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Reburial for Russia tsar's mother Reburial for Russia tsar's mother
(29 minutes later)
A service is under way in St Petersburg to mark the reburial of empress Maria Fyodorovna, the mother of Russia's last tsar, in accordance with her wishes. The reburial of empress Maria Fyodorovna, the mother of Russia's last tsar, has taken place in St Petersburg in accordance with her wishes.
The Danish-born empress was exiled after the communist revolution and died in the country of her birth in 1928.The Danish-born empress was exiled after the communist revolution and died in the country of her birth in 1928.
Her son, Nicholas II, abdicated in 1917 and was executed by the Bolsheviks, along with much of his family.Her son, Nicholas II, abdicated in 1917 and was executed by the Bolsheviks, along with much of his family.
Members of several European royal families are attending the reburial ceremony at St Isaac's Cathedral. Members of several European royal families attended the reburial ceremony at St Isaac's Cathedral.
Among them are Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and the UK's Princess Michael of Kent, a distant relative of Maria Fyodorovna. Among them were Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and the UK's Princess Michael of Kent, a distant relative of Maria Fyodorovna.
We are not burying her, but bringing the Russian empress back to the place where she belongs Nikolai RomanovDescendant of imperial family Her soul ached for Russia Orthodox Patriarch Alexiy II
The final resting place for the remains of the former Empress of Russia will be in the Peter and Paul Fortress in the former imperial capital, besides the graves of her husband and son. Maria Fyodorovna's coffin was lowered into the imperial crypt in the Peter and Paul Fortress, the resting place of Russian tsars. The final resting place is beside the graves of her husband and son.
The coffin will be lowered into the crypt at a ceremony attended by the Russian Orthodox Patriarch, Alexy II, and featuring a guard of honour performed by soldiers from Denmark and Russia. Guests filed past, sprinkling earth onto the coffin. Flags flew at half-mast around the city and artillery fired a salute.
The patriarch has described the return of the remains as "an act of repentance of the part of society and the state" and a "historic and spiritual event for Russia". Orthodox Patriarch Alexiy II, who led a mourning ceremony ahead of the burial, said: "This will be another sign that Russia is overcoming the enmity and divisions brought by the revolution and civil war."
"It is not a sad event, it is a joyful one," Nikolai Romanov, a descendant of the imperial family, told Russia's Ria Novosti news agency. He said: "Having fallen deeply in love with the Russian people, the empress devoted a great deal of effort for the benefit of the Russian fatherland. Her soul ached for Russia."
"We are not burying her, but bringing the Russian empress back to the place where she belongs," he said.
Popular figure
Maria Fyodorovna was born Princess Dagmar in 1847, changing her name and converting to the Russian Orthodox faith when she married as a teenager.
Princess Dagmar married Tsar Alexander III in 1866Princess Dagmar married Tsar Alexander III in 1866
Maria Fyodorovna was born Princess Dagmar in 1847, changing her name and converting to the Russian Orthodox faith when she married as a teenager.
Her husband was the heir to Russia's imperial throne, the man who went on to become Tsar Alexander III.Her husband was the heir to Russia's imperial throne, the man who went on to become Tsar Alexander III.
The tsarina had six children, including Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II.The tsarina had six children, including Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II.
She returned to Denmark after the Bolshevik Revolution and died there, never having accepted that her son and his family had been killed.She returned to Denmark after the Bolshevik Revolution and died there, never having accepted that her son and his family had been killed.
Her coffin has been lying in state in Peterhof, outside St Petersburg, since its arrival on a Danish ship on Tuesday. Her coffin had been lying in state in Peterhof, outside St Petersburg, since its arrival on a Danish ship on Tuesday.
Lengthy negotiations preceded its transfer, a project championed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has tried to rehabilitate some of the icons of the imperial past.Lengthy negotiations preceded its transfer, a project championed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has tried to rehabilitate some of the icons of the imperial past.
But his government has also clashed with Denmark, accusing Copenhagen of offering a sanctuary for Chechen militants.
The former empress is among the more popular members of the Romanov dynasty.
"She was one of our better empresses. She did not meddle in politics and she lived a good Russian life," Yevgeny Levashov, a 77-year-old pensioner, told the Reuters news agency.
"I think it is worth reburying her. A wife should be laid to rest next to her husband."