You never know when your knowledge of the Royal Martyrs might help in a situation.
During a monastery tour, an elderly protestant couple asked about the icons above, the monk only knew the Resurrection and Tsar Martyr Nicholas II so I noted- "this is Doctor Botkin, the Romanov family's doctor who followed them in captivity and martyrdom."
At another monastery, they read of the glorification ceremony of St Seraphim of Sarov, where it was mentioned that both Empresses attended. There was confusion as to how there were two Empresses to which I stepped in- "Aside from Empress Alexandra, Tsar Nicholas' mother- Former Empress Maria Feodorovna was alive and still residing in Russia at the time."
During a monastery tour, an elderly protestant couple asked about the icons above, the monk only knew the Resurrection and Tsar Martyr Nicholas II so I noted- "this is Doctor Botkin, the Romanov family's doctor who followed them in captivity and martyrdom."
At another monastery, they read of the glorification ceremony of St Seraphim of Sarov, where it was mentioned that both Empresses attended. There was confusion as to how there were two Empresses to which I stepped in- "Aside from Empress Alexandra, Tsar Nicholas' mother- Former Empress Maria Feodorovna was alive and still residing in Russia at the time."
❤36
Book review: "A Poet Among the Romanovs, Prince Vladimir Paley 1897-1918" by Jorge F. Saenz
A biography of one of the Emperor's cousins. First chapters cover the morganatic marriage of his parents Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich and Princess Olga Paley. Once they moved back to Russia, the young Prince joined military school and found it difficult to be accepted among his aristocrat relatives, but got a long well with his half-brother Grand Duke Dimitri. Second half covers the Prince' time in WW1, revolution, imprisonment & martyrdom at Alapaevsk. The Prince is one of various Alapaevsk martyrs whose remains are unknown. They were taken to a chapel in China by the White Army, and when the red plague reached China, the Soviets ordered it to be destroyed and covered by a playground/parking lot. The book unfortunately has some flaws. It claims Nicholas' brother Grand Duke Michael was Tsar for 1 day, not true, he never accepted the title. And that Princess Paley was a fan of Rasputin, her memoirs prove the opposite.
A biography of one of the Emperor's cousins. First chapters cover the morganatic marriage of his parents Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich and Princess Olga Paley. Once they moved back to Russia, the young Prince joined military school and found it difficult to be accepted among his aristocrat relatives, but got a long well with his half-brother Grand Duke Dimitri. Second half covers the Prince' time in WW1, revolution, imprisonment & martyrdom at Alapaevsk. The Prince is one of various Alapaevsk martyrs whose remains are unknown. They were taken to a chapel in China by the White Army, and when the red plague reached China, the Soviets ordered it to be destroyed and covered by a playground/parking lot. The book unfortunately has some flaws. It claims Nicholas' brother Grand Duke Michael was Tsar for 1 day, not true, he never accepted the title. And that Princess Paley was a fan of Rasputin, her memoirs prove the opposite.
🫡8❤5👍2
Alexei, not yet a teen during WW1, already showed a disciplined character as noted by British General John Hanbury-Williams:
"At meals he sat next to the Emperor, opposite me. He wore a khaki uniform and long Russian boots, and was very proud of himself as a soldier, had excellent manners, and spoke various languages well and clearly. As time went on and his first shyness wore off, he treated us as old friends, he passed each of us to bid us good-day. With me it was to make sure that each button on my coat was properly fastened, a habit which naturally made me take great care to have one or two unbuttoned, in which case he used at once to stop and tell me I was 'untidy again,' give a sigh at my lack of attention to these details, and carefully button me up again. He was always well turned out in his uniform, and looked especially smart in his Cossack uniform.. He slept in his father's room at G.H.Q always went with him to church services, turning around often to see if his Allied friends were there."
"At meals he sat next to the Emperor, opposite me. He wore a khaki uniform and long Russian boots, and was very proud of himself as a soldier, had excellent manners, and spoke various languages well and clearly. As time went on and his first shyness wore off, he treated us as old friends, he passed each of us to bid us good-day. With me it was to make sure that each button on my coat was properly fastened, a habit which naturally made me take great care to have one or two unbuttoned, in which case he used at once to stop and tell me I was 'untidy again,' give a sigh at my lack of attention to these details, and carefully button me up again. He was always well turned out in his uniform, and looked especially smart in his Cossack uniform.. He slept in his father's room at G.H.Q always went with him to church services, turning around often to see if his Allied friends were there."
❤32🫡2
Source: "The Emperor Nicholas II as I Knew Him" by Sir John Hanbury-Williams (book)
❤16
"The population of Tobolsk was extremely favorably inclined towards the Royal Family. When they appeared on the balcony crowds gathered together in the street, to the great annoyance of the guards. When the news of money difficulties got through to the shopkeepers, they sent secretly by the servants provisions, cakes, sugar, and coffee. The peasants from the neighborhood brought eggs and butter. In general, the opinion of the populace was completely anti bolshevik."
-Count Paul Benckendorff, Last Days at Tsarskoe Selo (book)
-Count Paul Benckendorff, Last Days at Tsarskoe Selo (book)
❤36🙏4
Fool for Christ- Maxim of Kineshma
Known for his non attachment to money, walking barefoot everywhere in any weather, and spiritual clairvoyance. He was arrested in 1928 on complaints by the local chairman of the collective farm. On his way to prison a woman recognized the blessed one and asked him where he was going.
"To the Tsar, for dinner." Maxim answered. He died in prison that same year.
Known for his non attachment to money, walking barefoot everywhere in any weather, and spiritual clairvoyance. He was arrested in 1928 on complaints by the local chairman of the collective farm. On his way to prison a woman recognized the blessed one and asked him where he was going.
"To the Tsar, for dinner." Maxim answered. He died in prison that same year.
❤33🙏11🫡6😢2