In Moscow, a Monument Was Unveiled to the First Chairs of the IPHO Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and His Wife Elizaveta Feodorovna

The Monument as a Symbol of Historical Memory and Cultural Heritage

On September 27, 2022, a grand opening of a monument to the first chairmen of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IPHO), Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and his wife Elizaveta Feodorovna, was held in Moscow.

The monument is located in the courtyard of the IPHO building in the historical center of Moscow. It was created by sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov and architect Konstantin Fomin.

The monument is a bronze sculpture depicting Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and Elizaveta Feodorovna standing side by side. The Grand Duke is dressed in a military uniform, and Elizaveta Feodorovna is in a nun's robe. The sculpture is mounted on a granite pedestal.

The Significance of the IPHO and Its Founders

The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society was founded in 1882 under the patronage of the Russian Emperor Alexander III.

Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich served as the chairman of the IPHO from 1882 to 1905 and made significant contributions to the development of the organization. Under his leadership, the IPHO established churches, schools, and hospitals in Palestine and supported the restoration of Orthodox shrines in the Holy Land.

Elizaveta Feodorovna became the chairwoman of the IPHO after the assassination of her husband. As a nun, she devoted her life to charitable work and became a symbol of compassion and mercy.

The Unveiling Ceremony

The unveiling ceremony was attended by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian government, and the diplomatic corps.

The ceremony began with a prayer service led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. After the prayer service, the monument was unveiled.

In his speech, Patriarch Kirill praised Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and Elizaveta Feodorovna as exemplars of Christian piety and service to the Church and the Fatherland.