St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - Press Releases Press Release Alexis Troubetzkoy Delivers Lecture at Seminary

Alexis Troubetzkoy Delivers IOCC-sponsored Lecture at the Seminary

Crestwood, NY—On Friday evening, October 24, Alexis Troubetzkoy gave a lecture entitled, "Imperial Legend, Legendary Needs: Lessons from St Petersburg," at St Vladimir's Seminary. As author of the critically acclaimed book, Imperial Legend: The Disappearance of Czar Alexander I (Arcade Publishing, 2002), he led his listeners into the mystery which surrounds the death of Czar Alexander I's disappearance in 1825. Legend has it that the young leader did not actually die, but reemerged under another identity: that of a starets, or holy man, who lived as an ascetic doing good works.

Troubetzkoy himself researched the circumstantial evidence that supports this legend while living in Russia as the International Orthodox Christian Charity (IOCC) country representative. Out of this experience he weaved vibrant anecdotes of both his book research and charity work. He related such accounts as his moving visit to the grave of Czar Alexander I (which, if legend is true, may in fact be empty) on the same day that he was introduced to an elderly woman in a ramshackle apartment in St Petersburg who receives help from IOCC. SVS faculty, staff, students, and a host of other guests attended this worthwhile lecture.