Helen Azar – Page 5 – The Romanov Family

December 22, 2017Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: FIRST CHRISTMAS AT THE ALEXANDER PALACE

Christmas tree “upstairs” at the Alexander Palace

Since 1904 Christmas holidays were celebrated at the Alexander Palace in Tsarskoe Selo. Because the children’s rooms were on the second floor of the palace, on 24 December, the Christmas tree was set up for the first time “upstairs”. That same day, in the evening, the entire family rode to see Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna at Gatchina Palace. There, after vsenoshnaya, they had a general Yolka [Christmas party] downstairs. Around 11 at night, Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna returned to Tsarskoe Selo, where they had “our own Yolka, in Alix’s new room”.

December 10, 2017Helen Azar No Comments

THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LETTER FROM GOVERNOR’S MANSION IN TOBOLSK (WITH FLOOR PLAN)

THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LETTER FROM GOVERNOR’S MANSION IN TOBOLSK

(WITH FLOOR PLAN)

Prince Vasily (“Valya”) Dolgorukov in Tobolsk

This letter below was sent by Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov (“Valya”) to his mother after he arrived in Tobolsk with the Romanov family and suite. Originally written in French and translated by Nick Nicholson.

December 8, 2017Helen Azar No Comments

ROMANOV FAMILY: RUSSIAN TRADITIONAL DOLLS AT THE ALEXANDER PALACE

Tsarskoe Selo Museum had recently acquired at a Paris auction these eight rare dolls wearing Russian and Ukrainian traditional costumes. The dolls were created in 1896 to commemorate the official visit of the young ruling Romanov family to France.

November 25, 2017Helen Azar 1 Comment

NIKOLAI DEMENKOV TO GRAND DUCHESS MARIA NIKOLAEVNA (LAST LETTER)

**Grand Duchess Maria and Lieutenant Nikolai Demenkov.**

Linear ship “Empress Maria”. 18 July, 1916. Sevastopol.

Your Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna!

Loyally I dare to report a significant day in the life of our ship: on the 9th July we took first military shots at the cruiser “The Breslau”, into which we ran at sea. We shot from 12 cannons, but unfortunately we were not able to sink it, because having had speed privilege, it changing course at far distance from us and releasing white smoke screen, which merged with the clouds on the horizon, – it escaped. It shot a few explosives at us, which fell without reaching [their target].

November 14, 2017Helen Azar No Comments

KOLYA DEREVENKO’S STORY

Alexei Romanov and his best friend Kolya Derevenko

I was a little boy, just twelve years old. I did not know of the evil in people’s souls. We were living at the Popov house near the Ipatiev house. In the middle of the summer of 1918, I was afraid and worried for Alexei. I wanted to see him and at the same time I am sure he wanted to see me too. Until that sad day of July 17, 1918, my father, Gilliard, Gibbes, and others knew everything, but I knew nothing. Something terrible was going to happen, but I didn’t know what it was… In the last week of July 1918, myself, my father, Gilliard, Gibbes, and others entered the Ipatiev house. There was a terrible scene… The house was in complete chaos; diaries, letters, albums, and other things were strewn all around in the house.. “But where is Ieskela*?” I asked my father, but he stayed silent. Ieskela’s diary was found by a White guard, I think his name was Nemetkin, I am not sure. But Leonid Sednev… I saw him. He cried. His cries were so loud… so loud!

THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST PRAYER SERVICE AT THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE.

THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST PRAYER SERVICE AT THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE

Testimony of Father [Protoirei] Ioann Storozhev (as given to investigator Nikolai Sokolov)

Father [Protoirei] Ioann Storozhev, who performed the last prayer service to the Romanov family at “The House of Special Purpose”

Around 8 o’clock in the morning on 14 July, a soldier came to see me, and requested I serve obednitza at the Ipatiev house. At 10 o’clock, I was already at the Ipatiev house with deacon Buimirov. Inside, behind the fence, at the bottom of stairs and inside the house, there were lots of armed young men, standing on guard. When we entered the commandant’s room, we saw disorder, dust and mess. Yurovsky was sitting at the table, drinking tea and eating bread with butter. Another man was sleeping on the bed, fully dressed. Having entered the room, I said to Yurovsky: “The clergy was invited here, so here we are. What do we need to do?” Yurovsky directly stared at me without a greeting, and said “Wait here, then you will serve obednitza” I asked “Obednya or obednitza?” “He wrote obednitza”, said Yurovsky. Read more THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST PRAYER SERVICE AT THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE.