on this occasion that, “Peterhof would soon be renamed Petrushkin Dvor”.

Kersnovsky even called the renaming of St. Petersburg as the “crown of stupidity”. He wrote: “the ignorance of our educated circles, from which the initiative came, was amazing. Tsar Peter I named the city “St. Petersburg”, which he founded in honor of his saint [St. Peter] – and on a Dutch, not a German model and, of course, did not think to name it after himself. St. Petersburg in Russian could be translated “Svyatopetrovsk”.

PHOTO: a Metro station in St. Petersburg reflects the city’s name changes

Petrograd was by no means to be the last change in the name of the great Russian city.

On 26th January 1924, five days after Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin’s death, Petrograd was renamed “Leningrad” – meaning “Lenin’s City – a name which the city retained for nearly 70 years.

On 12th June 1991, only a few months before the dissolution of the USSR, voters supported restoring the city’s original appellation in a city-wide referendum, by a simple majority of votes (54%). Renaming the city Petrograd was not an option.

On 6th September 1991, the historic name, Saint Petersburg, was returned. Meanwhile, the oblast (district) whose administrative center is also in Saint Petersburg is still named Leningrad.

Since 1991 the Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. During that time, the historic centre of the city has undergone a monumental “facelift”, which included the restoration of hundreds of buildings dating from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, transforming Saint Petersburg into one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

In June 2019, Russian politician and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky (1946-2022), called for renaming St. Petersburg to its pre-revolutionary name “PETROGRAD”. Nothing, of course, ever came of his request.

***

‘PETROGRAD A CITY OF THE DEAD. FAMINE AS BOLSHEVIST WEAPON’

Less than six months after the Bolsheviks seized power, a former Swiss diplomat reports on conditions in the Russian capital. On 17th March 1919, re wrote:

“The situation in Russia is even worse than has been described. Some 300 Bolshevist leaders dominate the country, with famine as their chief weapon.”

“Petrograd is one vast necropolis. Bodies lie about unburied, Lenin himself lives in the lap of luxury, and fares sumptuously.”

After reading this article, one can only speculate how many Russians then regretted supporting the overthrow of the Tsar, and embracing the revolution?