A conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth and the 100th anniversary of the death and martyrdom of Russia’s last tsar, Nicholas II will be held on Saturday 27th October, at St John’s Orthodox Church in Colchester, England. Five speakers, including Royal Russia founder Paul Gilbert, Archpriest Andrew Philips (ROCOR), Nikolai Krasnov, authors Frances Welch and Marilyn Swezey will present seven lectures on Nicholas II. This historic conference is open to everyone: Orthodox Christians, monarchists, historians, and all adherents to Russia’s last emperor and tsar.

THREE DAYS OF COMMEMORATION ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT From Friday 6th to Sunday 8th July 2018 the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanov Society organised a very full programme of events on the Isle of Wight. The co-organisers were East Cowes Town and Barton Manor.  These events were designed to commemorate the martyrdom of the last Russian Imperial Family and the Grand Duchess herself which took place almost exactly a century earlier. The Island was chosen because of the presence of the former Royal residence Osborne House, which was visited several times by Elizabeth and her sister the Empress, and because of the solemn State Visit of the Imperial Family to Cowes by sea in 1909. The latter was the last time any of the Imperial Family were to see Britain. The centenary events commenced on Friday afternoon with the preview of the exhibition at Barton Manor. This comprised a display of over one hundred and fifty photographs illustrating events in the lives of the Emperor, the Empress and their children from their earliest years until their imprisonment in the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg. A special focus was on the connections between the Russian and British Royal Families and the two reciprocal state visits: to Reval in the Baltic in 1908 and to Cowes in 1909. Mrs Dawn Haigh-Thomas, the owner of Barton Manor and a historian, spoke about the background of these visits and the Royal gathering at Barton. David Gilchrist, a trustee of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth  Society, introduced the exhibition which was prepared by combined efforts of the Chairman of the Society Dr Maria Harwood and her Russian colleagues: archival specialists, historians and the designer, Alla Milanovich, whose art and skills made the photographs look perfect but still authentic. Mr Wynne-Parker, the Chairman of the British branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, spoke about the Grand Duchess Elizabeth who was Head of the Society after the assassination of her husband Grand Duke Sergei. The aim of the Society was to assist Russian pilgrims to the Holy Land  and to look after the Russian properties there, one of which – The Church of St Mary Magdalen in Gethsemane – became the last resting place for the Grand Duchess herself. All the speakers noted the extent of the material presented and importance of the exhibition for understanding of Russian-British Royal links. In addition to the photographs a collection of artefacts and relics were displayed, which included the crocheted rug made for the Tsarevich Alexis by his sisters, plates from the dinner service of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, a china Easter Egg with her monogram, a bound Gospel book which travelled together with her coffin from Alapaevsk to Jerusalem, a wimple worn by one of the Sisters of her Convent, one of the cups made to commemorate the coronation of Nicholas II and distributed in large numbers, and many other precious items, documents and original photographs which had been brought from Australia, Germany, Russia and Jerusalem. Central to all theses treasures was…

6th – 8th of July 2018

Dear Brothers and Sisters! In addition to the main invitation we would like to highlight that this event will be a true PILGRIMAGE and a unique opportunity to admire and venerate lots if holy objects brought to us from Russia, Germany, Australia and the Holy Land. First time such a collection of Romanov belongings will be gathered in one place in Britain. Many of them witnessed the last days of our Holy Martyrs.We are expecting Relics of the Holy Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara (from Munich) will be present during our services and available for veneration.You will have opportunity to attend two liturgies in historic royal churches and other services lead by our ROCOR Hierarch bishop Ireney of Sacramento, who showed us a great honour by coming here from SanFrancisco. He is a distinguished Orthodox theologian and pastor, so we will be privileged to hear his talks and to speak to him.Many other priests and nuns will be present: archpriest Michael Protopopov from Melbourne, archpriest Andrew Philips from Colchester, abbess Maria from Munich and Abbess Elizabeth from Martha and Mary convent, Moscow, nun Yulianua (Denisova), the prominent Choirnaster from Minsk. Her choir will be singing during the services and will give a concert.The talks which you can attend during the exhibition will enlighten you with new knowledge about our Royal Martyrs, which will be illustrated with the archival photographs and other material, the exhibition being prepared by historians and archival specialists.We will be praying on the grave of princess Victoria of Mountbatten, the elder sister of St Elizabeth. Don’t miss this pilgrimage! Don’t miss this historic event! Travel to the Isle of Wight for free on Saturday as a foot passenger (ask David Hill). You may have a free lift from the areas near London on Friday! You may get affordable accommodation near East Cowes! Please contact the organisers as soon as possible. Chairwoman: Maria Harwood (nd1523@hotmail.com) Coordinator from East Cowes: David Hill (lovehilluk@yahoo.co.uk)

East Cowes, Isle of Wight, 6th – 8th of July, 2018  Общество Великой Княгини Елизаветы Романовой в Великобритании организует мемориальные мероприятия в Великобритании,    посвященные Столетию убиения Святых Царственных Страстотерпцев и         Преподобномученицы Великой Княгини Елисаветы  Ист Каус, Остров Уайт, 6 – 8 июля, 2018 We are inviting everybody to participate in the CENTENARY commemorative programme planned for 6th – 8th of July 2018 in East Cowes, Isle of Wight. You have the chance to witness an historic event, the UNVEILING of the MONUMENT to the LAST IMPERIAL FAMILY and the GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH, MARTYRED during the revolution in Russia, all of them closely related to the BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY. The monument will be placed near Osborne House in East Cowes, visited by Romanovs many times. The TOWN COUNCIL of East Cowes is co-organiser of these events. The Exhibition “THE CROSS OF THE ROMANOVS” will be dedicated to the last days of the Romanovs and to their connections and exchange of visits with the Windsors. Many Romanov belongings and holy objects will be brought from different countries especially for this exhibition which will take place at BARTON MANOR visited by the last Imperial Family in 1909. We may have some places reserved for you at local hotels. This weekend coincides with the Cowes REGATA. The Hotels must be booked in advance. Please contact us for further enquiries:  Secretary Paul Oxborrow paul.oxborrow0@gmail.com Chairman Maria Harwood nd1523@hotmail.com, Coordinator from East Cowes David lovehilluk@yahoo.co.uk

The Grand Duchess Elizabeth Romanov Society event on 20th of October at St Leonards-on-Sea, “Romanovs in The Kremlin and in their Country Estate near Moscow: Coronations and Family Life”, was very successful, and gathered quite a big and educated audience, who were very interested in Russian history, customs and church life. There were not only members of the Society but some guests from The Art Society and Battle Historical Society, as well as some historians knowledgeable in the subject. Our special guests David and Janet McNeal arrived from the Isle of Wight. The speaker Dr Inessa Slyunkova, former Head Architect of the Kremlin Museums and member of the Russian Academy of Architecture, delivered a well prepared talk on various aspects of the last coronation of Nicholas II and Alexandra in 1896. She informed us about the medieval church ritual of the Tsars anointing and showed wonderful pictures from some ancient Russian chronicles. Then she described the stages of the coronation and concentrated on the procession through the Kremlin. She analysed the structure of the buildings, costumes, and movements of the procession underlining the unchanging features and the new developments. Her talk incorporated pictures of the Impressive illuminations and fireworks which the audience found very modern-looking. Special attention was paid to the people’s festivities and to the tragedy which happened on the Khodynka field. Dr Slyunkova presented well known facts and her own interpretation of the tragic events. Her talk was translated and read by John Harwood, a trustee of the Society. Inessa concluded the presentation and answered some questions. During the break people enjoyed very tasty food and wine which accompanied lively discussions and informal talks. In the second part of the evening there was a presentation of Inessa’s new book dedicated to the Imperial estate near Moscow (Iliinskoe and Usovo) where Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich lived during Summer and Autumn. Iliinskoe was inherited by GD Sergey from his mother Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Dr Slyunkova went through her book telling us about the history of this estate and its development under Romanovs, showing us on a big screen many wonderful illustrations, portraits and landscapes. Through the art and architecture she presented us with a vivid picture of the period, of human faces of the members of the ruling dynasty, of their warm relationship with a wide circle of people and their charity work. After the assassination of GD Sergei in 1905 his wife Grand Duchess Elizabeth left the estate to her nephew, established a Convent of Mercy in Moscow in the names of Sts Martha and Mary and fully dedicated her life to the works of charity. She was murdered by the bolsheviks on 18th of July 1918 in the small village of Alapaevsk together with other members of the Romanov family and just one day after the murder of the Imperial family itself in Ekaterinburg. The Year 2017 marks the centenary of the Russian Revolution. We are very grateful to Dr Inessa Slyunkova for the…