Coronation procession Coronation of the Russian monarch

procession of tsar alexander ii dormition cathedral red porch during coronation in 1856.

the tsar met on morning of coronation @ kremlin palace s red porch, took place beneath large canopy held thirty-two russian generals, other officers providing additional support. accompanied wife (under separate canopy) , regalia, proceeded toward cathedral of dormition, anointing , crowning take place. among items of regalia in parade chain of order of st. andrew first-called tsaritsa, sword of state, banner of state, state seal, purple robe tsar, orb, sceptre, small imperial crown , great imperial crown, arranged in strict order. aides-de-camp tsar, generals of suite , horse guards troop lined along route, red porch cathedral. hof-marshal, hof-marshal in chief , supreme marshal, each mace in hand, silently joined procession, boasted ministers of war office , imperial court, commander of imperial residence, adjutant general of day, orderly major general of suite , commander of horse guards regiment, among others.

the tsar , wife met @ cathedral door orthodox prelates, chief among them either patriarch of russia or (during times when there no patriarch) metropolitan bishop of moscow. presiding bishop offered cross monarchs kissing, while hierarch sprinkled them holy water. once had entered cathedral, venerated icons there 3 times, took places on cathedral dais, 2 large thrones had been set up. 1 of these throne of tsar michael i, first tsar of romanov dynasty, ascended throne in 1613; other of ivan iii, created title of tsar of russias in fifteenth century. protocol prohibited crowned sovereign witnessing coronation. however, in 1896, exceptions made tsar nicholas ii s mother, maria feodorovna, , nicholas aunt-by-marriage, queen olga of greece, romanov grand duchess birth , consort of nicholas maternal uncle, king george i.