Оn the Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, Their Imperial Highnesses attended Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Smolensk

On 27 September 2002, on the Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, Their Imperial Highnesses attended Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Smolensk. After the Liturgy, the Grand Duchesses met with V. N. Maslov, the Head of the Administration of the Smolensk District, with V. I. Anisimov, the chairman of the Smolensk Regional Council (Duma), and with other leaders of the District. In the first half of the day, Their Imperial Highnesses visited the company “Crystal,” where They familiarized themselves with the manufacturing process employed there and with the labor and living conditions of the workers.

During the second half of the day, the Grand Duchesses attended the consecration of the Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady “the Hope of Sinners” on Solovjev Crossing, and the interment in the military cemetery on the grounds of the cathedral of the remains of Russian soldiers killed in 1941. The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, gave a short speech. “It is an extraordinarily important thing to Me and to My August Mother,” Her Imperial Highness said, “to have been here—in Smolensk and in its environs, which have suffered so much in the past—at the dedication of the Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady ‘the Hope of Sinners’ and at the dedication on its grounds of this commemorative military cemetery. The Russian Imperial House considers the feats of soldiers who have given their lives for the Motherland during the Second World War, to be holy. Those who fell here during the heavy fighting of the initial onslaught and who have for many long years remained unburied, deserve the highest honor. In many ways, the Nazi plan for lightning warfare [blitzkrieg], which they hoped would bring them victory, was smashed thanks to this sacrificial struggle. Before all else, I want to offer my heartfelt greetings to the veterans who survived these battles and have lived on even to this very day. I offer my greetings to those who are with us today, and those who could not come, but are in spirit surely with us. Your feats will never be forgotten by your descendants. May the Lord and His Most Pure Mother keep you in good health for many years to come, so that you can pass on [knowledge of your feats ] to the younger generation of Russian citizens. I especially want to extend my greetings to all those who helped make today’s events possible.” Her Imperial Highness awarded the insignia of the Order of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to First Lieutenant and Medical Officer D. N. Petrov, a veteran of the battles at Solovjev Crossing, and to V. N. Maslov, the Head of the Administration of the Smolensk District. Imperial certificates of appreciation were awarded to Archpriest Vasilii