On April 12, 2007, the State Museum “Pavlovsk”, near St. Petersburg, opened an exhibition dedicated to Princess Vera Konstantinovna Romanova, daughter of Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov (also known as the poet “K.R.”), and the 100th anniversary of her birth. Representing the Russian History Museum and Holy Trinity Seminary at the festivities were Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow, faculty member of Holy Trinity Seminary and long-time associate of the Museum; Elena Lochmatow, curator of Museum; and Deacon Vladimir Tsurikov, Director of Archives and Library Services of Holy Trinity Seminary and member of the organizational committee of the exhibition dedicated to Princess Vera.
The exhibit was organized by the State Museum “Pavlovsk” in cooperation with the Russian State Archives and the Alexis Jordan Fund for Assistance to Cadet Corps.
The Russian History Museum contributed eleven items, sent to the Pavlovsk museum on temporary loan for the duration of three-month-long exhibition. Another institution that participated in the exhibition was the Russian Cultural Foundation, located in Moscow.
The opening of the exhibit began with a parade in the courtyard of the palace of representatives of several cadet corps from St. Petersburg, after which Priest Daniel Ranne served a litia in the palace chapel in memory of Princess Vera.
An exhibition catalog was published by the “Pavlovsk” Museum, with several scholarly articles focusing on collections at different institutions, both in Russia and abroad that have significance for the study of Princess Vera’s family. The catalog includes four greetings, contributed by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus; Boris Jordan, President of the Alexis Jordan Fund for Assistance to Cadet Corps; N.S. Tretiakov, Director of the State Museum “Pavlovsk”; and S.V. Mironenko, Director of the Russian State Archives. Contributors to the catalog include A.N. Guzanov (State Museum “Pavlovsk”), M.V. Sidorova (Russian State Archives), V.V. Leonidov and O.K. Zemliakova (Russian Cultural Foundation), Deacon Vladimir Tsurikov (Holy Trinity Seminary), and Edward Kasinec (The New York Public Library).
This event marks the first time that any items from the Russian History Museum have left Jordanville to be included in other exhibitions, and it is of special significance that it was precisely in Princess Vera’s former home that this exhibit took place. Princess Vera has played an important role in the inception of the Museum, donating numerous items to the museum, archives and library, and facilitating the acquisition of other items. The items will return on July 20, 2007.
Special thanks is due to Mr. Boris A. Jordan and the Alexis Jordan Fund for Assistance to Cadet Corps, who have played an important role in organizing this exhibit and without whose support this event would not have been possible. Owing to the Fund’s initiative, the Russian History Museum was able to facilitate the loan of items for this exhibition. Furthermore, the exhibition also includes several items from the personal collection of Mrs. M.A. Jordan, widow of Alexis B. Jordan – both of whom were close friends of Princess Vera.