Nicholas II

Watch all 5 episodes of ‘The Romanovs. The Final Word’

Posted on November 26, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

NOTE: this article has been updated from it’s original (published on 15th December 2023), with episode No. 5. All 5 episodes are now available in one video, the duration of which is 3 hours and 28 minutes. While the audio is in Russian, you can adjust the settings to translate in English (or other languages), and then turn on the close-captioning for English subtitles – PG (26 November 2024)

The 5-part series ‘The Romanovs. The Final Word‘, a new Russian-language documentary series is now available to watch on the Russian actor Danil Smirnov’s YouTube page.

In 1964, members of the firing squad Grigory Petrovich Nikulin (1894-1965) and Isai Radzinsky, on the orders of Nikita Khrushchev, recorded their memories of the execution of the Imperial Family in July 1918. These audio recordings were subsequently ordered sealed and stamped “SECRET” and placed in the archives. These important historical recordings are now made public for the first time in the documentary series ‘The Romanovs. The Last Word.’

For the first time, this documentary series reconstructs in detail one of one of the most notorious crimes in 20th century Russian history – the murders of Emperor Nicholas II and his family – based on the memories of the killers. as well as the circumstances of hiding the bodies by a team of executioners. The project was narrated by Sergey Minaev.

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PLEASE NOTE that this series is currently only available in Russian. I do not know if or when an English language edition will be made available. In the meantime, I will continue to search for the series with English subtitles and update this post – PG

Episode 1 to 5. Duration: 3 hours, 28 minutes, 25 seconds

PLEASE NOTE that this series is currently only available in Russian. I do not know if or when an English language edition will be made available. I will continue to search for the series with English subtitles and update this post – PG

FURTHER READING:

“The Romanovs. The Final Word” viewed more than 1 million times!

The Romanovs. The Final Word + TRAILER

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Please CLICK on the BANNER or LINK above to review my current selection of titles in hardcover, paperback and ebook editions. Listings provide a full description for each title, pricing and a Look inside feature.

Nikolai Sokolov honoured at Ganina Yama

Posted on November 23, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

Today – 23rd November – marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Nikolai Alekseevich Sokolov (1882-1924).

Sokolov, a lawyer, and investigator for important cases of the Omsk District Court, was appointed by Admiral Alexander Kolchak (1874-1920) in February 1919, with the investigation into the murder of members of the Russian Imperial Family in Ekaterinburg and Alapaevsk.

As a staunch Orthodox monarchist, Sokolov accepted his appointment as investigator with a deep sense of reverence and responsibility. Within a short time, working without rest from morning until late at night, Sokolov managed to collect a vast amount of material evidence and interviewed hundreds of witnesses, which included several members of Nicholas II’s entourage, notably Pierre Gilliard, Alexandra Tegleva and Charles Sydney Gibbes.

Sokolov discovered a large number of the Imperial Familys’ belongings and valuables that were overlooked by Yurovsky and his men in and around the mineshaft where the bodies were initially disposed of in the Four Brothers Mine.

The impending return of Bolshevik forces in July 1919, forced Sokolov to abandon his investigation, thus failing to find the concealed second burial site on the Koptyaki Road.

He evacuated Ekaterinburg, bringing with him the box containing the relics he recovered. Sokolov accumulated eight volumes of photographic and eyewitness accounts. Today, the box is stored in the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Job in Brussels.

Sokolov fled from Russia to France, where he continued his investigation, questioning additional witnesses who had managed to escape Bolshevik Russia.

Sadly, Sokolov did not live to bring his investigation to an end – he was found dead in the garden of his house on 23rd November 1924, having suffered a heart attack at the age of 42. He died leaving a widow aged 23 and two young children, a daughter Nathalie (1920-2002) and a son Alexis (1923-1980). He is buried in the cemetery of Salbris, France.

“On Wednesday, November 26, he [Sokolov] was buried literally by the entire town of Salbris with the mayor at the head. It was not a crowd of curious spectators, but sympathetic Frenchmen who came dressed in mourning to pay their last respects to the deceased.

When, after the burial, the Russians thanked the mayor for the touching sympathies to their compatriot, the mayor replied that he, could not remember when the whole town turned out for a funeral for someone in Salbris, and that they, the French, had come to pay their last respects to the representative of the Russia that was their ally and friend.

Thus, in France, Russian émigrés, together with the French, saw off, the judicial investigator for especially important cases, Nikolai Alekseevich Sokolov, on his final journey, who died in a foreign land on 23rd November 1924.

Nikolai Alekseevich Sokolov (1882-1924).
Memory Eternal! Вечная Память!

Click HERE to *watch a short 1-minute VIDEO of the event

*NOTE: for English subtitles, adjust the translation settings to the
language of your choice, and then click on the “CC” button – PG

On the morning of 23rd November 2024, a Divine Liturgy was performed by Metroplitan Evgeny (Eurgene) of Ekaterinburg and Verkhotursky in the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers at the Monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers at Ganina Yama. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Evgeny performed a pannikhida [Orthodox memorial service for the dead].

During the service, prayers were lifted up for the ever-memorable servant of God Nikolai Alekseevich Sokolov, investigator in the case of the murder of the Imperial Family.

After the service for the departed, Vladyka Evgeny, along with the pastors, brethren and laity proceeded to the place where a pedestal and bronze bust of Nikolai Sokolov was installed last month to mark the 100th anniversary of the investigator’s death in 1924.

The bust-monument is located to the right of the RChurch of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, near the entrance to the gallery which encircles the Four Brothers mine (collapsed), where the regicides threw the bodies of the Imperial family and their four retainers into the mine.

PHOTO: Metroplitan Evgeny (Eurgene) of Ekaterinburg and Verkhotursky performs a pannikhida [Orthodox memorial service for the dead], on 23rd November 2024

PHOTO: Metroplitan Evgeny (Eurgene) of Ekaterinburg and Verkhotursky with the sculptor Vladimir Vladimirovich Syreyshchikov, the General Director of Iriston PFC Raisa Soslanovna Kokoeva, and Andrey Viktorovich Zhukov Director of the Orthodox Christian Good Deeds Public Movement.

FURTHER READING:

On this day in 1919: Nikolai Sokolov launched his investigation into the deaths of the Imperial Family + PHOTOS

Wardrobe of Emperor Nicholas II in the Alexander Palace

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

One of the smallest, yet most interesting interiors of the private apartments of Emperor Nicholas II in the Alexander Palace, is the Valet’s Room. During the reign of the last Tsar, the interior was separated by a large white partition. In the first half was the Emperor’s dressing room, while the second half was used by the valet on duty.

The Tsar’s dressing room was furnished with a large special built-in oak wardrobe with sliding doors and drawers, in which the Emperor’s clothes: uniforms, shoes, hats, underwear and various accessories were kept.

The clothes worn by Nicholas II were sewn by St. Petersburg’s finest craftsmen. One uniform benefited the experience of several generations of craftsmen. The Tsar’s uniforms, coats and hats embodied all the achievements of sewing technologies of the early 20th century. The Emperor’s uniforms were made of a wide variety of materials: leather, fur, feathers or horsehair, metals, wood, and so on.

The collection of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum maintains a significant number of items that made up the military wardrobe of Emperor Nicholas II – almost 800 items that were made in the late 19th – early 20th centuries. Among these are the uniforms sewn for Nicholas II, when he was still the heir to the throne, have been preserved. The last Emperor of the Russian Empire wore the uniform (ceremonial and everyday) of military units of both the Russian Imperial Army and those of foreign states, of which he was an Honorary Colonel or Commander-in-Chief.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the cost of a standard uniform of the Guards infantry with lapel was 150 rubles. Traditionally, cloths of different colours were used for uniforms: green for infantry; red, blue, white, even brown for cavalry. The ceremonial uniforms were embroidered with gold or silver, which the last Emperor proudly wore.

Today, the Valet’s Room in the Alexander Palace presents several samples of authentic uniforms of various regiments of the Russian Imperial Army, worn by Nicholas II, in the original oak Imperial Wardrobe. In addition, other uniforms of Nicholas II from the wardrobe are on display in the nearby Sovereign’s Martial Chamber at Tsarskoye Selo.

By 1917, up to 1500 uniforms of the Emperor were stored in oak wardrobes in the dressing room of Nicholas II in the Alexander Palace. It is interesting to note, that during the 1930s, part of the collection of Nicholas II’s uniforms were transferred from the Alexander Palace to the Artillery Historical Museum in St. Petersburg, where they remain to this day.

In recent years, the uniforms of Nicholas II from the funds of the Alexander Palace, have been loaned out for exhibitions in such cities as St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tula [includes 21 colour photos], Novosibirsk and Minsk.

Click on above image to watch the video.
Language: Russian. Duration: 11 minutes

For ENGLISH SUBTITLES (or other language), CLICK on the “SETTINGS” located between the “CC” and “YouTube” buttons. CLICK on “Subtitles/CC”, then click “Auto-translate” link, then choose “ENGLISH” or other language. ENJOY!

The Great Russian Exodus of 1920

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: A total of 145,693 soldiers and civilians were evacuated from the ports of the Crimean peninsula: Sevastopol, Yevpatoria, Kerch, Feodosia and Yalta, during the Russian Exodus of November 1920

The days 13th to 16th November – mark one of the darkest periods in early 20th century Russian history. It was during these days, that the Russian exodus of the White Movement [anti-Bolshevik forces] – troops of Lieutenant General Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel (1878-1928) and civilians from Crimea took place.

After defeats by the Bolsheviks in which he lost half his standing army and, facing defeat in Northern Tavria and in the Crimea, Wrangel organised a mass evacuation on the shores of the Black Sea. Wrangel gave every officer, soldier, and civilian the choice to evacuate and go with him into exile, or to remain in Russia and face the wrath of the Red Army.

During the evacuation from the ports of the Crimean peninsula: Sevastopol, Yevpatoria, Kerch, Feodosia and Yalta, a total of 145,693 soldiers and civilians, not counting the crews, were taken on board 126 ships and “sudenosheks” (small boats and tugs).

This flotilla, known as “Wrangel’s fleet” and composed of ships of the Whites’ Black Sea fleet, foreign ships, and the temporarily mobilized ships of the Voluntary Fleet, first sailed to Entente-occupied Constantinople [Istanbul]. A significant number of the passengers left the ships here, replenishing the ranks of White Russian emigrees who had fled Bolshevik Russia prior.

The soldiers and civilians who were left behind in the Crimea suffered under the Red Terror authorised by Vladimir Lenin. The estimated number of executions vary from minimum 12,000 over 50,000 to 120,000.

PHOTO: Thousands of officers and soldiers of the White Army assemble for evacutation during the Russian Exodus from Crimea, November 1920

PHOTO: View of one of the ships taking on White Russian officers, soldiers and civilians during the Russian Exodus from Crimea in November 1920

PHOTO: Thousands of White Russian officers, soldiers and civilians cram two of 126 ships which took part in the Russian Exodus from Crimea in November 1920

PHOTO: A priest offers prayers to comfort the White Russian refugees on the deck of the one of the ships. The Crimean shore can be seen in the background.

PHOTO: White Russian officers and soldiers are crammed onto the deck of one of the ships which took part in the Russian Exodus of Crimea in November 1920

PHOTO: Lieutenant General Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel (1878-1928) sailing into exile

PHOTO: View of just some of the 126 ships and “sudenosheks” (small boats and tugs), on their way to Constantinople [Istanbul], carrying a total of 145,693 soldiers and civilians.

On 16th November 2020, a wreath ceremony was held in Sevastopol, Crimea marking the 100th Anniversary of the Great Russian Exodus.

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Lieutenant General Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel died on 25th April 1928, after a sudden infection with tuberculosis. His family, however, believed that he had been poisoned by his butler’s brother, who briefly lived in the household in Brussels and was allegedly a Soviet agent.

He was first buried in Brussels. More than a year later, his remains were transported to Belgrade. On 6th October 1929, in a formal public ceremony, his body was reinterred in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Belgrade (photo above), the Russian church, according to his wishes.

Memory Eternal! Вечная Память!

Bas-relief of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II installed in Moscow

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

On 1st November 2024 – a monument to Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (1857-1905) and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (1864–1918) was unveiled and consecrated on the square near the Tretyakovskaya metro station in Moscow.

The installation of the monument is timed to the 160th anniversary of the birth of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, born Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine.

The sculptural composition was designed by the artist Georgy Frangulyan. The grand ducal couple are represented on the day of their wedding on 16th (O.S. 3rd) June 1884.

Behind the two bronze figures are four granite steles, one of which features a bas-relief depicting Emperor Nicholas II – seen in the photo above.

Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers consecrated near Khabarovsk

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

PHOTO: Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers

On 4th November 2024, the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers was consecrated, in the Petropavlovsky (Peter and Paul) Convent – located 60 km from the city of Khabarovsk.

The new Russian Orthodox church is dedicated to the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers[1] – Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, their five children and the family’s four faithful retainers, all of whom died a martyr’s death following their brutal murder by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg, on the night of 16/17 July 1918.

The church was consecrated by Metropolitan Artemy of Khabarovsk and the Amur Region. The church is a metochion[2] of the Petropavlovsky (Peter and Paul) Convent.

A two-tiered iconostasis was installed, made by Moscow craftsmen, in which a lot of gold leaf was used. The icons were painted by the sisters of the convent, as was the painting for the altar. The main icon in the iconostasis is a unique mosaic icon of the Imperial Family, also handmade by the nuns. Their work was highly praised by specialists of the All-Russian Art and Research Conservation Center, which is considered to be Russia’s foremost authority in the field of the restoration of historical and art monuments.

Construction of the six-domed Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers began in 2018, and was financed thanks to donations of parishioners and local patrons.

PHOTO: the iconostasis features a mosaic icon of the Holy Royal Martyrs (sedond from right)

“From this day on, its doors will be open to everyone who asks for mutual love and respect in the family, raising children in faith and piety, overcoming life’s adversities with firm hope in God,” said Nikolai Shevtsov, Chairman of the Legislative Duma of the Khabarovsk Region. “Let the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers become such a place for Khabarovsk residents and guests of the capital,” he added.

In this church, many new and original elements have been created, which are not found in the Far East regions of the Russian Federation, in particular, bronze doors ordered from central Russia. The floor in the church is decorated with original mosaics of the Byzantine style. This monastic metochion is the first in the Khabarovsk Region. The abbess of the church is nun Antonia.

A monument of Nicholas II and his family was installed on the grounds of the church. It was made by the Moscow sculptor Vladimir Lepeshov, a member of the Union of Artists of Moscow and Russia, combining seven busts of members of the family of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II.

PHOTO: monument to Nicholas II and his family, installed on the grounds of the church

NOTES:

[1] On 1st November 1981, the Imperial Family were canonized as new martyrs by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).

On 20th August 2000, the the Imperial Family were canonized as passion-bearers by the Moscow Patriarchate.

Passion-bearers are people who face death with resignation, in a Christ-like manner, as distinguished from martyrs, the latter historically killed for their faith. Proponents cited the piety of the Tsar and his family and reports that the Tsarina and her eldest daughter Olga prayed and attempted to make the sign of the cross immediately before they died.

Despite their official designation as “passion-bearers” by the Moscow Patriarchate, they are nevertheless spoken of as “saints” in Orthodox publications, icons, and in popular veneration by the people.

[2] A metochion is an ecclesiastical embassy church within Eastern Orthodox tradition.

‘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

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.

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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!

Tsar Nicholas II Men’s Choir perform in the UK

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Paul Gilbert

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.

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.

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.