Krestovsky Island

Krestovsky Island (Russian: Крестовский остров) is a 3.4 km² island in Saint Petersburg, Russia, situated between several distrubutaries of the Neva: the Srednyaya Nevka, the Malaya Nevka and the Krestovka. The island is served by the Krestovsky Ostrov station of Saint Petersburg Metro. The Western part of the island is occupied by the Maritime Victory Park. A new stadium is currently under construction in the west of the island, where [Kirov Stadium; ] was previously located (it was also here, where the international "Goodwill Games" took place in the early 1990s). The Eastern part of the island has been heavily built up since the late 1990s.

In the 19th - early 20th century the island belonged to the Belosselsky-Belozersky family. Alexander Mikhailovich Belosselsky-Belozersky acquired the Island, aided by the infusion of wealth from the fortune of his second wife Anna Grigorievna (ne'e Kozitskaya). In the 1880s after having sold their famous palace on the Nevsky Prospect to Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov (at the Anichkov bridge, the pink palace at No. 41) the Belosselsky-Belozersky family moved to live on the island, in a beautiful house they rebuilt (designed by architect Rastrelli) at the Southern side of the Island.

Street names on Krestovsky island still today reflect the Belosselsky-Belozersky family having occupied the Krestovsky island; "Olgina", "Esperova", "Konstantinova" streets reflect the names of the family members (Olga's street, Esper's street, Konstantin's street). The main North to South street leading to the Belosselsky-Belozersky house was named "Belosselsky Prospect" (the Belosselsky avenue/view), today, however, after the Revolution of 1917, the street name was changed to "Riukhina" street (runs South to the edge of Malaya Nevka from the new Metro station on the island).

On Krestovsky island, many "firsts" sports venues were launched by Belosselsky-Belozersky active support. The first Russian tennis club and horse polo clubs were introduced, as well as a yaught club; all prior to 1917. (Interestingly, during the Soviet times,as well, the Island was the base of one of the most successful sport and rowing clubs, which produced several Olympic winners in rowing). The island was always a center for sports and recreation for the St. Petersburg residents. It was also a gathering place for military officers and foreign diplomats, who participated in the horse polo events organized by the Belosselsky-Belozerskys. As this sport was known to be a preferred sport of Englishmen at the time, the elder Belosselsky-Belozersky, Konstantin became known as the "Angloman" for his interest in promoting this sport!

Two of the last Belosselsky-Belozersky Princes to recide on the island (the sons of Konstantin), Sergei Konstantinovich, and Esper Konstantinovich Belosselsky-Belozersky were successful sportsmen and promoters of equestrian and sailing sports. Sergei Konstantinovich was the second representative from Russia on the International Olympic Committee and worked closely with de Coubertin (who launched the modern Olympic movement). Sergei was part of the Organizing committe of the Paris Olympics of 1900 and took part in the equestrian competions. The younger brother of Sergei Konstantinovich, Esper Konstantinovich was an avid sailor who won a Bronze medal for Russia in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics (in the 10 meter class).

Today, the Belosselsky-Belozersky residence has been reconstructed at the same location where it stood until the late 1950s. (The original structure was badly damaged during the near 900 day siege of Leningrad, from shelling by the enemy during WW II. It was repaired and used for various purposes, but was demolished finally around 1956). The only structures which remain of the Belosselsky-Belozersky built structures to these days are horse stables on the Riukhina street and a beautiful landscaped park with a small pond and walkways around it adjacent on the North-Western and Western side of the area where the Belosselsky-Belozersky house stood. There is also an "accent" piece of the estate remaining by the edge of the water, of the Malaya Nevka, due South of the property (and the rebuilt house). This is a beautiful rose coloured granite stone structure , holding a bench and circular steps leading to the water's edge, forming a landing for boats and offering a calm venue to view the Southern exposure from the estate. The structure, sitting under the shade of oak and linden trees, was draped with a beautiful wrought iron and bronze balustrade (original design of this beautiful structure was by a Swiss architect).

Note on Belosselsky-Belozersky family: The Belosselsky -Belozersky family was forced to flee St. Petersburg/Petrograd and their Krestovsky Island estate during the 1917 revolution, leaving to the "West" and leaving none in Russia. Prince Konstantin (+1920) and his wife Nadezhda Dimitrievna, ne'e Skobeleva(+1919) ended their lives in Paris. They had three daughters and two sons. Their daugther Olga Konstantinovna Orlov (Serov painted her, main pieces in Russian Museum Benoit wing today) fled via Crimea to France. Her sister Elena Konstantinovna Kotchubey, left their Estate in Ukraine (famous Dikanka, eulogized by Pushkin and Gogol) for France and Paris. The youngest daughter Maria Konstantinovna Hartman, ended up in London.

Of the two sons of Konstantin Esperovich and Nadezhda Dimitrievna, the older son Sergei Konstaninovich (+1954)moved to London and to Tonbridge in Sussex. His son Sergei Sergeievich (1898-1978) lived in London and Paris before moving to the USA prior to WW II. A second son Andrew moved also with Sergei Konstantinovich to London and Tonbridge. He died childless (+1950s). Surviving family of this Sergei Konstantinovich branch are daughters of Sergei Sergeievich and their families; Princess Marina Sergeyevna Kazarda, (1945-)and Princess Tatiana Sergeyevna Besamat (1947-). No direct male Belosselsky-Belozersky descendants remain in this "Sergeyevich" branch of the family.

Of this Rurikid Princely family (meaning family has existing direct line of male, father to son, descendants from the Viking/Varangian Prince Rurik, who started Russia during the Kievan Rus period in 870-890s) there are still today direct male descendants living in the USA, France and Finland. Esper Konstantinovich Belosselsky (1870-1921) moved to France, Paris, via Finland and is buried in the Batignolles cemetary in the Paris' 17th arrondissement. He had three sons, of which two had male descendants. His son Georges Esperovich, who remained in France (1913-2005) had three sons, who have had two sons to date. All live in France today. Esper Konstantinovich' son Paul Esperovich (1917-2005) returned to Finland in 1922 with his step-father Chevalier Guardes colonel Vitaly Vitalievich Tselebrovsky and remained in Finland. Paul Esperovich had a son Paul Pavlovich (1948-) born in Finland and living in the USA and Europe. He in turn has a son Christian Pavlovich (1977-)He lives in the USA.

There thus remains seven direct male descendants of the Rurikide Belosselsky-Belozerskys today(2009)now in the 32nd generation from Rurik! These "Esperoviches" are the only surviving male branch of the Belosselsky-Belozerskys today and all hailed from St. Petersburg and this beautiful and sporty Krestovsky "Ostrov" (Island).

External links

• Krestovsky Island @ Encyclopaedia of Saint Petersburg