White [anti-Bolshevik/anti-Soviet] Movement Gains Home

[Barbara]

At last the White Russian opposition to the Bolshevik takeover of Russia from 1917 on has gained some traction in a country solidly indoctrinated for 70-80 years AGAINST "the White Guards". That was long-employed Soviet terminology for the 'wicked' anti-Communists who dared fight the Bolshevik seizure of power. Hardly anything in the Soviet lexicon was worse than being linked to a "White Guard" even the most indirect way. Someone's 4th cousin once removed who had a relative in Europe or America who MAY HAVE knocked on the suspect's door one day 15 years ago - if maliciously informed on by a neighbor, or somehow found out - would be hauled in to the Cheka/OGPU/NKVD/KGB office. The poor innocent would be accused of being a White Guard, or sympathizing with them. Perhaps also he or she would be accused of striving to restore the Tsarist monarchy. Such a ridiculously remote association with the White Russian emigres was cause in the Soviet Union for immediate shipment of the unfortunate one to Kolyma, Magadan, and other of the most severe concentration camps.

The so-called Red Guards - the Communists - evolved a massive propaganda campaign over the decades against their enemies, the White Guards. It seems that this state-sponsored stigma of the Russian emigres has lasted until rather recently.

Now glorious news has come of the establishment of an international foundation called, with appropriate respect for the Heavenly Queen and Directress of the Russian Diaspora,
"The White Movement Under the Protection of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "

At the opening ceremony on April 14, 2016 in a building called the Old English Court on Ulitsa Varvarka in Kitai-Gorod, near the Kremlin, selected remarks explaining the fabulous new project follow [:

"The main goal of the new organization will be to memorialize the heroes of the White Movement and the popularization of its ideals in today’s Russia....

“We wish to discuss the White Movement, to explain and help understand the feats of its participants, to disseminate information on the ways of life in various places of the Russian Army in Gallipoli, Lemnos, Bizert and other locations, and about the life of Russian refugees abroad,” said Mr Grigoriev [ overall head of the UDRG ]. “Our goal is to display the power of faith and morality of the White warriors, as well as the role and meaning of the Russian Orthodox Church in preserving the spirit and national consciousness of Russian communities abroad.”....

"Nikolai Spassky, Secretary of the Moscow branch of the UDRG, then gave a brief speech. [ Interesting that his name
resembles that of the Foundation's new permanent home ! ]

"The Head of the UDRG in the USA, Pavel Kuzubov, then divulged the plans of the effort, which will include a multimedia center, lecture series, seminars, documentary screenings, as well as active dialog relating to the White Movement. According to him, the center will cover contributions to the study of the Fatherland; culture and military topics; eminent figures of the White Movement even before the outbreak of the Russian Civil War; how members of every social class of Russia united to fight under the White banner; as well as the tragic exodus of the Russian Army from Russia and their forced presence in Gallipoli, Lemnos, Bizert and other regions. These Russians did not simply scatter as huddled masses of refugees, but, preserving their own internal structures, found the strength to carry on the lofty ideals of Russian culture. Equally important will be exhibiting the ways of life of Russian refugees in the diaspora and the efforts of the legendary Society of Gallipoli. Special attention will be paid to the return of the descendants of White Russians to Russia. "

http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2016/2016 ... oscow.html

[Barbara]

For me, the most exciting part is that the new foundation will be housed in Novospassky Monastery. That was my immediate favorite place in Moscow. Although I was there a long time ago when the Monastery was getting back on its feet after so many years of horrors from the Communists, even then, there were
Cossack guards in colorful uniforms manning the entrance.

The monastery is associated with the Romanov Dynasty due to the burial crypt of Romanov family members, both before and after the assumption of power of Tsar Mikhail Romanov.

Thus there could not be a more perfect home for the new White Movement Foundation. I have to check which tower is the North Tower. I was invited to climb to the top of the bell tower by monastery bell ringers ; the view of Moscow is spectacular from that height. The tourist literature says that it is only slightly shorter than the tall Belltower of Ivan the Great in the Kremlin.

Novospassky has an ancient history, too, more than many of the well-known Moscow monasteries, making it an ideal place to house the White Foundation. The monks originally lived on the grounds of the current Danilov Monastery, but were moved first to the Kremlin, and finally to this location on Krutitsky [ = steep river banks ] Hill. [ The current Krutitsky Podvorie, former seat of the Moscow Metropolitans, is across the road from Novospassky. ]

[Barbara]

Just a minor note. When I was making my last trip, I was given a new map of completely renamed Moscow Metro stations published by a Russian government travel organization in San Francisco. Perhaps it was the Aeroflot office.

I was surprised to see that Proletarskaya, the station closest to Novospassky, had become Novospasskaya or something similar. It sounded wonderful !

I got over there --- and all the Metro stations remained the same Communist names. As far as I know, none have changed up to the current day. Certainly, Proletarskaya has stayed 'the abode of the proletariat'.... quite grating to pilgrims to the venerable Monastery ! I guess that map was only a trial balloon. Or else the proposed changes away from Soviet-era names for many of the Moscow stations had been nixed by some higher-up. It was strange that the new Metro map with the pleasing names had already been already printed and was being distributed to American travelers by at least a semi-official Russian organization. I never figured out what happened. If anyone knows the explanation, please enlighten the readers here !

If the scheme is resurrected, it certainly would be great for visitors to the new White Foundation to be able to get out at "Novospasskaya" or similar. Rather than feel they are about to enter a drab, dark, oppressive Soviet factory....

[Barbara]

"On November 27, 2016 , Znamensky Church in Moscow’s Novospassky Monastery will be the site of an exhibition titled “God is With Us! May Russia Rise Again!” The event is dedicated to the heroes of the White Movement and their patriotic service to Russia in the Homeland and abroad.

"The show is being organized jointly by Novospassky Stavropighial Monastery and the Union of the Descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli, with funding from the Foundation for the Memory of the White Movement under the auspices of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign.” The exhibition will reveal to the parishioners and people of Moscow the great feats of the White warriors, how they selflessly continued to serve their Homeland even when they found themselves on distant shores, staunchly preserving their ideals and traditions.

"The uniqueness of this exhibit is based on the fact that descendants of the members of the White Movement from the USA, Australia, France and Great Britain took part in its organization. It will include rare photographs, documents and artifacts from private archives, along with family heirlooms.

"Of special interest is a section of the show devoted to the large families of the Golenishev-Kutuzovs, Grabbes, Levshins, whose members were prime examples of worthiness and remarkable strength of spirit as they endured terrible suffering after their exile from Russia.

"A separate exponent will be devoted to the history of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," its discovery and related miracles, and its importance to the Russian diaspora.

http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2016/2016 ... assky.html

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Wonderful ! I like the vibrant spirit in which the press release is written.

We in North America know about the Grabbe family, but it would be interesting to learn more about Golenishev-Kutuzovs and Levshins.
Does anyone have any idea where they settled ? Perhaps in Europe. I hope the exhibition educates the many uninformed in the RF about the sacrifices of the White Movement for the cause of preventing the lengthy nightmare which overtook Russia.

I also would like to see some future appraisal of the role of the Allies [ from World War I ] in either assisting or failing to assist the Whites. Why were Britain and America so lackluster in offering much-needed aid against the Reds ??

[Barbara]

Meanwhile, the annual observance of the "Heroes of the White Army" will be held all over the world this Saturday, November 19 :

"Appeal by the Union of the Descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli

"Dear Friends:

"This year marks an anniversary for the descendants of the Russian emigres in Gallipoli. It is now 95 years since the founding of the Society of Gallipoli. Lieutenant-General Baron Wrangel established the Society on November 22, 1921, exactly a year after the arrival of the first troops of the Russian Army to Gallipoli.

"In memory of this occasion, the Main Administration of the Union of the Descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli decided that every year, on the closest Saturday to November 22, to perform pannikhida services wherever the descendants of those members of the White Army live.

"The Union of the Descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli once again invites you to join us in common prayer for our forefathers, the heroes of the White Army. In accordance with tradition, we ask you all, scattered throughout the world, to organize memorial services where you live, to mark the heroic feats of our ancestors. Those who can organize such a service are encouraged to notify us at contac@udcrg.org."

http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2016/2016 ... ipoli.html

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No reason why True Orthodox parishes could not also participate with Pannikhidas for this noble cause !

The RTOC Trenton - Bishop Stefan parish near San Francisco had a Pannikhida on Sunday, November 6, for a similar purpose :
"....for the participants in the anti-communist forces (white army) and anti-communist activities during and after the Russian revolution".

Hopefully, more can be organized across all the Russian-oriented TOC jurisdictions. The more such highly important Pannikhidas are held - the better !

[Barbara]

I wanted to clarify that the uniformed Cossack guards only appeared at the time of my final trip ; previously there was no organized setup like this. Everything was informal because the monastery was just getting back on its feet.

Let's hope the Exhibition is a great success !

[Barbara]

Report on the Exhibition's Opening Day :

"It will reveal the great efforts of the White Movement, how its participants continued to selflessly serve their Fatherland even while in exile, staunchly preserving their ideals and traditions. A special section is devoted to the “Hodigitria of the Russian Diaspora,” the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign,” and miracles associated with it.

"Attending the November 26, 2016, opening were His Grace Bishop Savva (Mikheev), Prior of the monastery and Vicar of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill; Mr AV Kibovsky, Minister of the Moscow Municipality and Head of its Department of Culture; Mr Alexey Grigoriev, President of the Union of the Descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli; Mr Paul Edward Kulikovsky, a descendant of the Imperial Romanov Family, great-grandson of Tsarina Olga Alexandrovna, daughter of Tsar Alexander III, and descendants of the members of the White Movement from Russia, Europe, the USA and Australia.

"Vladyka Savva called upon everyone to pray “for those who were once forced to flee their Homeland and did not survive to return, those who died in the diaspora with dreams of Russia,” after which he performed a pannikhida service for the participants of the White Movement. His Grace expressed hope that next year, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God would be brought to Znamensky Church for veneration....

"Mr Grigoriev reminded the attendees that in November, 1920, the Russian Army under General Wrangel, leaving the shores of their Homeland, landed on the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli, where White soldiers and their families were not only able to survive under difficult circumstances, but remain true patriots of their Fatherland, continuing to serve historic Russia even abroad.
“The White Movement is an important page in the history of Russia,” concluded Mr Grigoriev....

"Representatives of the “Moscow United Volunteer Brigade” donned reconstructed military uniforms of various parts of the White Army.

"The uniqueness of this exhibit lies in the fact that descendants of the White Moevement living in France, Great Britain, Australia and the USA participated. Rare photographs were shown, along with manuscripts from private collections and heirlooms."

http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2016/2016 ... ition.html