Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna: June 2008-

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by Ceallach

Either it was a case of avoiding the claimants or maybe they did the testing in the UK and Russia and these people were all living nearby?

But the tests should be correct and accepted - especially George.

But Maria will not go against the church.

Maria does not share the same maternal lines of descent as Philip shared with the Tsars children.

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by Ceallach

... [snipped]
The church might also want to return the monarchy and may want to redo the tests with Maria. It could be they are trying to help Maria regain the throne.

untitled3

Why would the Russian Orthodox Church advocate restoring the monarchy? What extra is there for ROC to gain? The current regime does not suppress religious activities or confiscate the land and properties. The ROC has to tread carefully so as not to upset the balanced relationship with the powers that be.

[Cory]

An Interview with the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria Wladimirovna, is Published in the National Daily Newspaper Rossiiskie Vesti

[Ceallach]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

Why would the Russian Orthodox Church advocate restoring the monarchy? What extra is there for ROC to gain? The current regime does not suppress religious activities or confiscate the land and properties. The ROC has to tread carefully so as not to upset the balanced relationship with the powers that be.

There is no reason for them to do so, but maybe the patriarch or someone else is a monarchist?

I do not see any logical reason for them to not accept the findings otherwise unless as others have suggested they don't get the science.

Maria, on the other hand, will blindly follow the church's decision.

[Al_bina]

I doubt Patriarch Kirill is a monarchist. Similar to his predecessors, he will maintain the balanced working relationships with the powers that be. That what ROC has been doing and will do in the future. The ROC is known for its pragmatism and realistic approaches of dealing with the authorities.

In February 2011 the official spokesman of the Synodal Department of the Patriarchate denied reports that the Church was about to merge with the Russian State. He said, "The Russian Church has never in its history been so independent of the state as it is now. It treasures this independence. However, it also treasures the dialogue that it has with the modern state. No doubt, this dialogue cannot be called easy, but it can be called constructive."

[Benjamin]

Maria Vladimirovna has denounced the creation of a Monarchist Party:
Russie : la Maison Romanov dénonce la création du Parti monarchique : Voix de la Russie

[Cory]

Why does not she agree with it?

[Marc23]

Originally Posted by Cory

Why does not she agree with it?

Because politicians would not protect her if she was to be their opposition...and let's face it,the majority in Russia are not for the monarchy to stand behind her back if she wants to have that kind of political party...

If she presents just the tradition,it's other thing and in that way she can "flirt" with politicians,as they also do with her,without stepping into each-others territory!

[Cory]

Maybe she wants to have supporters in all the political parties.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by Cory

Why does not she agree with it?

Because she believes the Imperial House must remain above politics and focused on upholding their traditions and legacy, and avoid being associated with any one political entity in order to serve all Russians.

Basically, she is stating the principle of the Westminster form of constitutional monarchy, as practiced by Britain, is ideal.

[Artemisia]

House of Romanov: the Narishkin treasure belongs to a museum *
The House of Romanov released a statement stating that they believe the treasure found at the mansion of the Narishkin noble family should be stored in a museum and not returned to the descendants of the Imperial Family.
"We hope that the will be transferred to a museum," - said the director of the Office of the House of Romanov, Alexander Zakatov.
"The Head of the House of Romanov, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna, has repeatedly stated that she is against restitutions, as were her father and grandfather - Heads of the Imperial House in exile. She believes that the return of any property may endanger civilian peace in the country".
"The Grand Duchess believes that finds like this put should be public property, and belong to museums to be accessible to all Russians so that the can admire and be proud of the beauty of works of Russian Masters." - said the official representative of the House of Romanov.

- Article
- Google translation


Apparently, the descendants of the Narishkin House do not agree with the Grand Duchess.

The last of Narishkins is fighting for the treasure
84-year-old Nathalie Narishkin - the last direct descendant emigrated Russian princes - is going to fight for the treasure found in the St. Petersburg mansion, which until belonged to her family before the revolution. According to her, she learnt of the unique discovery in the Narishkin mansion from the newspapers. Nathalie Narishkin told that Colonel Somov, whose documents were discovered together with the treasure, was her uncle; he was married to the youngest daughter of Prince Narishkin - her father's sister.

"I am the last representative of that branch of Narishkins, and the last one who bears the name. I am not married and have no children. I am 84 years old, so with my death the direct line of the Narishkin Princes will cease to exist. The fact is, the treasure that was found rightfully belongs to the two of us - me and my niece Natalie. My grandfather, Cyril Narishkin, had two children: my father and my aunt Irene, who was born much later. Natalia is Irene's daughter; she is now 46 years old and lives in Geneva. The two of us are the last direct heirs and the two of us are going to claim the treasure found at our ancestral house.

- Article
- Google translation


I find it odd Maria Vladimirovna chose to interfere with this affair since it is, frankly speaking, none of her business. I may agree that findings of such historical value must end up in museums, however it is also unfair to deprive the rightful heirs of their inheritance.


* For those of you who have never heard this story, at the end of March, during the restoration of the Trubetsky-Narishkin mansion, a secret room was found, containing over 2,000 silver items - all in excellent condition. The finding is so unique and of such great historical value that so far no one has been able to give even an approximate estimate how much the treasure is worth. Most probably, we are talking about millions of dollars at the very least.

[NGalitzine]

The Narishkin silver does not really seem to have anything to do with her. I suppose she thinks she will curry favor with the Russian authorities when she makes these pronouncements.

[COUNTESS]

With this edict, she should donate everthing she has that belonged to previous Romanovs, that should belong to the people. Frankly, she may belong in a museum.

[AristoCat]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

The Narishkin silver does not really seem to have anything to do with her. I suppose she thinks she will curry favor with the Russian authorities when she makes these pronouncements.

What is she thinking, currying favor with the Russian authorities? These are the same authorities that would end up eliminating her and her family if at any point they felt like it. It's not like this is going to have her end up getting a throne and this is incredibly crass of her.

She believes that the return of any property may endanger civilian peace in the country".

How stupid, this was personal property of Nathalie and she has a right to it; it's not like she's so young that she would end up having it for a long time. Nathalie should be humored and Maria should just back off.

[TomBert]

It is hardly an "edict" issued by the Grand Duchess. The linked article takes you to Interfax, an agency that often publishes pieces on the Grand Duchess. It seems to me that discussions have been taking place on where the items should go and the Chancellery of the Head of the Imperial House was asked for an opinion. Through her spokesman the Grand Duchess gave one. Not exactly earth shattering or controversial, but never let that get in the way of an opportunity to pick on the Grand Duchess.

[NGalitzine]

^^^^
If that was the case, "no comment" or "this does not involve the House of Romanov" would have been more appropriate answers instead of offering an opinion on something that involves another family, not hers.

[melall]

It was the answer to announcement by representative of Romanov Family Association to the «Vzglyad» newspaper ( on russian ). Where he told that the Grand duchess calls for a restitution and to return of this treasure by Naryshkin.

[Al_bina]

I highly doubt that the Russian government would ever restitute anything to any Russian noble or well-to-do families whose property was nationalised. They would not like to set a legal precedent.

[kell]

didnt maria in herited like a found treasure trove herself which was spilt between among the sruving members of her family ie aunts and all

[Artemisia]

She did.
When the jewellery collection belonging to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna was found in Swedish Embassy, the jewels were auctioned and proceeds divided between the descendants of the Grand Duchess, including Maria Vladimirovna (who, I believe, got nearly half).

I found a blog entry from TRF that deals with those jewels, though there is no mention of a subsequent auction.
It can probably be found in Romanov and Russians Jewels thread.