Nikolaj II in Mogilev History

On the 23 of August 1915 inhabitants of Mogilev greeted the last Russian Emperor Nikolai II. Though Mogilev (Belarus) hills remembered many of Russian monarchs such as Alexei Mihailovych, Peter I, Ekaterina II, Pavel I, Alexander I. Alexander II, but Nikolai 11 came to Mogilev for the first time.

In 1915 Mogilev hosted the Headquarters of Russian Army Supreme Commander-in-Chief. There were situated the missions of the Entente member-countries, Russian allies, as well. So the town appeared in the thick of historical events of European and world significance.

For weeks the Russian Emperor Nikolai II as Commander-in-Chief and his son Alexei lived in the house of Mogilev Governor on the Governor Square. Emperor usually followed one and the same regime of his working day. In the afternoon instead of having a rest he went to Mogilev suburbs and just walked enjoying beautiful nature. Nikolai also liked to spend his time in the village Polykovichy. He went there up the Dnepr by dinghy. Royal family regularly attended church services at the church of St. Paraskeva, Bogoyavlenskaya church and Spasso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral. They often went to St. Nikolas and Buiniehy monasteries.

In autumn of 1915 Empress and Royal children came to Mogilev | for the first time. In Mogilev Royal family lived in a special carriage 1 encamped at a specially built branch line. Traditionally women kept out of the Headquarters. Empress and Royal children preferred to spend their time in Pechersk and at the riversides, walking at the. Dembovetsky Park and going for a row.

Citizens were just held in thrall by royal daughters. Girls freely walked along the Mogilev streets without any guard and did their shopping at their favorite Burstein's shop. Czarevitch Alexei also closely contacted with Mogilev, inhabitants. He often played with children from rich and poor families as well.

In spite of wartime after Emperor's coming city's life became visibly animated. The officer and the lady were the main figurants of Dneprovsky, Avenue and Bolshaya Sadovaya Street. An, excellent theatre troupe appeared in Mogilev. The theatre was the only place of cultural life of the city where Emperor, members and guests of the Headquarters enjoyed operettas and first films of cinematograph.

But the February Revolution began. Nikolai went to Petersburg as Russian Emperor and returned to Mogilev just as Colonel Romanov. On the 8 of March 1917 Nikolai took leave of his Mother Mariyaj Fedorovna, Grand Dukes and solders and from the Mogilev railway station he went to Czarskoe Selo where he was arrested.

On the 14th of August 2000 members of the royal family were canonized. By chance in very day a full-dress portrait of Nikolai II was found in one of the old buildings on the Peonerskaya Street in Mogilev. Today this portrait is kept as an icon at St. Nikolas Cathedral.

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