In connection with the repair and restoration work, the entrance of visitors to the territory of the Kremlin is through the Trinity Gates, the exit - through the Borovitsky Gates. Passage of visitors to the Armory and exit is through the Borovitsky Gate.
February 8 from 14:30, February 9 to 14:30, February 14 from 14:30, February 15 to 14:30
Assumption Cathedral is closed to the public.
From October 1st to May 14th
The Moscow Kremlin Museums are switching to winter mode. The architectural ensemble is open to the public from 10:00 to 17:00, the Armory is open from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets are sold at the box office from 9:30 to 16:30. Day off - Thursday. The exchange of electronic tickets is made in accordance with the terms of the User Agreement.
From October 1st to May 14th
the exposition of the bell tower "Ivan the Great" is closed to the public.
In order to ensure the preservation of monuments under adverse weather conditions, access to some museum-cathedrals may be temporarily limited.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
The coronation of kings was an important event of national importance. The upcoming event was announced by a manifesto signed by the future Tsar Nicholas II.
Manifesto
« On the upcoming Sacred Coronation of Their Imperial Majesties.
“We declare to all Our faithful subjects:
With the help of God, We intended, in the month of May of this year, in the Mother See of Moscow, following the example of the Pious Sovereigns, Our Ancestors, to place the Crown on Ourself and receive, according to the established order, Holy Confirmation, having attached to this also Our Most Beloved Spouse, the Empress Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
We call on all Our faithful subjects, on the upcoming solemn day of the Coronation, to share Our joy and together with Us offer fervent prayer to the Giver of all blessings, may He pour out on Us the Gifts of His Holy Spirit, may He strengthen Our State and may He guide Us in the footsteps of Our Unforgettable Parent Whose life and labors for the benefit of the dear Fatherland will forever remain a bright example for Us.
"NICHOLAS"
Historians note that the coronation of Nikolai Alexandrovich (Second), which took place on May 26, 1896, was one of the most magnificent during the entire reign of the Romanovs. The event itself was prepared in advance and carefully. Only one dish was sent to Moscow from the northern capital of 8 thousand pounds. Of these, 1500 pounds were services. A telegraph network with 150 wires was deployed in the Kremlin to communicate with foreign ambassadors.
A coronation commission and a separate office were created, which was responsible for conducting all protocol events. Representatives of the nobility from all regions of the Russian Empire were invited to the coronation, which was to be held in Moscow.
Government officials, whose activities were in no way connected with the upcoming event, received 3 days off to be able to "share the joy" of the imperial family, and "offer an ardent prayer to the Giver of all blessings" regarding such an important event.
In honor of the coronation, medals and coins were being prepared for release. The execution of sketches was entrusted to well-known artists - Ilya Repin, Anton Vasyutinskiy and sculptor Mark Antakolskiy. The future emperor personally posed for the artists.
The Senate was also instructed to leave for the capital city. In the days of May 11-13, the heralds rode horses around Moscow, and reported on the upcoming event, which was scheduled for May 14.
Many foreign guests attended the coronation in the cathedral. Among them were the Emir of Bukhara, Queen Olga Konstantinovna of Greece, 12 crown princes, including:
- Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria
- Prince Nicholas of Montenegro,
- brother of Wilhelm II, Prince Henry of Prussia,
- English Duke Arthur of Connaught,
- duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,
- prince of Siam
- brother of the Persian Shah,
- Japanese prince with a delegation
- Representative of the Pope
- Chinese representatives.
In his diary, Nicholas II wrote about the coronation:
“Great, solemn, but difficult, in the moral sense, for Alix, Mom and me, the day. From 8 o'clock in the morning they were on their feet; and our procession started only at 1/2 10. The weather was, fortunately, wonderful; The Red Porch presented a shining view. All this happened in the Assumption Cathedral, although it seems like a real dream, it is not forgotten for a lifetime!!!
We got back at half past one. At 3 o'clock they again went in the same procession to the Faceted Chamber for a meal. At 4 o'clock everything ended quite well; With a soul filled with gratitude to God, I then rested completely. We dined with Mama, who, fortunately, withstood the whole long ordeal very well. At 9 o'clock. went to the upper balcony, from where Alix lit the electric illumination on Ivan the Great and then successively illuminated the towers and walls of the Kremlin, as well as the opposite embankment and Zamoskvorechye.
The emperor is restrained on emotions. You can see this in other posts as well. Fortunately, a record of Count Sergei Dmitrievich Sheremetev, a Russian public figure, historian, collector, who was present at the event in the Cathedral, has been preserved.
“... the State [strike] and the Empress [empress] approached the Royal Doors. Confirmation… The Tsar enters the Royal Doors into the altar, while the Empress stands at the image of the Mother of God of Vladimir]… A great sacrament is being performed, and its power for the faithful is immense. This silence is apocalyptic... But then the gates opened, and the Sovereign comes out and stands with his head bowed before the image of the Savior, and the metropolitan, addressing the Empress, reads: “I believe, Lord, and I confess...” The king and queen returned to their places... I I look at him closely. In a crown and purple, he bowed his head and with an unsteady tread, in great humility, but enlightened, he goes straight to the Empress Maria Feodorovna ... She takes several steps towards him, and then they met and looked into each other's eyes; this look was prolonged; his expression was such as happens once in a lifetime. It expressed sons' love and humility, and tenderness of an enlightened soul, and the Sovereign clung to the hand of the Empress-mother and kissed her long and hard, then kissed her long and hard three times ...
This meeting and this kiss of son and mother, of course, were the strongest impression of the day, strong and deeply gratifying.
Receptions of congratulations, which were held in the Throne Room. The emperor was congratulated:
- Higher clergy;
- State Council,
- Senate
- ministers,
- governors and other officials of the higher classes;
- foreign ambassadors;
- A separate day was allocated for congratulations to women. This reception was attended by Ladies of the diplomatic corps, courtiers, representatives from other states.
Along with receptions, the Protocol of celebrations included a number of other events. Were arranged:
- dinner for the higher clergy and Persons of the first two classes;
- Festive performance at the Bolshoi Theatre;
- Gala dinner in the Alexander Hall of the Kremlin Palace;
- Musical concert at the German ambassador.
- Several points.
The balls were organized by:
- Big ball in the Alexander Hall;
- at the French embassy
- at the Austrian embassy
- from His Imperial Highness the Moscow Governor-General Sergei Alexandrovich, brother of the Emperor.
- in the assembly of the nobility.
May 20 began Petrov post. In this regard, a solemn liturgy was held in the Miracle Monastery.
Purely family events of the imperial family were also woven into the festive events. This is the birthday of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (May 25). In her honor, a dinner was given for foreign ambassadors in St. George's Hall. And another event that took place a few days earlier. More precisely, the memorable date of May 22 is the Day of the death of the grandmother of Nicholas II, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, whom the imperial family honored with a trip to the Sergius Lavra.
The festivities ended with the highest review of the troops, which took place on May 26 at the Khodynka field. In conclusion, let us give the floor to His Imperial Majesty, again looking into his diary.
“Thank God, the last day has come! .. The parade was brilliant in every respect, and I was delighted that all the troops seemed so fine in front of foreigners. Returning to Petrovskoye, we sat down to have breakfast, after which they said goodbye to all other people's retinues. On the way to the Kremlin we met our daughter, a cat. were taken to Ilyinskoye. Again, emergency embassies were received to dismiss them. At 7 o'clock there was a big dinner for the Moscow authorities and representatives of various classes.
After changing clothes, we went to the station. and said goodbye to Mom; she went to Gatchino, and we immediately went in the opposite direction along Mosk.-Brest. and. d. to st. Odintsovo, from where they drove in carriages to Ilyinsky. An indescribable joy to get to this nice quiet place! And the main consolation is to know that all these celebrations and ceremonies are over!”
Traditional history is a version of the past from the point of view of the Romanov dynasty. If it prevails, then the Romanov dynasty rules the World.
Wikipedia: "The coronation of Emperor Nicholas II Alexandrovich and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna is the last coronation of the emperor and his wife in the Russian Empire. It took place on Tuesday 14 (26) May 1896 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. (The day before, May 13, was Spiritual Day) .
Alexander III Alexandrovich (February 26, 1845, Anichkov Palace, St. Petersburg - October 20, 1894, Livadia Palace, Crimea) - Emperor of All Russia, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from March 1, 1881. Son of Emperor Alexander II and grandson of Nicholas I; father of the last Russian monarch, Nicholas II.
A legitimate question arises: "Emperor Alexander III died on October 20, 1894, and the coronation of the subsequent emperor took place a year and a half later on May 14, 1896, why?"
To answer it, let us return to the illness and death of Alexander III. Wikipedia: "On October 17 (29), 1888, the royal train coming from the south crashed near the Borki station, 50 kilometers from Kharkov. Seven cars were broken; there were casualties among the servants, but the royal family, who was in the dining car, remained In the crash, the roof of the carriage collapsed; Alexander was said to have held it on his shoulders until help arrived. However, shortly after this incident, the emperor began to complain of pain in the lower back. Professor Troubet, who examined Alexander, came to the conclusion that that a terrible concussion during the fall marked the onset of kidney disease. The disease steadily developed. The sovereign increasingly felt unwell. His complexion became earthy, his appetite disappeared, his heart did not work well. In the winter of 1894, he caught a cold, and in September, while hunting in Belovezhye, Berlin professor Ernst Leiden, who urgently came to Russia on a call, found nephritis in the emperor - an acute inflammation of the kidneys, at his insistence, Alexander was sent to the Crimea, to Livadia. September 21 (October 3), 1894, the imperial family arrives at the Livadia Palace. Here, the mighty hero, who was not even 50 years old, fades away in a month. Alexander III lost weight terribly, exhausted by illness. He can hardly eat anything, he can no longer walk or lie down and can hardly sleep. October 20 (November 1), 1894, at 2 hours 15 minutes in the afternoon, sitting in an armchair, Alexander III died.
In 1888, an event occurred that led to the death of Alexander III in 1894.
Let's analyze the situation within the framework of my version of world history.
The King of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1795-1861) and the Russian Emperor Alexander I (1777-1825) are the images of one man the Usurper (1785-1860), who unleashed the war of 1812 and on whose orders his father-in-law, the Russian Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich (1761- 1812) and other representatives of the dynasty of Russian tsars were destroyed.
In reality, the Usurper ruled from 1836 to 1860 - 24 years, in the history of Russia this reign
reflected from 1801 to 1825 - 24 years, in the history of Germany - 1840 - 1861 - 21 years.
He was succeeded by his son-in-law (1802-1890), who ruled from 1860 to 1890, i.e. 30 years. In fact, he ruled from 1860 to 1888, because. he had a stroke in 1888.
Images of the son-in-law of the Usurper: Nicholas 1 (1796-1855), Wilhelm I (1797-1888). In the history of Russia, this rule was reflected from 1825 to 1855 - 30 years, in the history of Germany - 1861 - 1888 - 27 years.
After the son-in-law of the Usurper, his son, the grandson of the Usurper (1824-1910), began to rule. He ruled for 20 years from 1890 to 1910. In Russia, his image is Alexander II (1818-1881).
In 1881, Sofya Ivanovna (1785-1881), the 2nd wife of the Usurper, died, her funeral had to be legalized in Russia. And who is solemnly buried - the emperor, so I had to bury the image of her grandson on paper. In 1881, in Russia, Sofya Ivanovna was buried in the grave, and on paper Alexander II.
Another image of the grandson of the Usurper is Christian IX (1818-1906) - the king of Denmark from 1863 to 1906, from the Glücksburg dynasty. But Christian IX did not come to Russia, therefore, the grandson of the Usurper needs a different image in Russia after 1881.
In 2014, I wrote the article "The Mystery of the Coburg Photography of the Romanovs". In it, I wrote: "It's also interesting that this photo contains a secret that cannot be unraveled within the framework of traditional history. The centerpiece of the photograph is Queen Victoria, who "has been on the throne for more than 63 years - more than any other British monarch." In my version, she was simply the mother of the family, ruled the world until his death at the beginning of the 20th century, her husband, who modestly in a hat is located in the right corner of the photo between men in caps.He is known as Nicholas 1, Alexander 2, Albert of Saxe-Coburg -Gothic, Christian 9".
My intuition did not fail me, but I passed by the image of the grandson of the Usurper.
Https://romanovs-russia.blogspot.ru/2015/02/blog-post.html: "In April 1894, in Coburg, with the participation of the most distinguished guests, the wedding of the Duke of Hesse Ernst-Ludwig and the daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh and Maria Alexandrovna Princess Victoria took place "Melites. Among the guests were members of the Romanov family, headed by Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich. He arrived not only for the wedding, but also for the engagement to the groom's sister Alice of Hesse (Alix). Four days after Nicholas' arrival in Coburg, April 6 (8) On October 10, 1894, Alix converted to Orthodoxy in Russia and began to bear the name Alexandra Feodorovna, Emperor Alexander III died on October 20, 1894, and on November 14, the marriage was concluded with the heir to the throne, Nicholas II. family of the Romanov dynasty.
The illness of Alexander III is a reflection of the stroke of the son-in-law of the Usurper, the events of 1894 in Coburg are a reflection of the real events of 1888. Then it was not the engagement that took place in Coburg, but the wedding of Nikolai and Alix.
In 2014, I correctly understood that Alexander II was present in the photograph, but I recognized him in a person who, according to traditional history, is Vladimir Alexandrovich (1847-1909), but I thought that Vladimir Alexandrovich is a different person, who, as I understand now, is his son.
The grandson of the Usurper had a son like him. Until 1881, the son was called Vladimir Alexandrovich, and his father - Alexander II. After 1881, the son left for England, and his father became known in Russia as Vladimir Alexandrovich.
According to traditional history, Vladimir Alexandrovich in Coburg 1894 - 1847 = 47 years old, and according to my version, the grandson of the Usurper in Coburg 1888 - 1824 = 64 years old. Estimate for yourself the age of the person who is indicated as the father in the photo.
If we compare the photographs of the son and father in the image of Vladimir Alexandrovich, then the thought slips through that these are photographs of two different people.
According to traditional history, Alexandra Feodorovna (1872-1918) and Nicholas II (1868-1918) had children: Olga (1895-1918), Tatiana (1897-1818), Maria (1899-1918), Anastasia (1901-1918), Alexey (1904-1918).
Since the wedding was earlier by 6 years, then the age of the daughters is shifted by 6 years:
Olga, born in 1889, Tatyana, born in 1891, Maria, born in 1893, Anastasia, born in 1895
Four daughters are born to the emperor in a row, and, finally, on May 13, 1896, the son Alexei is born. This is what the coronation of 1896 means!
Of course, no one shot the Romanov family in Russia, and Alexey lived until 1937.
In the photo: Vladimir Alexandrovich (son) with his family, a fragment from Coburg 1894 marked son and father, above Alexander II, below Vladimir Alexandrovich.
A special ceremonial detachment, consisting of two divisions - cavalry guards and horse guards with trumpeters' choirs - accompanies the heralds E. K. Pribylsky and S. P. Frolov, announcing to the townspeople on the Senate Square of the Kremlin
Choirs of trumpeters of the cavalry guard and horse guard regiments in front of the Senate building; in the center, near the middle of the front - adjutant generals, chief masters of ceremonies, heralds, masters of ceremonies, Senate secretaries on Senate Square
Citizens at the Arsenal building on the Senate Square of the Kremlin in anticipation of the ceremony of announcing the date of the sacred coronation; in the foreground - adjutant general
Emperor Nicholas II (right), left - Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, in the center - Minister of the Imperial Court and appanages, Adjutant General, Count I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov
The coronation carriage of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna passes by the stands with spectators near the Kremlin wall on Red Square on the day of the solemn entry
The Life Guards Hussar Regiment at the Tsar Bell on the Ivanovskaya Square of the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry Their Imperial Majesties to Moscow
Chamber junkers and chamberlains on the territory of the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna to Moscow
The Life Guards Cavalier Guard and Horse Regiments in the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry Their Imperial Majesties to Moscow
The coronation carriage of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in the Kremlin on the day of her solemn entry into Moscow Their Imperial Majesties
Carriage with participants of the coronation ceremony on the territory of the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry Their Imperial Majesties to Moscow
Cossack of His Imperial Majesty and the Life Guards Ulansky Regiment in the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna to Moscow; on the right is the Small Nikolaevsky Palace
Coronation procession at the Church of St. Catherine of the Ascension Monastery in the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna to Moscow; on the left - part of the Spasskaya Tower
The coronation carriage of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna at the Church of St. Catherine of the Ascension Monastery in the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry into Moscow of Their Imperial Majesties
Emperor Nicholas II (in front on a white horse) with his retinue in the Kremlin at the Ascension Monastery on the day of the solemn entry into Moscow of Their Imperial Majesties; on the right - St. Catherine's Church
Emperor Nicholas II (in front on a white horse) with his retinue in the Kremlin at the Church of St. Catherine of the Ascension Monastery on the day of the solemn entry into Moscow of Their Imperial Majesties; on the right - part of the Spasskaya Tower
The carriage of one of the participants in the solemn coronation on the territory of the Kremlin; in the background on the left is a part of the facade of the Small Nikolaev Palace, in the center is the Spasskaya Tower, on the right is St. Basil's Cathedral (Pokrovsky on the Moat)
Military and civil officials, palace employees at the carriages and crews of participants in the solemn coronation in the Kremlin; on the second plane from the left - part of the facade of the Small Nikolaev Palace, in the center - the Spasskaya Tower
Coronation procession in the Kremlin near the Small Nikolaev Palace on the day of the solemn entry of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna to Moscow
The coronation carriage of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna passes by the Small Nikolaevsky Palace in the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry into Moscow of Their Imperial Majesties; in the background - the Church of St. Catherine
The coronation carriage of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, retinue, courtiers at the Archangel Cathedral in the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry into Moscow of Their Imperial Majesties
Palace grenadier in the Andreevsky (Throne) Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace at the royal regalia; on the table, from left to right, are the Large and Small Imperial Crowns, orb, scepter, porphyry (imperial robes); at the table
View of the throne place in the Andreevsky (Throne) Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace (the throne of 1896, the work of the manufacturer P. A. Shmit, was made according to the drawings of the curator of the Armory, Count A. E. Komarovsky)
Coronation procession at the Small Nikolaev Palace in the Kremlin on the day of the solemn entry of Their Imperial Majesties into Moscow; in the background - the Church of St. Catherine of the Ascension Monastery and the Spasskaya Tower
Masters of Ceremonies drive past the Small Nicholas Palace (left) in the Kremlin to the Ascension Monastery; in the background - Chudov Monastery
View of a part of the square in the Kremlin in front of the southern entrance to the Assumption Cathedral, filled with the lower ranks of patronage units and spectators on the day of the solemn coronation
Foreign princesses invited to the coronation festivities, accompanied by chamber pages, descend the steps of the Red Porch of the Faceted Chamber after the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna
A group of senior state officials - participants in the ceremony of transferring the imperial regalia - is sent from the Armory to the Grand Kremlin Palace, accompanied by palace grenadiers
The horse guards pass by the Ascension Monastery in the Kremlin; in the background - Chudov Monastery
Chapter Two
CORONATION OF EMPEROR NICHOLAS II
The coronation of Nicholas II took place on May 14 (26), 1896 in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin. Many foreign guests were present, among whom were the Emir of Bukhara, Queen Olga Konstantinovna of Greece, twelve crown princes, including Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria, Prince Nikolai of Montenegro, Prince Henry of Prussia - the brother of William II, the English Duke Arthur of Connaught, the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha , son of the King of Siam, brother of the Persian Shah, Japanese prince, papal nuncio and many others. There were also Chinese and Japanese delegations.
On the days of the coronation, the weather was fine in May. It was warm and quiet. “The sun shone joyfully, as if at the same time with the Muscovites wishing to meet the Sovereign, who entered his capital city,” Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich wrote in his diary.
There were a lot of people, the stands were completely filled with spectators, the air was filled with the hum of bells. Holiday decorations throughout the city. The walls of the houses are draped with carpets and bright fabrics. On the balconies - among the green garlands - a myriad of electric bulbs that were supposed to light up with the onset of darkness.
From the diary of Nicholas II: “At 2.30 exactly the procession started. I rode Norma. Mother? sat in the first golden carriage. Alix - in the second - also alone. There is nothing to say about the meeting, it was cordial and solemn, which only can be in Moscow!
The first shot of the salute announced that the tsar had left the Petrovsky Palace. There was general jubilation all around. Many in the crowd prayed, many baptized the sovereign after him. The procession reached the Spassky Gate. Behind the gendarmes - His Majesty's own convoy, then life Cossacks, behind them the royal hunt, the court musical choir and golden carriages. In the first carriage is the Empress Mother. In the second carriage is a young queen. She was dressed in a coronation dress made of silver brocade, the work of craftswomen of the Ivanovo Monastery, on her shoulders - a golden mantle trimmed with ermine cords. The weight of the coronation robe was high - 23 kilograms. But the queen was courageous and calm. Nicholas II in the uniform of the Preobrazhensky Regiment.
The procession dragged on for a long time. At Iverskaya, the king and queen performed a prayer service. “Court liveries, golden carriages and carriages, embroidered uniforms, horses in gilded saddlecloths stretched again,” Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich recalled. - Holding a hat in his hand, the Sovereign appeared from the Spassky Gate on a white horse. And we heard “hurrah” ... The Tsar went to the Assumption Cathedral. I saw how the three of them venerated the icons and relics of St. Philip. From the Assumption Cathedral we went to the Arkhangelsk, and then past the Annunciation to the Red Porch. From its upper platform, the king and both queens bowed three times to the people. Wonderful minute!
The Assumption Cathedral was ready for the ceremony. In the center - under a canopy of crimson velvet with images of the Russian state emblem in the form of a double-headed eagle, three ancient thrones were installed: for the emperor - Tsar John III, for the empress - Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich (the so-called "Persian") and for the Dowager Empress - the throne of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (the so-called "diamond chairs").
The Danish court painter Laurits Tuxen, who was present at the coronation, and who created a magnificent picture dedicated to the coronation, wrote in his diaries: “The sun cast its rays into a huge room, the walls of which were covered with ancient Byzantine paintings on a golden background. A scarlet veil was stretched over the chairs arranged in an amphitheatre. The podium in the middle and the balustraded staircase leading up to it glittered as if they were pure gold, and the two mighty columns on which it rested were upholstered in dark purple velvet, as were the three canopies over the three throne chairs, which were decorated with gold embroidery and large plumes of black, white and yellow ostrich feathers.
The grandeur of everything that happened in the cathedral produced, according to Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, "an overwhelming and indescribable impression." The divine service lasted about two and a half hours from the beginning of the coronation to the end of the liturgy. “…Everything came together here, elevating the soul and overflowing with delight: the rare beauty and luxury of the spectacle, and wondrous singing, and prayers touching to the depths of the heart… Deeply shocked, I saw how, after communion, two bishops ascended the platform of the throne to invite the Sovereign to process to the royal doors, and how the rite of chrismation was performed.
Count S. D. Sheremetev, Chief Jägermeister of the Imperial Court, historian and archaeologist, who was next to Empress Maria Feodorovna during the coronation, supporting the purple, describes in his diaries the exciting moments of the coronation:
“... the State [strike] and the Empress [empress] approached the Royal Doors. Confirmation… The Tsar enters the Royal Doors into the altar, while the Empress stands at the image of the Mother of God of Vladimir]… A great sacrament is being performed, and its power for the faithful is immense. This silence is apocalyptic... But then the gates opened, and the Sovereign comes out and stands with his head bowed before the image of the Savior, and the metropolitan, addressing the Empress, reads: “I believe, Lord, and I confess...” The king and queen returned to their places... I I look at him closely. In a crown and purple, he bowed his head and with an unsteady tread, in great humility, but enlightened, he goes straight to the Empress] Maria Feodorovna ... She takes several steps towards him, and now they met and looked into each other's eyes; this look was prolonged; his expression was such as happens once in a lifetime. It expressed sons' love and humility and tenderness of the enlightened soul, and the Sovereign took the hand of the Empress-mother and kissed her long and hard, then kissed her long and hard three times ...
This meeting and this kiss of son and mother, of course, were the strongest impression of the day, strong and deeply gratifying.
The future marshal and president of Finland, K. G. Mannerheim, who was present at the coronation as a cavalry guard officer of the Russian army, recalled: “Everything looked indescribably beautiful and majestic ... I was one of the four cavalry guard officers who, together with the highest-ranking officials of the state, formed tapestries along the wide stairs, she led from the altar to the throne on the coronation dais. The air from the incense was suffocating. With a heavy broadsword in one hand and a "dove" (cavalry helmet. - Yu. K.)- in the other, we stood motionless from nine in the morning until half past two in the afternoon.
One hundred and one gun salvos announced to the thousands of people gathered on the square in front of the Assumption Cathedral and on the streets of Moscow that the coronation ceremony had taken place.
“From this moment He (Nicholas II. - Yu. K.), - according to S. S. Oldenburg, he felt himself anointed by God, the rite of coronation was full of deep meaning for him. Betrothed to Russia from childhood, he seemed to marry her that day.
Empress Maria Feodorovna is the first to leave the cathedral, at the gate of which a canopy awaits her ... S. D. Sheremetev testifies: “Here she entered the square ... Deafening chime, cannon shots and amazing cries of “Hurrah!” Meet and see her off. She bows as if to each one separately, as soon as she knows how to bow, and I felt that an electric spark penetrated everywhere; and all these faces around, the faces of the people, with such an expression, with such love, followed her with their eyes, could not tear themselves away from her. She moved slowly, her face was serious and concentrated, but she tried to smile. Climbing up to the Red Porch, she stopped and, looking around at the myriad crowd, bowed three times to the people ... Another moment, and she disappeared from her eyes and along the same path through the halls of the Kremlin Palace went to the inner chambers, where she stopped, took off the purple and silently handed it to each of us hand in gratitude...
The coronation ended, and the procession headed towards the royal palace. In an ermine mantle with a crown on his head, His Majesty marched under a canopy carried by the sovereign's adjutant generals, and in front of him and behind him four cavalry guard officers with naked broadswords marched in pairs ...
A huge number of tables in the Andreevsky Hall of the Kremlin was filled with coronation gifts. Particular attention was drawn to the dish from the Moscow merchants. The author of the drawing "George the Victorious strikes the dragon" was the famous artist Viktor Vasnetsov.
On the day of the coronation, Nicholas II made the following entry in his diary: “May 14. Tuesday. Great, solemn, but heavy, in the moral sense, for Alix, Mom? and me, day. From 8 o'clock in the morning they were on their feet; and our procession started only in? 10. The weather was, fortunately, wonderful; The Red Porch presented a shining view. All this happened in the Assumption Cathedral, although it seems like a real dream, it is not forgotten for a lifetime!!! We got back at half past one. At three o'clock they again went in the same procession to the Faceted Chamber for a meal. At 4 o'clock everything ended happily; With a soul filled with gratitude to God, I then rested completely.<…>At 9 o'clock. went to the upper balcony, from where Alix lit the electric illumination on Ivan the Great and then successively illuminated the towers and walls of the Kremlin, as well as the opposite embankment and Zamoskvorechye.
Famous Russian artists attended the coronation. On their canvases they captured this significant event in Russian history. The painting by I. E. Repin "The Wedding of Nicholas II and Grand Duchess Alexandra Feodorovna" (1894) is kept in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, and the painting by V. A. Serov "The Coronation of Nicholas II in the Assumption Cathedral" (1896) is in the State Tretyakov Gallery.
For Empress Maria Feodorovna, the day of her son's coronation was a difficult day. Later, in a letter to her son George, Maria Fedorovna, describing her “great and painful experiences” of the day when “all wounds were opened” and reminded her of the happy time of the coronation of Alexander III in 1883, wrote:
“... It was as if a repetition was taking place, and to be present at this, to see this joy and fun was a great test for me. In the end, I am glad that all this is over, and I thank God who helped me overcome my personal feelings and fulfill the heavy but sacred duty of attending the coronation of my dear Nike and praying for him next to him at this great and significant hour. the most important in his life. When he came up to kiss me after communion, he had such a penetrating and touching expression on his face that I will never forget. I saw in his kind dear eyes everything that was happening at that time in his soul, and I felt the need for my presence, despite the fact that it cost me indescribable experiences that almost tore my heart.
Poor Nicky, I could not look at him without tears, so young and thinking about the terrible burden that the Lord God had already placed on his shoulders.
May the Lord God help him and give him strength and firmness to continue the work that our adored Pope? started off so well. May he follow in his footsteps for the glory of our dear Russia and the great Russian people - this is my daily prayer. God bless! God bless!”
The Khodynka events overshadowed the coronation festivities and laid a heavy burden on the shoulders of the emperor and his family. “A terrible catastrophe at a national holiday with these mass victims,” according to Maria Feodorovna, “has lowered, as it were, a black veil for all that good time. It was such a misfortune in every respect, turning all human passions into a game. According to official figures, 1282 people died (according to other sources - 1389 people).
Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna recalled: “My blood froze in my veins. I got stupid. But I still looked. These wagons were carrying the dead - crippled beyond recognition.
Nikolai and Alexandra Fedorovna attended a memorial service for the dead, and on May 19 they visited the barracks and wards of the Ekaterininsky Hospital and the wards of the Mariinsky Hospital, where the wounded lay.
May 18th. Saturday. Until now, everything went, thank God, like clockwork, but today there was a great sin. The crowd that spent the night on Khodynskoe Pole, waiting for the start of the distribution of dinner and mugs, pressed against the buildings and then there was a terrible crush, and, it’s terrible to add, about 1300 people were trampled down !! I found out about it at 10? hours before Vannovsky's report; a disgusting impression left from this news. AT 12? We had breakfast and then Alix and I went to Khodynka to attend this sad "folk holiday".
May 19. Sunday. At 11 o'clock. We went with the family to Mass at the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin upstairs.<…>At 2 o'clock. Alix and I went to the Staro-Ekaterininsky hospital, where we walked around all the barracks and tents in which all the unfortunate victims of yesterday were lying.
May 20. Monday. We went to Mass at the Chudov Monastery; after the prayer service, Cyril swore allegiance under the banner of the Guards Crew. He was appointed adjutant wing. At 3 o'clock I went with Alix to the Mariinsky hospital, where they examined the second largest group of the wounded on May 18th. There were 3-4 severe cases here.”
The dead, by order of the emperor, were buried at his expense in separate coffins, and not in a mass grave, as was usually done before. Their families and the families of the victims were paid a thousand gold rubles each. Maria Fedorovna also visited hospitals, and all the wounded, and 1300 people were injured, were sent a bottle of Madeira by her order. “I was in despair at the sight of all these poor wounded, half crushed in the hospital, almost every one of them lost one of his relatives,” she wrote to Grand Duke George Alexandrovich. - It was terrible! But at the same time, they were so great and sublime in their simplicity that I really wanted to kneel before them. They were so touching, not blaming anyone but themselves. “We ourselves are to blame,” they said and regretted that they had upset the king! Yes, they were beautiful, and one can be more than proud of knowing that you belong to such a great and beautiful people. The rest of the classes should take an example from them, and not squabble among themselves and, especially, not excite their minds with their violence, their cruelty to such a state that I have never seen in 30 years of my stay in Russia ... "
Maria Fedorovna supported the idea of creating a Commission to consider the causes of the Khodyn tragedy. On May 25, Nicholas II noted in his diary: “Unrest in the family about the investigation over which Palen was appointed,” and Maria Fedorovna, continuing this theme, wrote to her son George: “It was scary, and the Mikhailovich family sowed discord everywhere with unusual harshness and malice ".
From the memoirs of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna:
“Moscow plunged into mourning. The disaster caused a lot of responses. The enemies of the royal house used this for their propaganda. They condemned the police, the hospital administration and the city authorities. And all this brought to light many bitter family disagreements. The young grand dukes, especially Sandro, Xenia's husband, laid the blame for the tragedy on the governor of Moscow, Uncle Sergei. I thought my cousins were unfair to him.
Moreover, Uncle Sergei himself was in such despair and offered to immediately resign. But Nicky didn't accept it. By trying to place all the blame on one family member, my cousins were effectively blaming the entire family at a time when family solidarity was most needed. And when Nicky refused to put Uncle Sergei aside, they blamed him."
The first years after the death of Alexander III were very difficult for Maria Feodorovna. She could not recover from the sad loss and constantly felt the presence of "dear Sasha." "The first of January (1896. - Yu. K.), - she said in a letter to Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich, “Olga and I went to our beloved little church alone without Misha, who was supposed to take part in the exit at the Winter Palace. It was sad and terribly painful, it seemed to me that I felt the soul of our adored Papa near me, and, probably, it is his prayers to Him that help me bear my incomparable misfortune and constant heartache with great peace of mind.
In another letter to her son, talking about visiting the Church of the Winter Palace together with Nicky, Alix, Xenia and Sandro, Maria Fedorovna writes: “... I am sure that we are accompanied by the prayers of our adored Papa ?, and when I take communion, I feel closer to him. Two years have already passed since he was here with us, and who would have thought then that we would lose him so soon, and I would have to endure this incomparable and terrible misfortune.
The Empress wore mourning for her late husband for a long time. The norms of Christian behavior - humility and patience were the main things for her throughout her life. And she always tried to instill them in her children, and later on her grandchildren. In her letters one can often find lengthy discussions on this topic. In one of them, speaking of the loss of her husband, Maria Fedorovna exclaimed: “Lord! God! What a terrible ordeal! How can you endure such pain and such grief - it's incomprehensible! But everything is the will of God, and one must try to bear this heavy cross meekly and with Christian humility. May the Lord come to my aid and give me the necessary strength!” In other letters, she remarked: “It is the will of God that tests us so cruelly, He knows why this is being done, and we must bear our cross without asking about the reasons.” And further: “We need to thank Him for all the good things that we had in the past!”
