The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and H.I.H. the Heir, Tsesarevich, and Grand Duke George of Russia, traveled to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine to participate in the Celebrations of the 400th Anniversary of the Ending of the Time of Troubles and the Ascension to the Throne of the House of Romanoff, September 19-23, 2013
On September 19-23, 2013, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and H.I.H. the Heir, Tsesarevich, and Grand Duke George of Russia, made an official visit to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in Ukraine.
It was with the goal of preserving the historical and cultural legacy of Ukraine that the parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Verkhovnaia Rada, adopted on February 20, 2013, the resolution (№ 1140-6/13) entitled “On Events Pertaining to the Celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.”
Their Imperial Highnesses were invited to come to Crimea by the Speaker of the Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Vladimir Andreevich Konstantinov.
The central purpose of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the ending of the Time of Troubles and the ascension of the Romanoff dynasty has repeatedly been emphasized in the public statements of Grand Duchess Maria of Russia: “First and foremost, this is a celebration of the peoples’ struggle to save their homeland. Therefore, this celebration is not so much a dynastic anniversary as it is a solemn national holiday, which has enormous significance for the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of all the territories of the former Russian Empire, a celebration that unites the peoples of all the independent nations that arose after the fall of the USSR, irrespective of nationality or social and political views.”