January 1613. A deputation of boyars and high-ranking clergy followed by a crowd is marching along the ancient road from Kostroma to the Ipatiev Monastery, carrying a thaumaturgy icon of Our Lady, the Gospels, a cross, the royal staff and a huge mica lantern. The deputation’s task is to advise the young boyar Mikhail Romanov, who is living with his nun-mother Marfa at the Ipatiev Monastery, of the decision of the Zemsky Sobor (the Grand National Assembly) to elect him to tsardom. They are going to ask Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov to accept the trust put in him by the Russian people.