Ella of Hesse. Elizaveta Romanova: little princess

Original taken from echo_2013 in Mother Elizabeth. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. Part 1

In 1884, the brother of the Russian Tsar, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich married the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Louise Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt, or simply Ella of Hesse. Princess Ella, as her family called her, was the second daughter of the German Duke Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt and Duchess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria.
By the time of the wedding of Ella and Sergei, the mother of the bride, Duchess Alice of Hesse-Darmstadt, had long been dead.
Life forced Princess Elizabeth to grow up early. Ella was a teenager when, in 1878, an epidemic of diphtheria broke out in Darmstadt, which completely affected the duke's family.

Ella as a child

Ella's older sister Victoria was the first to feel symptoms of illness. E It didn't make her shiver, her throat and head ached... The girls received a strict upbringing and didn't have the habit of complaining over trifles. Having decided that her illness was just those very trifles - a slight cold, Victoria continued to fulfill her duties as an older sister - in the evenings she had to read fairy tales aloud to the kids. Seating her brother and sisters in a circle next to her, the princess opened the book.
When Duchess Alice realized that her daughter was sick and called the doctor, the most terrible diagnosis was confirmed - Victoria had diphtheria, a disease that was difficult to cure in those years, which claimed many children's lives ... The doctor insisted on the immediate isolation of the sick princess, but his recommendations were somewhat belatedly - other children managed to get infected from their older sister. Everyone except Ella, whom her mother sent in a panic to her relatives. Then the duke himself fell ill.
Mad with horror, the duchess rushed between the children's rooms and her husband's bedroom, trying to do everything to pull her loved ones out of the arms of death.
The first to die was four-year-old Mei, Princess Mary. Little Ernie, having learned that his beloved sister was no more, crying, threw himself on his mother's neck and began to kiss her. Perhaps the mother understood that the sick child was transmitting her illness to her at that moment, but she did not find the strength to push him away ... The Duchess, who had been on her feet for a long time, also fell ill after direct contact with her son. The illness was severe. On her last day, Alice was delirious, it seemed to her that all the deceased loved ones, led by tiny Mei, were calling her to her ...
The famous politician Disraeli, having learned about the tragedy in the family of Duke Ludwig, called Ernie's fatal kiss "the kiss of death." And the young prince himself soon recovered, as if he had given his illness to his mother. The inconsolable duke erected a monument on his wife's grave depicting Alice clutching the dead May...

Duchess Alice with little Ella

And for Ella, childhood ended on the day her mother died. Doctors were afraid that the girl would develop a nervous illness from the shock. She could fall silent in the middle of a conversation, in mid-sentence, and, staring at the interlocutor with tear-filled eyes, plunge into her own thoughts for a long time. She began to develop a stutter.
But fourteen-year-old Ella managed to pull herself together. It was necessary to support the father and the kids, to do everything to at least partially replace their mother. The older sister Victoria, who claimed to be the head of the house, was caustic and harsh.
Ernie, the future Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse, recalled: " She is a girl(Princess Victoria) considered it unworthy to show good-heartedness and therefore often remained misunderstood, to which she easily reacted with harshness, since sharpness helped her give biting answers ..."
In Ella there was much more kindness, affection and self-denial, surprising for a teenager.
Even if she was offered something very valuable in children's eyes - a toy, sweets, new paints for drawing, she usually answered: "I don't need anything, it's better to give it to the kids" ...
Ernie spoke of her in a very different way from the other sisters: “Of all the sisters, Ella was the closest to me. We almost always understood each other in everything, she felt me so subtly, as is rarely the case with sisters. She was one of the rare beauties, just perfection itself. Once in Venice, I saw in the market how many people abandoned their goods and followed her in admiration. She was musical, she had a pleasant voice. But she especially loved to draw. And she loved to dress well. Not out of vanity at all, no, out of love for beauty in everything. She had a strong sense of humor, she could talk about various incidents with inimitable comicality. How often we laughed with her, forgetting everything in the world. Her stories were a true delight» .

Ella in her youth

Queen Victoria was shocked by the death of her daughter, Duchess Alice. This is probably why the orphaned children of Alice were closer to the queen than other grandchildren ...
« I will try with your other grandmother to become your mother by the will of God,- Queen Victoria wrote to them after the tragedy in the ducal family. - Your loving and unhappy grandmother...
Ella, like her sisters and brother, grew up in Windsor Castle and considered Britain her native country, and the English language her innate, and until the death of the Queen of the British Empire, she maintained a tender and trusting relationship with her grandmother.

Queen Victoria with orphaned granddaughters; Ella is standing on the right, next to her is little Alix, the future Russian Empress

Even in her family, among pretty young princesses, Ella stood out for her beauty and grace. But she was not only extraordinarily pretty, but also intelligent and tactful; behaved with dignity, but without excessive claims. She had many admirers and very enviable suitors. The German prince Willi, heir to the Prussian crown, the future Kaiser Wilhelm II, was passionately in love with Ella.
He often visited Darmstadt, tried clumsily to court the beautiful princess, and finally ventured to propose a hand, a heart, and the imperial crown that awaited him. But Ella remained cold and wrote to her grandmother in Windsor: " Willy is obnoxious". Victoria, who dreamed of her beloved granddaughter as the empress of the Berlin court, tried to reason with her: the princess must remember her state and its interests, and passionate love is not always the basis for a successful marriage. Ella replied that in addition to human calculations, there is also God and it is better to rely to his will.
“He may have many other important things to do, besides arranging your fate,” Grandma smiled.
“Nothing, I’ll wait until he is free,” the choosy princess replied, realizing that the formidable queen grandmother was not angry.
Married to Ella and Friedrich of Baden, and other European princes. But she needed only one person - Grand Duke Sergei, brother of the Russian Tsar ...
Sergei often visited Darmstadt during his mother's lifetime - Empress Maria Alexandrovna was from the Hesse-Darmstadt family (Grand Duke Ludwig, Ella's father, was the nephew of the late Empress) and, of course, could not help but fall in love with the beautiful Ella, who answered him with complete reciprocity.

Sergey and Ella

Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt did not find any objections to the Grand Duke Sergei. The Romanov family also welcomed this union. Duchess Mary of Edinburgh, as a sister, wrote to Alexander III about Ella: “ Sergei will be just a fool if he does not marry her. He will never find a more beautiful and sweeter princess».
But the bride's grandmother, Queen Victoria, whose opinion had a special weight when concluding dynastic unions, did not immediately decide to give consent to Ella's marriage to the brother of the Russian emperor. (Grandmother personally dealt with the fate of the orphaned princesses, for marriage is a serious matter, and the Duke of Hesse, like all men, showed complete frivolity here).
The queen did not like the Russian imperial family too much, although her children and grandchildren forced her to intermarry with the ruling house of the Romanovs. Ella's marriage to the Grand Duke doomed the young beauty, brought up in European traditions, to life in distant, cold and, according to the queen, completely wild Russia.
But Ella, who was in love with Sergei, managed to insist on her own. Victoria thought and thought, collected information about the groom ... and agreed. After all, she had a weakness for love marriages - her own long and happy marriage was just that!

Ella and Sergey

Not all contemporaries left benevolent memories of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. A man with restrained manners, rather dry (which in the eyes of Ella, who received an English "Victorian" upbringing, was rather a virtue), deeply religious. Many people were annoyed by Sergey's manner of keeping his back “forcefully straight”, looking somewhat down and turning his whole body towards the interlocutor. In such manners they saw arrogance and defiance.
Few people guessed that since childhood, due to an illness of the spine, Sergei suffered from back pain and was forced to wear a rigid corset that deprived him of flexibility. At the same time, he tried to lead the life of not an invalid, but an ordinary person - he preferred a military career, went in for horseback riding, sports, danced (all this - overcoming constant pain and not wanting to admit it to anyone). And the restrained manners were explained only by shyness caused by a physical handicap ...
Now they rarely remember that Sergei Alexandrovich, like his older brother Alexander III, was a hero of the Turkish War. As well as about the scientific activities of the Grand Duke. But he defended his doctoral dissertation in economics, was a well-known scientist, organizer of scientific expeditions and a member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Grand Duke Sergei patronized two archaeological institutes - in St. Petersburg and Constantinople, and provided his own funds for the organization of archaeological excavations.
In addition, Sergei Alexandrovich was considered a connoisseur, connoisseur and patron of art. He collected excellent collections of Italian and Russian paintings of the 18th century, antiques, a rich library, and an archive of historical documents. He, for example, managed to find many scattered letters from the wife of Alexander I, Empress Elizabeth - the Grand Duke was going to write a book about her life. Professor I. Tsvetaev, who laid his life on the construction of the Moscow Museum of Fine Arts. A.S. Pushkin (originally - the Museum of Fine Arts named after Alexander III), recalled that the Grand Dukes Sergei Alexandrovich and Pavel Alexandrovich were the first major donors to the organization of the museum. The Parthenon Hall, one of the most majestic and expensive museum halls, was built entirely at the expense of the Grand Dukes.
The Orthodox Church still highly honors the religious merits of the Grand Duke to the fatherland. The organizer and leader of the Imperial Palestinian Society, he did a lot to strengthen the position of Russian Orthodoxy in the East, for the activities of Russian churches and monasteries in Palestine, for the development of Russian charity in Eastern countries and for organizing pilgrimages from Russia to the Holy Land. Despite all the political changes, the terrible wars, the change in the world order in the 20th century, the Orthodox organizations created with the help of Sergei Alexandrovich in the Holy Land are still active.
Even a cursory glance at what was done by Grand Duke Sergei during his short life shows that all attempts to present him as a stupid martinet, retrograde, a person with a low level of intelligence, to put it mildly, are far from objectivity.

Speaking of Grand Duke Sergei and his marriage to Ella, one cannot avoid another topic, complex and ambiguous. This is the alleged non-traditional sexual orientation of the Grand Duke.
References to his homosexuality have become a "common place" in the works of modern authors, and even quite respected researchers have not escaped such statements. But you involuntarily notice that practically none of them gives any facts confirming this version. Letters, diary entries, denunciations to the highest name, police reports or similar documents are not quoted anywhere, in extreme cases, there are links to some gossip obtained from third parties and basically conveying meaningless events. The authorship of gossip belongs most often to the Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, Sandro, the younger cousin of Alexander III and Sergei Alexandrovich.
Sandro, for some reason, especially disliked his cousin Sergei. He even ventured to assert that Sergei married Ella of Hesse only " in order to further emphasize his unpleasant personality". But in fact, supposedly, because of his vicious inclinations, he did not need a woman spouse at all.
Of course, for the 21st century, this is no longer such a serious accusation as for the end of the 19th century, when, according to the Penal Code, sodomy was equated with bestiality and was strictly punished by law, and the honor of a suspected person suffered immeasurably. And yet, if we accept on faith the assertions about the secret weakness of the Grand Duke, it is difficult to find answers to a number of important questions.
First. It is known that Queen Victoria, before giving her consent to the marriage of her granddaughter Ella, who was in love with the prince, collected a real dossier on the alleged groom through the informants of the English crown. English diplomats and spies are responsible people, and when preparing information for Her Majesty, they would hardly lose sight of something well-known that characterizes the personality of a future husband. Could the English queen, known for her strict moral principles, agree to the marriage of her beloved granddaughter with a man of "blue" orientation?

Ella (second from right) with her sisters

Third. Sergei Alexandrovich was, according to everyone's conviction, a true believer. Even in his early youth, he made pilgrimages to holy places, led large Christian organizations, donated to Orthodox churches and participated in their consecration. His faith was not ostentatious, but internal, capturing the soul. He revealed to his young wife all the beauty of Orthodoxy, so that Elizabeth, who was brought up in the traditions of Protestantism, was imbued with love for the Russian church and, contrary to the orders of her father and grandmother, converted to Orthodoxy. Nobody demanded this from her, she herself, under the influence of her husband, decided to share his religious beliefs.
But, being Orthodox, Sergei had to regularly confess his sins to the priest, telling about everything without concealment. And the attitude of the church to the "sin of Sodom" is known. Could the Grand Duke combine Christian ideas about morality and similar hobbies, remaining spiritually pure before God?
Fourth. Alexander III, the elder brother of Sergei, could not help but know the whole ins and outs about such a close relative. He himself was not only an absolutely heterosexual person, but also an exemplary family man, who did not allow even innocent romantic hobbies outside of marriage, and would hardly have become condescending to the "non-traditional hobbies" of relatives. Nevertheless, he had friendly relations with Sergei, not overshadowed by any disagreements, Alexander even appointed his brother to the post of Moscow Governor-General. This is an exemplary appointment in every sense. The second city in Russia after the capital (and according to Muscovites, just the first!), Moscow was distinguished by patriarchal customs, and people in it, like in a large village, were in sight, especially representatives of high society. The whole mother of the Mother See was discussing who got married to whom, who walks from his wife, who bought the estate beyond his means, and who got entangled in gambling debts. Almost nothing could be hidden! And the governor-general, the first person in the Moscow hierarchy, was even more so for the townspeople as if under a magnifying glass. The level of tolerance in Moscow in those days, and later did not rise to transcendental heights, it was supposed to live "like everyone else." A fact-based rumor that the governor was from the "gays" would instantly deprive Sergei Alexandrovich of all authority and turn him into a general laughingstock.
So would Alexander III have thoughtlessly decided on such a compromise of the august family?

Fifth. Ella, who struck with beauty in her youth, literally blossomed in marriage. She was full of charm, feminine sensual charm, looked unusually young, almost younger than in the years of her mournful orphan youth ... Men admired her like the sun, but from a distance - Sergei Alexandrovich was terribly jealous! And his jealousy was visible to everyone. The French ambassador Maurice Palaiologos left this recollection:
« The good-natured giant, Alexander the Third ... lavished(to Grand Duchess Elizabeth. - E.Kh.) first the kindest attention; but soon had to refrain, noticing that he aroused the jealousy of his brother».
Is this really just a decoration for a failed marriage? No matter how you pretend, no matter how you play, trouble leaves an indelible mark on a woman.
But the day when the fate of the revolutionary extremist Kalyaev, who threw a bomb into the carriage of Grand Duke Sergei, took away her husband and marital happiness, became a fateful day in the life of Elizabeth. There was no replacement for her dead husband and could not be. She remained faithful to his memory until her death. Having visited the terrorist killer in prison and after listening to his lengthy explanations that he did not want to deprive her of extra blood, and although he could have dealt with her husband for a long time, he spared Elizabeth Feodorovna, who was usually next to the Grand Duke, not wanting to kill her, she quietly said :
“You didn’t guess that they killed me along with him!”
You can cite various facts for a long time and ask questions that are difficult to find an answer ... But, asking if Elizaveta Fedorovna was happy and loved in marriage, one involuntarily has to answer with only one word - yes! " Sergey told me about his wife, admired her, praised her, - Grand Duke Konstantin Romanov recalled. - He thanks God every hour for his happiness."...
So what gave rise to such long-circulating rumors about Sergei Romanov's belonging to sexual minorities?
Being a strict and not too flexible (in the figurative sense of the word even more than in the direct) man, Sergei Alexandrovich made some enemies in the rapidly growing Romanov family. Shares in the "family pie" were not enough for everyone, and a struggle began for a place closer to the throne.

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and his wife Xenia Alexandrovna, sister of Nicholas II

Sergei, who did nothing to strengthen his position, nevertheless aroused the envy of many Romanovs. The grandson, son, brother and uncle of the reigning emperors, he was part of the closest circle of the royal entourage, and many representatives of the "side branches" of the Romanov tree wanted to press him with all their might.
Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich always and without any particular reason claimed a special role in the empire, and woe to those who dared not recognize this state of affairs. His mother, Grand Duchess Olga Feodorovna (nee Princess Cecilia of Baden), not without reason considered "the first gossip of the empire", with great pleasure spread unfriendly rumors about everyone in whom she saw competitors for her sons. It was she who was suspected of authoring gossip about the "sodomite hobbies" of Grand Duke Sergei. Why did she need it? And it's so simple: she did not like Prince Sergei, and he greatly interfered with his beloved son to strengthen his position at court.
"I know Ella and I are being talked about, - Sergey Alexandrovich wrote to Grand Duke Konstantin. - But what do all these undeveloped people understand?»

Elizaveta Feodorovna

If you look at a person with an unfriendly look, you can usually find flaws in him sooner or later. So Alexander Mikhailovich, determined to search for flaws in an unloved relative, only tried to notice them. " He flaunted his shortcomings, as if throwing a challenge in the face of everyone.- he wrote, remembering Grand Duke Sergei, - and thus giving the enemies rich food for slander and slander".
Slander and slander! Alexander Mikhailovich seemed to let it slip, using these very words, being himself one of Sergei's main ill-wishers.
(By the way, this strict moralist and hypocrite, who saw hidden obscenity in the most ordinary acts of Prince Sergei, would eventually give his own daughter to Prince Felix Yusupov, a man of more than an ambiguous reputation. All of St. Petersburg knew about Felix’s unusual erotic amusements, the young prince didn’t particularly hid, appearing in theaters and restaurants in a woman's dress and surrounded by "cavaliers", but ... the Yusupovs were so rich, much richer than the Romanov family, especially its lateral, deprived branches! And Felix, after the death of his older brother, turned out to be the only possible heir to countless millions ...)

Be that as it may, the marriage of Sergei Alexandrovich and Ella of Hesse was consecrated with great love. And she wanted to see her husband's entourage embellished, consisting of kind and nice people. " Everyone who knows him loves him and says that he has a truthful and noble character...”, she wrote to her grandmother-queen about her husband.

Ella and Tsarevich Nicholas

This marriage, as it turned out later, albeit indirectly, determined the fate of the heir to the Russian throne. The future wife of Nikolai, Alexandra Fedorovna, Alix, was the sister of Ella of Hesse, and the mutual passion of the little princess and the Russian Tsarevich found strong patrons in the person of Sergei and Ella, who, despite all the obstacles, managed to bring the matter to the reunion of the lovers.

To be continued.

For everyone who wants to stage this performance

about the life of a wonderful woman who became a saint,

about Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna,

For which we are very grateful to her.

WHITE ANGEL OF MOSCOW

(a story about the life of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna in 3 parts)

“The Monk Martyr Elizabeth in her life was able to unite the holiness of the blessed princess, the venerable righteous and martyr for Christ and left us an example of life according to the Gospel. Her sacrificial service to the poor, the sick, the orphans, her sincere love for God and the Orthodox Church can even today awaken the souls of many of our compatriots from sinful forgetfulness, remind the rich of the need to serve the poor and destitute, and those who have power of special responsibility before God and their own. people. The believing heart cannot be indifferent to the glory of the Church of Christ, and therefore the suffering for it cannot be forgotten…”

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II

The stage is where the action will take place. On the left is England, on the right is Darmstadt, in the center is Russia. On the back - the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent

and three portraits of Elizabeth: ELLA (in childhood), GRAND DUCHESS (in youth)

and MOTHER ELIZABETH (in monastic attire). Depending on the time of what is happening on the stage, the corresponding portrait is illuminated.

LEADING. Our story is dedicated to an outstanding personality, who has no equal in Russia of the twentieth century, who left the brightest mark in the history of our Motherland and Russian culture. It will be about the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, the founder of the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent, about the sister of the last Empress and the wife of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov, Governor of Moscow. Possessing extraordinary beauty, having wealth and nobility, she realized early on how short and fickle our earthly life is. Fame, riches, clothes, jewels - all this is vanity of vanities, everything dissipates like smoke. The main thing in life is good deeds and exploits in the name of the Almighty and for the sake of your neighbor. Only purity of heart and love - only this wealth will go THERE with our soul. Not having a drop of Russian blood, she fell in love with Russia with all her heart and passed through the Russian land as a bright ray of kindness and mercy, earnestly serving the new Fatherland until her death, until her last breath, until her tragic death. Contemporaries called her "Skyman", "White Angel of Moscow".

The Russian Orthodox Church canonized the Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.

Part one. ELLA

Characters:

ALICE, Grand Duchess of Hesse

LUDWIG, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt, husband of Alice

VICTORIA (Wiki)

ELIZABETH (Ella)

IRENA (Irene)

ERNST (Ernie)

ALEXANDRA (Alix)

MARIA (May)

COMPOSER

SISTER OF MERCY

WOUNDED SOLDIER

ORPHAN GIRL

SICK OLD WOMAN

LEADING (there may be two of them - a girl and a boy)

SCENE 1

Darmstadt. Music room in the palace. ALICE and ERNI are sitting on the sofa. On the other side, in an armchair, embracing, are ELLA and VICTORIA. Behind the piano is the COMPOSER, a large, red-bearded man, this is Brahms, a friend of the house.

BRAHMS (taking a few chords). Well, what do you play, dear ladies?

ELLA. Lunar, if possible.

VICTORIA. Chopin! His waltzes are amazing!.. Or Strauss!

ERNI (to sisters). Here's what they came up with! Every evening the same thing, tired of listening to you!

ALICE. Children, do not argue! Excuse me, dear maestro. Maybe we will ask you to perform something of your own for us? .. I heard that you, too, took up dancing ...

BRAHMS. Oh, how quickly the news from Vienna reaches Darmstadt!.. Yes, dear Alice, I have just finished a little piece called Hungarian Dances. (Girls). This, of course, is not Strauss or Chopin, but ... However, he has not yet played in public.

ERNIE. Dear Mr. Brahms, play for us! You are welcome! We are a good audience!

BRAHMS (laughs). Why, perhaps. If a young man keeps me company. (Pulls out sheet music, puts it on the music stand. Ernie). Ask!..

VICTORIA (to her brother). So what, Ernie? Did you jump? (to Brahms). Yes, he is still tormenting Cherny's sketches, he will not master it in any way.

ELLA (reproachfully). Vicki!..

ALICE (coming to Ernie's aid). Dear Johannes, perhaps I can replace my son?

BRAHMS. Mail for happiness! You are an amazing pianist, Alice!

Alice takes a seat next to the composer.

BRAHMS. Accompany, and if it's too difficult, just improvise. (start to play)

Two girls MEI and ALYX run in laughing, followed by an angry IREN

with a very shabby bouquet of flowers.

IRENA. Mom! .. These girls are insufferable! .. They cut off the heads of flowers that we have prepared for the sick. Tell them!..

Ella quickly got up and led the kids to the far corner of the room, saying something quietly to them. But the atmosphere was broken, and Brahms, having completed the musical phrase, stopped.

ALICE. Ask us, for God's sake. Children…

BRAHMS. Don't worry, dear Alice. On the contrary, you will excuse me that I unwittingly violated your plans. You seem to be planning to go somewhere with the children? And here I am with my unexpected visit.

ERNIE. Today is Saturday. And my mother takes us to the hospital so that we give flowers and gifts to the sick. It also demands that we speak kindly to them.

BRAHMS. Talked? Affectionately? Every Saturday?

ERNIE. That's it!

IRENA. And all, without exception. And Alix goes there, and May, and she is only three years old!

VICTORIA (clearly quoting her mother). Mom believes that in this way we comprehend the culture of communication with people of different social strata.

ELLA (sister). And what's wrong with that?

BRAHMS. I am amazed. Duchess, is there really no one else to take the flowers to the hospital? ..

ALICE (smiling). Children should know what compassion and mercy are. And not in words, but in deeds. As the apostle James said, faith without works is dead, like a body without a spirit.

BRAHMS. Does your spouse, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig, know about your peacekeeping activities?

ALICE. Of course, he approves and strongly supports.

ELLA. And when he is free, he walks with us.

ALICE. My father used to say that "rulers are given for the good of their peoples", and not vice versa. I try not to forget about it.

BRAHMS. But, Alice, it's... it's dangerous after all! Sick, infection...

ALICE. All the will of God, dear Johannes.

BRAHMS (kissing Alice's hand). You are an extraordinary woman. Can I be of any help to you?

ELLA (slyly). Come with us. And there you will perform "Hungarian Dances".

ERNI (persuadingly). There are a lot of people there.

ALICE. And the piano is great. Ludwig took care of that. And I will gladly accompany you.

BRAHMS. And what? .. Magnificent idea, madam. (Elle). Thank you my angel. (collects notes). Forward!..

The children are inspired, laughing loudly and rejoicing, they take the composer to the hospital.

SCENE 2

Hospital. Music sounds, it is in the hall (backstage) the composer is playing, all the patients are there, applause is heard. In the ward there were left quite weak: a GIRL (she has a dark bandage on her eyes) and an OLD WOMAN, both lying on beds separated by a bedside table. Enter A NURSE with clean linen, ELLA with flowers, ALYX with a doll.

and MEI with a bag of sweets tied with a ribbon.

ELLA. Alix, put the flowers in the vase and change the water. And I need to do something.

ALYX (gives Maria the doll). May, hold on!

Alix, taking a vase from the bedside table, runs away. Maria, clutching the doll to her chest, timidly approaches

to the girl lying motionless. At first, he stands silently, then carefully touches her hand, lying limply along the body. From time to time the girl coughs hysterically.

ELLA. May, sit down. Don't bother, don't bother girl.

NURSE. This orphan was found barely alive under the bridge. They beat her, you see, she was strong, the poor thing lost her eyesight.

ELLA (goes to the Old Woman). Hello Frau Anna.

OLD WOMAN (looks closely). Who is this? .. Who else according to my soul? ..

NURSE. Your angel. Ella, princess.

OLD WOMAN. God bless her.

ELLA. How do you feel?

OLD WOMAN (groans). Oh, yes, the Lord would soon take me to himself. I can't wait for death, and where did you get lost?

NURSE (to Ella). Feels bad, refuses to eat, completely weakened.

ELLA. Frau Anna, well, how is it? .. We agreed last time. You promised to be good.

OLD WOMAN. Why smoke the sky?.. Nobody needs me in this world.

ELLA. And here is the lie. (Takes an envelope out of his pocket.) Letter for you. Received a response to the request that we sent to you. Apparently from your son Carl.

OLD WOMAN (happily). Did you find it? .. (He crosses himself). The Lord heard my prayers! (Reaches for the letter.)

NURSE. Don't give up, princess. Let our granny eat first. I haven't touched breakfast, and dinner is coming soon.

ELLA (cheerfully). Fair. Come on, Frau Anna, let's sit down and eat, we'll gain strength. And then I will read the letter to you. (Helps the old woman to get up, sit down at the table).

The old woman tries to eat, but she can't see well and misses the plate. Seeing this, Ella takes the spoon and feeds her like a baby. In the continuation of the next scene, he quietly reads the letter to the old woman.

NURSE. That's nice, but for now I'll change the sheets (remakes the bed).

ALYX runs in with a vase and flowers. He puts it on the nightstand, shakes the lying girl.

ALYX. Hello Gretchen. It's me, Alix. Wake up!..

MARIA. She coughs and sneezes. Is the girl sick?

ALYX. And now we will heal her. (Takes the doll from Mary.) Gretchen, guess what I brought you. Well?..

GIRL. Flowers. Daisies.

ALYX. It doesn't count, you recognized them by smell. What else?..

GIRL (uncertainly). Hotels?

ALYX. The gifts were brought to everyone, now Vicki and Ernie will be handing out to the sick when the concert is over. Guess soon!

GIRL. I don't know.

ALYX (impatiently). So what do you want the most? What are you dreaming about?.. What did you see in your dream? Do you remember what you told me last time?

GIRL. Doll?

ALYX. Finally! .. And then I was scared: would I have to carry it back home. Hold on!

GIRL (feels the doll). I can't see anything!.. Is she beautiful?

ALYX. Gretchen! Can a princess have not beautiful dolls...

GIRL. So you give me yours?

ALYX. Of course, yours! (Sighed). The most beloved. Almost.

GIRL. And what is she like? .. What kind of hair, eyes, dress does she have?

ALYX. Blue eyes, shoulder-length curls, a scarlet ribbon around the head. And the dress ... the same as mine, which I wore for Easter. Mommy says that Lisa - that's the name of the doll - is very similar to me.

The girl suddenly began to sob.

(Frightened). What are you? .. Why are you crying? .. Here's another idea! .. Come on, stop it!

MARIA (begins to rub her eyes with her fist). Don't cry, girl, don't cry. Here, take it (gives a bag). There are sweets and cookies.

GIRL. I'm happy. And there is no way out for tears, bandages interfere.

ALYX. Fu, scared me, I already thought my Lisa didn’t like it.

GIRL. What are you, a princess! .. She is so beautiful! .. I will never part with her. Thank you, thank you! May the Lord bless you for your kindness!

Enter ERNI and a SOLDIER with a crippled leg. He leans on a crutch and Ernie's shoulder.

SOLDIER. Here they limped. Thanks buddy.

ERNIE. How do you like the new crutch? Conveniently? Dad asked me to ask.

SOLDIER. Simply beauty! At least for dancing - all the ladies-in-waiting are now ours!

ERNIE. Is it really convenient for you? .. Otherwise, dad said, you can order others, if that.

SOLDIER. Everything is fine, excellent, thank you, Your Highness.

ERNIE. I'm not "Highness" yet, just Ernie.

SOLDIER. You will, you will certainly be, if you are starting so nicely!

ALICE looks in.

ALICE. Children!.. Goodbye, it's time to go home. We still have a lot of things to do.

Alix, Ella, Ernie say goodbye.

MARIA (hugs the girl). Goodbye girl (Running to mother, hugging). We'll still come! Really, mommy?

ALICE (smiles). Necessarily. May the Lord keep you all! (They leave).

NURSE. What wonderful children, the heart simply rejoices. And Duchess Alice is a true mother, she does not spare her heart how much she does for all of us.

The girl waves her hand, the old woman baptizes, the soldier salutes.

SCENE 3

Darmstadt. Children's room. Sick VICTORIA and ALYX lie on the beds.

ALICE walks around the room with MARIA in her arms. A NURSE takes the girls' temperatures, changes cold compresses.

ALICE (touching Mary's forehead). Righteous God, she's all on fire! .. (To the nurse). What's with the girls?

NURSE. Everyone is above thirty-eight and the temperature is creeping, especially Alix.

ALICE. Dear God, help us!.. I wish a doctor would come! (Nurse). Mom sent her personal doctor.

NURSE. Queen Victoria?

ALICE. Yes, from London, and he's already on his way to Darmstadt.

NURSE. And how are his highness the duke and your son?

ALICE. I'm afraid they got sick too. In the morning they complained of malaise and sore throat. Next to them is Ella. What would I do without her, such a helper! ..

ELLA runs in

ELLA. Mommy! The Doctor has arrived! From grandmother. I took him straight to Dad and Ernie.

ALICE. Glory to you, Lord! (Gives Mary to Nurse). Try to get Mei drunk, her lips are all chapped. (Elle). Let's go. (They leave).

NURSE. Here's the trouble! .. The whole family at once, only Princess Ella is on her feet. Truly an angel in heaven. (Trying to drink the girl with a spoon, but she only groans plaintively).

At the forefront - THE DOCTOR and ALICE

ALICE. Well, doctor?.. What do you say?..

DOCTOR. Duchess... I don't want to scare you...

ALICE. Speak!..

DOCTOR. You have probably heard that there is a diphtheria epidemic in Europe. All symptoms indicate that, unfortunately, she did not bypass Darmstadt either.

ALICE. Are you wrong, doctor? Maybe it's a cold? Influenza? .. Angina? .. High fever, cough, sore throat ... We were on a boat trip, a very sharp cold wind was blowing, it was stormy ...

DOCTOR. Alas, Duchess. Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease accompanied by general intoxication. And besides the symptoms you listed, there is one more that leaves no doubt. Characteristic film in the throat. Edema and suffocation.

ALICE (covers her face with crayfish). My God, my God! .. But why - all at once? We were so careful. Children have their own beds, dishes, toilet items ...

DOCTOR. The causative agent is a diphtheria bacillus, infection occurs both by airborne droplets and through objects. And your children are too ... sociable. I heard they visit hospitals with you, orphanages, charity bazaars for the poor...

ELLA enters with the doctor's bag.

ALICE (hopefully). But Ella and I are healthy!

DOCTOR. The incubation period is from two to ten days. Hopefully your body is strong enough to deal with the infection. What worries me the most is your youngest daughter. Diphtheria is very dangerous for such babies.

ALICE. But will you save her? You will save her, doctor!.. I can't lose another child!.. You know, my son Fritti died, fell from the window, before my very eyes! Reached for the bird. It’s terrible, doctor, to bury children! .. He was three years old, May was four, I just can’t survive if ...

DOCTOR. I'll do my best, Alice. (Takes the bag from Ella's hands.) Thank you young lady. Take care of your mother, give her a sedative, and I will take care of the sick. (Leaves).

ELLA (hugs her mother). Calm down, mommy. We'll manage. You'll see, everything will be fine. The doctor will cure both dad and Ernie and the girls. His grandmother sent him! Understand? The very best in all of England. Do not worry. The Lord will not leave us. Come on, you need to refresh yourself. And dry your tears. Who told us: “You can’t help grief with tears!” You still need strength. Let's go, my love. (takes away mother).

LEADING. Alice managed to leave all family members except Mary. Trying to save her daughter, she became infected herself by sucking the diphtheria film from her daughter's throat. The Grand Duchess died at the age of 35, leaving only one English flag to cover her coffin. The joyful ringing of the bells of Darmstadt was replaced by a mourning battle. For Elizabeth and Victoria, childhood is over. Both felt full responsibility for the orphaned younger sisters and brother, who were still in great need of maternal care and affection. And they also tried with all their might to alleviate the inconsolable grief of their father, Grand Duke Ludwig IV.

SCENE 4

Darmstadt. Three years have passed since those tragic days. Office of the Grand Duke.

On the table is a portrait of Alice, a candle. LUDWIG sits in an armchair, his legs are covered with a blanket,

on my knees is a book. ELLA puts white lilies in a vase, sits down on a bench nearby.

LUDWIG. Every day, for three years, you change flowers.

ELLA. That's what my mother always did. You know, these are her favorites, and mine too.

LUDWIG. What are the kids doing?

ELLA. Vicky rehearses "The Snow Queen" with them. Ernie - Kai, Alix - Gerda, well

and Irena, of course, is a robber. It's just a secret. Preparing a surprise for Christmas.

LUDWIG. Well, you got the role of mother.

ELLA. You didn't guess, dad. I am the snow queen! .. (Takes the book). Shakespeare? Do you want me to read to you?

LUDWIG. Perhaps. Alice adored him, especially the sonnets, and knew many of them by heart. Read twenty-two.

ELLA (reading):

Mirrors lie - what an old man I am!

I share your youth with you.

But if the days furrow your face,

I will know that I have been defeated by fate.

Like in a mirror, looking into your features,

I look younger to myself

You give me a young heart

And I give you mine too.

Try to protect yourself

Not for yourself: you keep the heart of a friend.

And I'm ready, like a loving mother,

Protect yours from grief and illness.

One destiny for our two hearts:

Mine will freeze - and yours will end!

ELLA (hugs her father). Mom is now where she is free from worries and worries. She's very good there, I'm sure. We must not torment her with our complaints and sorrows. We must live as she commanded, and then mommy will be happy.

LUDWIG. You are so much like her, Ella, more than other children. I feel that her soul lives in you! .. And, I confess, I cannot bear the thought that soon I may lose you. No, no, don't be scared! I mean quite different. You and Victoria are already brides, they say - the most beautiful of all German courts, and I would add - of all Europe.

ELLA (hotly). I don't want to talk about it! Sorry.

LUDWIG (softly). But this will have to be talked about. So Prince Wilhelm of Prussia frequented us. How do you think why?

ELLA. I can't stand him! Rude, stubborn egoist! Limited, ill-mannered martinet!

LUDWIG. Ella! How sharp and categorical you are - I do not recognize you.

ELLA. I'm sorry dad. But I will never marry him! I won't get married at all!

LUDWIG. My girl, you are wrong. Life will take its toll. You are beautiful, seductive, you are a real princess from a fairy tale. All princesses get married sooner or later. And they live happily ever after surrounded by children and grandchildren.

ELLA (very excited). I won't have children. Never.

LUDWIG. What are you saying?.. Don't scare me. You are sick?

ELLA. I am well.

LUDWIG. So why?!

ELLA (quietly). I made... a vow.

LUDWIG (completely bewildered). What vow? To whom? When?

ELLA. Our pastor. When Mei and Mom died. Even then I decided that never I will not bury my children. It's too... painful. Unbearable.

LUDWIG. You were only fourteen then. You were still a child! An impulsive, easily vulnerable child! Is this vow secret?

LUDWIG. I'll talk to the pastor, he should cancel it!

ELLA. No, dad. I don't want.

LUDWIG. Ella, my beloved girl… You don’t understand what you doom yourself to!.. The time will come, you will meet a man whom you will love with all your heart, you will want to be with him, as the shepherd says, until death separates you. And for the sake of some childish stupidity, you will refuse it? ..

ELLA. I will refuse if he does not want to understand how serious my vow is.

LUDWIG. But the family is not only loving spouses, but also children - they are the meaning of the marriage union. They are your continuation. So that at the end of your days, following Shakespeare, you could repeat: “Look at my children. My former freshness is alive in them. They are the justification for my old age.”

ELLA. Dad, this is a pointless conversation. I'm sorry to upset you, but I can't do otherwise.

LUDWIG. Do the girls know?

ELLA. No, nobody. Except the pastor and now... you.

LUDWIG. Mom would not approve of your decision.

ELLA. Mommy would understand. (Smiling). And I really hope the Grand Duke will also support his fairy princess. What about children…

At this time, ALYX and ERNI burst into the office, rushed to Ella, pulling her by the arms.

ERNIE. Hurry, let's go! Your exit!

ALYX. The Snow Queen must kiss Kai!

ERNI (pushing her sister). Chatterbox!

ELLA (to father). And you say - children ... Here they are, and I love them very much! .. (Hugs his brother and sister, they leave together).

LEADING. The princess met her prince. The chosen one of Elizabeth was the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov, the fifth son of the Russian Tsar Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna, who also came from the Darmstadt family. As relatives, they have known each other since childhood. For the first time, Sergei saw Ella as an eight-year-old child, when she was not even a year old. Two kindred spirits met. The Grand Duke, like his betrothed, was slender, handsome and noble, spoke several European languages, was well versed in painting and music, knew and loved literature, and adored the theater. But the main thing is that the chosen one of the princess was deeply religious, and the spiritual world of a person, his wealth, put, like the princess, in the first place.

The young people got married in the church of the Great Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. But the couple decided to spend their honeymoon not at a fashionable foreign resort, but at the quiet estate of the Grand Duke near Moscow, which he inherited from his mother. Ilinskoye became Elizabeth's favorite place, and at every opportunity she sought to spend time there.

Part two. GRAND DUCHESS

Characters:

ELIZABETH

QUEEN OF ENGLISH VICTORIA, Elizabeth's grandmother

Queen's VALET

LUDWIG, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt, father of Elizabeth

ERNST, brother of Elizabeth

ALYX, Elizabeth's sister

ARTIST

SCENE 1

The action takes place in Russia. To a greater extent, this is an illustration of the letters of Elizabeth sent to relatives - grandmother, father, brother, sister. These actors will appear on the stage when the letters addressed to them are heard.

In the foreground is the ARTIST at the easel and ELIZABETH, she is sitting on a banquette, on her head is a white straw hat decorated with flowers, in her hand is an umbrella. On the right - SERGEY at the coffee table, reading, occasionally looking at his wife.

ARTIST (does a sketch and talks). Your Highness, please turn your head a little, towards the light. Yes, great.

ELIZAVETA (in Russian she speaks with an accent, choosing and often confusing words). Perhaps I can open an umbrella?..

ARTIST. Perhaps.

ELIZABETH. Sorry, I don't speak Russian well. I only have lessons for one year. Your language is so difficult!

ARTIST. You speak very well. And the hat ... it's better to take it off. Take it in your right hand, so spectacular, and flowers ... Do you like white lilies?

ELIZABETH. Yes, they are very favorite.

ARTIST. Should we replace them? To the field? Daisies, poppies, cornflowers?.. As if you had just returned from a walk...

ELIZABETH. Oh, great!.. Please, how many sessions do I need?

ARTIST. Are you in a hurry, your highness?

ELIZABETH (turning to her husband). Sergei! .. Help, please.

SERGEY (to the artist). I would like to have the portrait by Christmas so that I can get it to Windsor. Queen Victoria, Elizabeth's favorite grandmother, wished to have her portrait after her marriage.

ARTIST. I don't think I'll let you down. (Elizabeth). Have you already been written? .. Other masters? ..

ELIZABETH. Many times. At home, in Darmstadt, in London.

ARTIST. I'm sure they are incredible.

ELIZABETH. Alas. No luck, never.

SERGEY (explains). None successful. And Herr Kaulbach, a famous German painter, destroyed seven sketches. And in despair he exclaimed that perfect beauty is not subject to the artist's brush.

ARTIST. I fully share his opinion. But let's hope, Your Highness, that we will have better luck and that Queen Victoria will be pleased. ( Draws. Sergey, standing behind him, watches).

The left side of the stage is illuminated. Queen VICTORIA sits in an armchair at the tea table. Nearby is a portrait of Ella. The Queen drinks traditional tea. The VALET enters, with a letter on a tray, a paper cutter, and the queen's glasses.

VALET. Excuse me, Your Royal Highness, there is a letter for you.

VICTORIA. Have you forgotten the daily routine?.. When do I read the mail?

VALET. Letter from Russia.

VICTORIA (impatiently). Give it immediately! .. (He sends the Valet away with a gesture, puts on his glasses). God, from Ella! .. (Opens the envelope and reads eagerly).

Elizabeth to Queen Victoria (letter):

“My dear grandmother, they began to paint my portrait, and I think that it will be very successful. Sergey and I hope you like it and we will send it to you as a Christmas and birthday present. It may be interesting for you to know how they write me - a dress of pale pink gauze, a lot of lace, a little open - so that the neck is visible, and the sleeves are not very long. I hold an open umbrella in one hand and in the other a large white straw hat with flowers tied with a pink ribbon. Everything looks like I was walking in the garden... I start to speak a little Russian. The lady who gives me lessons tells the others what the last words I learned and they use them in conversation, and in this way I understand what they are talking about. With great love to you, dear grandmother. Your loving granddaughter Ella."

ELIZABETH (takes off her glasses). God bless her! Enlighten to choose the right path for a Christian woman. Give her the strength to serve the new Fatherland in her high rank - the Grand Duchess - with dignity. And... the people. (He makes a cross over Ella's portrait and takes to interrupted tea.)

The light again moves to what is happening in the artist's studio.

SERGEY (examines the sketch, to the artist). Not bad, really, very not bad. (Elizabeth). I think you'll like it this time. Are you tired, my dear?

ELIZABETH. A little. I can do a little more.

SERGEI. Your Highness, have you forgotten that you have a Russian lesson? ELIZABETH (to the artist). End of session. God bless you. I must hurry.

SERGEY (to the artist). Ella thanks you. Thank you. You will be notified of the next session.

ELIZABETH (she put on her hat, closed her umbrella, got up). We are walking?..

SERGEY (admiringly). Freeze!..

ELIZABETH. What? I do not understand.

SERGEI. Stay like that. I have something for you. (Takes a scroll tied with a ribbon from the table, reads):

I look at you, admiring hourly:

You are so unspeakably good!

Oh, right under such a beautiful exterior

Such a beautiful soul!

Some meekness and innermost sadness

There is depth in your eyes;

Like an angel, you are quiet, pure and perfect;

Like a woman, shy and gentle.

Let nothing on earth among evils and many sorrows

Your purity will not be stained.

And everyone who sees you will glorify God,

who created such beauty!

ELIZABETH. I'm amazed!.. Did you write poetry?.. To me?..

SERGEI. Unfortunately, I am not the author. Konstantin, cousin, asked me to give them to you (gives the scroll to Elizabeth). Frankly, I was jealous, I wanted to hide. But, watching now how you posed for the artist, I realized the sinfulness of this intention. You are perfect, Ella. You are an angel of heaven in the flesh. (Kisses her hands.)

ELIZABETH (embarrassed). The sin is really grievous, and you, prince, will be severely punished: the polonaise and mazurka promised to you will be given to the author of these delightful verses. And now, let's go: Mrs. Kedrova, waiting for her student, is probably seeing the tenth dream.

Sergei offers his hand to Elizabeth, and they leave.

SCENE 2

Morning park. ELIZABETH enters, sitting on a bench near the fountain, reading a book. Nearby is an open easel.

ELIZABETH (looks around the garden, talking to herself). What grace, what harmony! What perfection! And all this was created by You, Lord!.. What can I, sinful and weak, do for You to calm my soul? I feel all the time that I am not doing Your will, but I must know what pleases You. Tell me, teach! .. (Leaves the book open and begins to draw).

Behind this lesson, SERGEY finds her.

SERGEI. There you are! .. I walked around the whole garden, I really wanted to go to the fields, I thought that I went for cornflowers. And then I decided to look here, in your favorite corner.

ELIZABETH. Yes, it is especially quiet and comfortable here. Thinks good.

SERGEI. About what, Ella?

ELIZABETH. Serge, what are we living for? In the name of what?

SERGEY (clearly surprised, sat down on a bench). Here they are! .. Yesterday at the ball you were cheerful and delightful. She laughed, joked, and with the performance of Russian romances she charmed literally everyone - both ladies and gentlemen.

ELIZABETH (excitedly). But it's all tinsel, dust. All this splendor of palaces, magnificent receptions, dazzling toilets - a blowjob, and very quickly. Everything will be carried away by the river of time. What will be left after us? What?..

SERGEI (not wanting to develop such a serious topic). Such a blissful environment: centuries-old trees, the babbling of a stream, the singing of birds, your adorable flowers ... What a mood, my angel?

ELIZABETH. Sergey, leave the playful tone. Answer, what is the meaning of life, mine, yours? .. Think about what our days are filled with? We walk, boat, play music, read or draw. In the evening - guests, a dinner party, theater or opera.

ELIZABETH. You do not understand! To be touched by the rescued chicks that have fallen out of the nest, or to suffer because the lap dog's tummy is swollen from overeating when such hopeless poverty reigns around. When a family slurps some kind of slop from a common bowl ...

SERGEI. It's called "slurping".

ELIZABETH. When babies die because there is no midwife. When one pair of shoes for all ...

SERGEI. Running barefoot is good for your health.

ELIZABETH (continues). ... and trousers ...

SERGEI (correcting). Pants. Peasants don't wear trousers.

ELIZABETH. Don't bring me down. It does not matter what this piece of clothing is called, but boys receive it only after 10 years. Children are almost completely illiterate. Instead of school, they are sent to hard work - to plow, mow, cut firewood. You know, they don't know what "candy" is. When I gave English toffee to a little beggar woman yesterday at church, she thought it was putty and started crying. I had to explain to her how delicious it is.

SERGEI. It would be better if you gave it to me, I love your toffees and I know what to do with them!

ELIZABETH (angrily). Sergei!.. It's immoral to live like we do.

SERGEY (twisting a book in his hands, which was lying on a bench). "Humiliated and Insulted". Dostoevsky. It is clear which way the wind is blowing. I'll have to make a list of what you should read and which authors Bye better to avoid.

SERGEY (attracts to himself). Enough, calm down, my steadfast tin soldier. Fedor Mikhailovich is a wonderful writer. Perhaps the greatest of Russian writers. And I love him very much. But you are not yet ready to fully understand and appreciate all its depth and fearlessness. His pain, his suffering and mercy. Let's take a little time.

ELIZABETH But I must know in what country I live, and what my people breathe! And how can I, personally, ease his hard lot.

SERGEI. Of course you are right. The life of the peasants is very hard. But their main problem is alcohol. They drink a lot, without measure. Hence - and beatings, and fights, and terrifying poverty. It's not as simple as you imagine, Ella. Russia is not Darmstadt, it is huge, clumsy and… unpredictable. And I'm not an emperor.

ELIZABETH. We must do something!

SERGEI. Of course, necessarily What is in our power.

SERGEI. None. Now let's go to the house. We are waiting for morning coffee and apple pie, what do you call it?

ELIZABETH. Strudel. (Cheerful). Our favorite family dessert, and the biggest punishment was to lose it.

SERGEI. And who got it the most? Ernie?

ELIZABETH (laughs). Me!.. They punished Ernie, and I, seeing how he was suffering, secretly gave him mine.

SERGEY (folds the easel). And in this you are all, my angel. As for the questions that you threw at me ... Your compatriot by blood and Russian by spirit, the wonderful poet Afanasy Fet, perfectly answered them. (Is reading):

A whole world of beauty

From big to small

And you're looking in vain

Find its beginning.

What is a day or a century

Before what is infinite?

Although man is not eternal,

What is eternal is infinite...

LEADING. The young, nineteen-year-old Grand Duchess, having barely found herself in Russia, in her new homeland, began to do works of mercy. Sergei Alexandrovich supported his wife in everything. In Ilyinsky, a maternity hospital was built, a medical center was opened, in which the doctor received local residents, and a school where children were taught not only to read and write, but also to various crafts. The couple organized charity concerts and bazaars, the proceeds from them went to especially needy families. The namesake day of Elizabeth and the day of memory of St. Sergius of Radonezh, after whom the Grand Duke was named, were solemnly celebrated every year. In addition, on the day of the Holy Prophet Elijah, a fair opened in the village of Ilyinsky, where peasants from the district villages and villages, artisans and merchants gathered, exhibiting their products and products for sale. Swings and carousels were built for children in the central square, booths were set up for visiting artists and photographers.

The Grand Duke solemnly opened the fair, and then he and his wife went around the rows, buying and talking with each seller. They were followed by baskets, which were quickly filled with purchased products, souvenirs and gifts for households.

In the evening, by the light of candles and lamps, festivities began: performances, comic competitions and folk games were arranged. Until dawn, the sounds of harmonica and balalaika, singing and dancing rushed from the square.

(At the request of the director, the Host's story can be illustrated with live pictures).

SCENE 3

LEADING. Four years have passed since Elizabeth lived in Russia. She already understood a lot that had previously seemed strange or unusual to her. But most of all, the Grand Duchess was attracted by Orthodoxy. Protestantism no longer satisfied the spiritual needs of her nature. In the Orthodox churches, where she went, accompanying her husband, Elizabeth felt that she passionately wanted to stand by her side in prayer, go up to the holy chalice and take communion, sharing his joy with her loved one. From childhood, Sergei Alexandrovich was a very pious person and strictly observed all church canons and orders, and, of course, suffered greatly that Elizabeth could not join him. But, despite this, the Grand Duke never showed his grief by word or gesture. This tense situation was resolved in the Holy Land, in Jerusalem, where the couple made a pilgrimage. The trip made such a huge impression on Elizabeth Feodorovna that she firmly decided to accept Orthodoxy. But all her relatives, with the exception of her elder sister Victoria and her grandmother, the English Queen Victoria, did not understand and did not accept this choice of the Grand Duchess.

On the stage, there is a sharp, painful discussion by relatives of Elizabeth's decision to change her faith. She tries to explain to her father, brother, sisters, grandmother the reason for her step. As Elizabeth turns to one of them, these characters appear on the stage. ELIZABETH is at her desk, writing a letter.

Elizabeth to her father Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt:

“My dear Papa!

Most loving tender thanks for your affectionate postcards and such an expensive letter that I received on the eve of the New Year ... How often I remember the happy days this autumn in Ilyinsky and our joint conversations! .. "

Enter SERGEY

SERGEY (hugging his wife by the shoulders). Are you busy?.. And I wanted to read aloud to you.

ELIZABETH (reluctantly looking up from her class). What exactly, dear?

SERGEI. A new piece by Count Tolstoy - The Kreutzer Sonata.

ELIZABETH. Lev Nikolaevich?.. You don't particularly favor him.

SERGEI. Yes, but the thing is very strong. Just delivered to me.

ELIZABETH. Maybe we'll put it off until the evening? .. I would like to finish the letter to dad.

SERGEI. Already missing? After all, we saw each other recently, didn’t talk enough? ..

ELIZABETH. They talked about anything, but I did not dare to tell him about the most important thing.

SERGEI. I wonder what about...

ELIZABETH (after a long pause). Sergey, I decided to accept Orthodoxy. And I want to ask for a blessing from my father.

SERGEY (very excitedly). What?!.. Ella, my dear, beloved, have you finally made up your mind?!.. When?..

ELIZABETH. Still there, in the Holy Land. I can no longer lie to myself or to my former faith, remaining outwardly a Protestant, but with all my soul belonging to the Orthodox Church.

SERGEI. But why…

ELIZABETH (continuing the question) ...I haven't done this before? I was afraid to hurt my family. I am afraid that many will not understand me, they will condemn me, they will raise a cry. But even this torment is no longer strong enough to endure.

SERGEY (touched, shedding tears). My poor, my angel, how you suffer!.. But how unspeakably glad I am! How long I waited for this, sometimes losing all hope. Thank you, my dear! To have the same faith with you is such happiness! ..

ELIZABETH. I decided to write to them, my dear ones, to explain. They have to find out from me, you know?

SERGEI. Understand. You take on your shoulders the cross of Christ. But you have to go through this, Ella, be prepared for people's gossip, gossip, slander. But how happy the emperor and empress will be when they find out!

ELIZABETH. Yes, please let Sasha and Minnie know.

SERGEI (kissing his wife's hand). May the Lord be with you, dear. (Leaves).

ELIZABETH (takes up her pen again):

“... And now, dear Papa, I want to tell you something and I beg you to give Your blessing".

LUDWIG is illuminated as he reads his daughter's letter. He is agitated, often interrupting reading, drinking medicine, rubbing his heart).

“You must have noticed what a deep reverence I have for the local religion since the last time you were here ... I kept thinking, reading and praying to God to show me the right path, and came to the conclusion that only in this religion I can find all the real and strong faith in God that a person needs to have to be a good Christian. It would be a sin to remain as I am now - to belong to the same Church in form and for outside world, a inside yourself pray and believe like my husband.”

LUDWIG. How arrogant I was! .. After all, I noticed how Ella reveres her husband when he starts a conversation about Orthodoxy. With what tenderness he looks at the icons hung in all corners of the estate. Why didn't you talk! Why didn't you warn!

ELIZABETH (continues to write):

“... I thought deeply about all this, being in this country for more than six years and knowing that religion was found. I so much desire to partake of the Holy Mysteries on Easter with my husband... and I can't put it off any longer. my conscience me this does not allow".

LUDWIG. Good God, for Easter!.. What to do? How to reason with her, how to keep her from this fatal step? .. (Calling). Ernie!.. Ernie!..

Enter ERNST with a letter in his hands.

Read what your sister is up to!.. Madness!..

ERNIE. I also received a letter. Ella was seduced by the outward brilliance of the Orthodox Church. But this is not serious, some kind of frivolity! And so unlike Ella! .. Dad, you must use all your power so that she does not step into this abyss.

LUDWIG. Irena demands the same, today I received a telegram from her. But, unfortunately, if Ella has decided, then no persuasion, especially prohibitions, will stop your sister. From childhood she was firm and purposeful beyond her age. In this she is a copy of Alice, your mother.

ERNIE. Dad, but she doesn’t have to change her faith at all! Sergei is a prince, not an emperor, and it is unlikely that he will ever be. Now, if Alix marries Nikolai...

ALIX enters with a letter in his hands, hears the last words of his brother.

ALYX. Yes, I will be forced to accept my husband's faith. And I will take it! I love Nicky! And I'll do anything for him! And in this sense, I completely understand Ella. She adores her Sergei and sees no one but him.

ERNI (sarcastically). She calls him "the angel of kindness", and swears that he did not force her to such a decision.

ALYX (shows the letter). Yes, Ella writes that she made this choice of her own free will and deep reflection.

ERNIE. But I do not believe! Sergey is an egoist and has a tremendous influence on his sister.

ALYX. He is eight years older than Ella! And so talented and ... handsome!

LUDWIG (reading Ella's letter). “Please, please, upon receipt of these lines, forgive your daughter if she hurts you. But isn't faith in God and religion one of the most important comforts of this world? Please wire only one line when you receive this letter. God bless you. It will be such a consolation for me, because I know that there will be many unpleasant moments, since no one will understand this step. Your very dearly loving daughter Ella."

ERNI and ALYX. And you will send her such a telegram?

LUDWIG. Don't know. But no reckless step of a child can deprive parents of love for their child.

LEADING. But Elizabeth did not wait for the desired telegram, instead her father sent her a letter that ended with the words: "May God protect you and forgive you if you do wrong". There was something to despair of, but the Grand Duchess, despite the moral suffering, did not flinch. The ceremony took place on Palm Sunday, April 25, 1891. Accepting Orthodoxy, Ella did not want to part with her name Elizabeth, whom she was named in honor of Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia. She only chose a new heavenly patroness - holy righteous Elizabeth, mother of St. John the Baptist, whose memory is celebrated on September 18. During the Sacrament, after Confirmation, Emperor Alexander III blessed his daughter-in-law with a precious icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, which Elizabeth Feodorovna revered sacredly all her life. The first person Elizabeth shared her joy with was her grandmother, Queen Victoria.

QUEEN VICTORIA reads Ella's letter.

ELIZABETH'S VOICE: “My dear grandmother, you cannot imagine how much and deeply I was moved by all that you wrote. I was so afraid that maybe you would not understand this step, and that comforting joy that your dear lines gave me, I will never forget. ... The ceremony went so well and was so beautiful! .. I feel so infinitely happy in my new faith. I always had earthly happiness - when I was a child in my old country, and as a wife - in my new country. … From the bottom of my heart, I thank you again and again. May the Lord bless you for all that you have always been for me, for your great kindness and maternal love ... With tender love from Sergey and from your most devoted and loving granddaughter. Ella"

VICTORIA. God bless you, my girl. Everything is in the hands of our Lord. Amen.

Part three. MOTHER ELIZABETH

Characters:

ELIZABETH, Grand Duchess

SERGEY ALEKSANDROVICH, Grand Duke, her husband

Prince's ADJUTANT

PRINCE GOLITSYN, mayor

PRIEST

KALYAEV, terrorist

GUARD

MARIA PAVLOVNA, niece of the Grand Duke

O. MITROFAN, confessor of the Monastery of Mercy

VARVARA, sister of the monastery

EKATERINA, sister of the monastery

ILYA, shoemaker

Inhabitants of the Khitrov market:

URBAN

Lady with a dog

Inhabitants of the hostel:

TRAVEL FIRST

TRAVEL SECOND

VANYA (10-12 years old)

DASHA (5-6 years old)

VASILY, their father

NATALIA, their mother

FIRST ANARCHIST

SECOND ANARCHIST

COMMISSIONER

SCENE 1

LEADING. Emperor Alexander III in 1891 appointed his brother, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Governor-General of Moscow, at that time the most restless and anxious city. Knowing the firm disposition of his brother, the emperor was sure that Sergei would honorably cope with this responsible position and restore order in the capital. But Elizabeth received the news with dismay. The first seven years of marriage are over - idyll, happiness and peace. For the grand ducal couple, the countdown began, which determined the meaning of the earthly ministry of Elizabeth Feodorovna. But there were still 14 long years ahead to the fatal moment, to the point of "no return". And the countdown began with the solemn entry of the grand ducal couple into Moscow.

Moscow. Nikolaevsky railway station, where the train from St. Petersburg should arrive

with the grand-ducal couple: Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, at the behest of Emperor Alexander III, assumed a new position - Governor-General of Moscow. Townspeople

and noble citizens are preparing to welcome distinguished guests. Flowers and flags are everywhere. Here is the Mayor, Prince GOLITSYN with a silver tray in his hands, on which is a loaf and a salt shaker. Next to him is a PRIEST with a copy of the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir. Finally, a thick, drawn-out whistle announces the train's arrival. The Grand Duke SERGEI ALEKSANDROVICH and ELIZABETH enter, a little behind - the Prince's ADJUTANT. The orchestra marched. Muscovites noisily and joyfully greet the arrivals: “Long live the Grand Duke and Princess!”, “Glory to the Governor-General Sergei Alexandrovich!”, “Great Duchess Elizabeth many years!” etc.

GOLITSYN (makes a sign for the orchestra to be silent): Welcome, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess! We welcome you with joy and love. Keep, Grand Duke, the precepts of antiquity and love the Mother See of Moscow as sincerely, as passionately as we love both our Tsar and our Motherland ”(gives bread and salt to Sergei and Elizabeth with a bow).

The Grand Duke and Princess accept the offering and, having broken off a piece,

pass the tray to the Adjutant.

PRIEST. You are welcome, Your Imperial Highness. We greet with joy the Blessed Grand Duchess, who, according to her sovereign attraction, wished to unite with us in the Orthodox faith. May the Mother of God of Vladimir illuminate your path, may it help you in the works of the righteous, mercifully done in the name of goodness and justice (gives Elizabeth an icon and overshadows the princess with a cross).

Elizabeth accepts the icon with a bow, venerates it and hands it over to the Adjutant. Girls in Russian costumes present bouquets of white and scarlet roses to the princess and sing "Many Years". Then, to the sound of bells, distinguished guests, accompanied by Muscovites, leave.

SCENE 2

SERGEY and ELIZABETH in the palace, returned after the celebrations, it is clear how both are very tired. Elizabeth is reclining in an armchair, her legs stretched out, covering her eyes with her hand.

SERGEY (with a glass of water goes to his wife). Drink up, my angel.

ELIZABETH. My head hurts a lot. And I can't feel my legs at all.

SERGEI. Well, Your Highness, is Monomakh's hat heavy? Get used to it, madam governor.

ELIZABETH. I'm very afraid, Serge. Highly.

SERGEI. What, honey? .. What's bothering you? ..

ELIZABETH. Moscow is so huge, diverse, unpredictable. There are riots at the university, workers are on strike in factories, even in high society there is no unity - some disputes, quarrels, gossip ... Old Believers, merchants, Jews claim leadership, how to connect the incompatible? ..

SERGEI. Do you doubt if I can do this cart?

ELIZABETH. God forbid! Sasha could not trust anyone but you to restore order in Moscow. But… your hair stands on end when you think about the responsibility that lies with you!

SERGEI. Yes, you will have to forget about the rest. Our quiet and peaceful life is over. The role of the ruling prince, I agree, is difficult and difficult, and your support, Ella, is more important to me than ever.

ELIZABETH. I will try my best to do everything that comes my way. Promise.

SERGEI. Well, fine. (Before the icon). Lord, give us strength, guide us to put everything in order - with firmness, according to the law and tolerance.

LEADING. A lot can be said about the charitable activities of the Grand Ducal couple. The initiator and main organizer was invariably Elizaveta Fedorovna, and Sergei Alexandrovich supported all her projects. Effective assistance was provided to museums, art galleries and monasteries. Architects, scientists, archaeologists, artists, actors and musicians felt the constant support and attention of the Grand Duchess. Choral sacred music occupied a special place in the life of the spouses. They regularly arranged charity concerts of spiritual and singing choirs in the best halls of Moscow and took care of them in every possible way. But the closest attention of Elizabeth Feodorovna was paid to the poor, the elderly and homeless children. She tried to do something concrete to alleviate the suffering of these people.

But gradually clouds began to gather over Russia. Revolutionary sentiment permeated society from top to bottom. Strikes, strikes, mayevkas swept the country. Revolutionary terrorism grew, exploding with arson, murders of statesmen, governors, town governors, policemen, and even petty employees and policemen. The year 1905 was approaching...

SCENE 3

Governor's office. The Grand Duke's ADJUTANT sorts out the mail. Postpones some letters. Enter ELIZABETH.

ADJUTANT. Good morning, your highness.

ELIZABETH. God is merciful, Vladimir Fedorovich. Got fresh mail? Is there something for me?

ADJUTANT (apologetically). Several anonymous.

ELIZABETH (opens one envelope, reads). Again this abomination!.. A well-wisher warns me not to accompany my husband if I do not want to share his fate with him. Sergei was sentenced, blacklisted! .. Vladimir Fedorovich, do you know where the Grand Duke is? ..

ADJUTANT. Left for the Kremlin.

ELIZABETH. Shouldn't you, Adjutant, accompany him?

ADJUTANT (reluctantly). For some time now, Sergei Alexandrovich prefers to travel alone.

ELIZABETH (guessing). Does he get those anonymous letters too?

ADJUTANT. Several pieces a day. But, after reading, it immediately burns. The Grand Duke forbade telling you about it. Please don't betray me.

SERGEY ALEKSANDROVICH enters.

SERGEY (assessing the situation). Everything secret, sooner or later, as I see it, becomes clear. All the better. Ella, we are immediately moving to the Kremlin, to the Nicholas Palace.

And we'll stay there until the commotion subsides.

SERGEI. Yes, definitely. I am no longer the governor. I resigned, and the Sovereign accepted the resignation.

ELIZABETH. What?.. But why?!

SERGEI. We have different points of view on the methods of stabilizing the situation in the country. The Emperor considers my measures against the revolutionaries unnecessarily harsh. He is a supporter of liberal-passive steps and is inclined to issue a Manifesto, granting democratic freedoms to society.

ELIZABETH (suddenly overjoyed). How good! Now, since you are not the governor, you are not in danger! Now they leave us alone! Maybe we'll go to Darmstadt? We haven't been there in such a long time!

SERGEI. It's impossible. I am still commander of the troops of the Moscow Military District. And to leave the city when Moscow is engulfed in revolutionary fire is cowardice and dishonor. (Adjutant). Arrange to prepare the crew.

The adjutant leaves. Sergei parses the mail and throws the anonymous letters into the fireplace.

ELIZABETH. But please be careful! Do not leave without an escort, without security, I beg you! Change at least the daily routine, the killers must have studied all your routes.

SERGEI. Don't worry, honey. Everything will be fine. Promise.

ELIZABETH. There were eight assassination attempts on Alexander II, your father! And yet they killed him...

SERGEI. You see, what a huge resource of time I have! .. Go, get ready. And don't forget, tonight we're going to the opera to listen to Chaliapin.

Elizabeth leaves, Sergei continues to burn papers.

LEADING. But the arrows were already counting down the last day. The fateful day came on February 18, 1905, grey, windy and snowy. The Grand Duke, as always alone, left for a meeting at the governor's palace. Elizaveta Fedorovna was going to her workshop, which she organized right in the Kremlin Palace, where they sewed warm clothes, underwear for soldiers, participants in the Russo-Japanese War. Suddenly there was a terrible explosion! And then there was an ominous silence. Everyone was confused, and only the Grand Duchess felt in her heart that something irreparable had happened. As she was, in one dress, she rushed to the exit, and rushed to the place of the explosion. The sight before her eyes was terrible. The Grand Duke, like his father Alexander II the Liberator, was torn apart by a terrorist bomb.

The murderer of Ivan Kalyaev was seized right there, fighting back, he shouted: “Down with the tsar! Long live the revolution!"

Silently, without crying or tears, Elizabeth on her knees collected what was left of the one she loved so much. The soldiers brought a stretcher, put the remains of the Grand Duke on them and covered them with an overcoat. The stretcher was taken to the church of the Chudov Monastery and placed in front of the pulpit of the temple. Elizaveta Fyodorovna knelt beside him, and, falling on her face, stood like that throughout the funeral service. The bells were ringing, the dirge singing of the worshipers was carried up…

SCENE 4

LEADING. Ella's sister Victoria and brother Ernst and his wife came to the prince's funeral. The imperial couple Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna remained in St. Petersburg for security reasons. Funeral services were held in churches all the following days, and Elizabeth invariably attended them. While praying at her husband's coffin, she suddenly felt that Sergei was directing her to his murderer. He wants her to visit the erring one and convey to him the forgiveness of the murdered.

From the doors of the temple, ELIZABETH in a mourning dress rushes out.

Brother ERNST hurries next.

ERNST. Ella, what happened?.. Where are you going?..

ELIZABETH. I must see him!

ERNST. Who?.. Who are you talking about?

ELIZABETH. Kalyaev. Sergey ordered me. I was praying and suddenly I clearly heard Sergey's voice: “I forgive him. Go and say."

ERNST. Ella, sister, you are excited, exhausted... This horror, your condition... these are hallucinations. You need to rest, get some sleep...

ELIZABETH. My dear boy, calm down. I am not crazy. But I must try to save this lost soul. You are going?

ERNST. Where?

ELIZABETH. To jail, to jail. (Leaves).

ERNST. This is madness! .. (Hurries for her sister).

The prison where IVAN KALYAEV was awaiting sentencing. He is without shackles, writing something at a tiny table. In the cell there is only a bed, a table and a chair attached

to the floor. ELIZABETH enters, accompanied by ERNST and THE GUARD.

For some time she silently examines the prisoner.

KALYAEV. Who you are?..

ELIZABETH. I am his widow.

KALYAEV. What you need?

ELIZABETH. I must talk to you.

KALYAEV. If I agree to listen to you.

Ernst rushed, shouting something in German.

GUARD (holding the duke, Kalyaeva). Well, you killer, take it easy! Get up, bastard! Before you is Her Highness, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.

Kalyaev, grinning, defiantly continues to sit.

ELIZABETH (to Ernst and the Guard). Leave us.

ERNST. Es ist gefahrlich! (This is dangerous! - German)

GUARD. But, your highness, it is not ordered ...

ELIZABETH. I insist.

Ernst and the Guard reluctantly exit. After a while, the Guard brings a chair for Elizabeth. Thanking her, she sits opposite Kalyaev.

KALYAEV. Well?.. Ask. My main occupation now is to listen to stupid questions (grins).

ELIZABETH. Why did you kill him? What did he do to you?

KALYAEV. Nothing personal (yawns). So decided the organization, of which I have the honor to be a member. Individual terror is our main method of struggle against autocracy. And the Grand Duke is a bright and very decisive representative of him. Not like this henpecked Nikolashka.

KALYAEV (laughing). What?.. Save?.. But who authorized you?!.. Isn't the Lord God Himself?..

ELIZABETH. The sin of murder is the gravest. And worldly judgment, I'm afraid, will be harsh. Soon you will stand before the Creator. Think how terrible it is to leave for another world with a hardened heart, with a black sediment in your soul. When you find yourself before His Bright Face, it will be too late to repent. This should be done here, to prepare yourself for the judgment of Heaven.

KALYAEV (irritated). Spare me your sermons! My choice is quite conscious. I knew what I was getting into.

ELIZABETH. But if you repent, I will ask the Emperor to have mercy on you, and I will pray the Lord to forgive you. And Sergei Alexandrovich and I have already forgiven you. I brought the Holy Gospel, read it, it will ease your soul.

KALYAEV. I don't want pardon! How much do you repeat? .. We, atheists, believe that each person should bear his burden, no matter how hard it may be. And don’t hide behind someone else’s back, don’t whine: “Forgive me, Lord, I didn’t know what I was doing!” Do not cowardly beg for mercy from those who turned out to be stronger this time.

ELIZABETH. I respect your beliefs, but... don't you admit that they are wrong? That after a while you change them? You are so young…

KALYAEV. Do you feel sorry for me?!.. I killed your husband! He took away the most precious thing! Come to your senses!.. You must hate me with a fierce hatred!.. Or is this a pose? Panache? And you came here, in a prison cell, to demonstrate Christian morality? "Mercy to the fallen to call" wanted? So that tomorrow all of Moscow would say how immeasurable your mercy is? .. Go away.

ELIZABETH. My visit is secret. No one, except those whom you saw, knows about it. I give you my word that our conversation will not be made public.

KALYAEV (after a pause). I could have killed the Grand Duke before. But every time you were with him. And I didn't dare touch him.

ELIZABETH (tremblingly). Did it occur to you that you killed me along with him?

KALYAEV. I pity you in your grief. And it's all. Farewell.

Elizabeth, putting the Gospel and a small icon on the table, went to the door.

ELIZABETH. Do you have relatives, father, mother, relatives? .. If you want, I will arrange for them to be given a letter, what is on your table.

KALYAEV. This is not a letter. Play. I decided to leave parting words to posterity. "Manuscripts don't burn," right?

ELIZABETH (crossing the prisoner). Merciful God, forgive him!

Elizabeth exits. Kalyaev examines the icon, then puts it under his pillow

and lays down.

ERNST. Ella! What?.. He didn't hurt you? Didn't offend?

ELIZABETH. My attempt was unsuccessful. But who knows, perhaps at the last minute he will realize his sin and repent of it. (To the guard). Please, if you notice any change in the prisoner's behavior, please let me know.

GUARD. Certainly, Your Highness. Don't you dare worry. I won't take my eyes off it.

Elizaveta and Ernst leave, the Guard sees them off.

LEADING. The Grand Duchess wrote a petition addressed to the Sovereign with a request to pardon Ivan Kalyaev. In court, he behaved defiantly. And when he was given the last word, Kalyaev warned: “Be careful in sentencing me. If I am justified, I will again take up arms in order to destroy tsarism and liberate the Russian people. I demand a public execution!” The killer was sentenced to death. Nicholas II, after some hesitation, decided to respect the request of the Grand Duchess. The condition of pardon was the same - the repentance of the criminal. But Kalyaev was firm: “I want to die. My death will be even more useful for the purpose of the revolution than the death of Grand Duke Sergei. We need to wake up the people so that they finally begin to fight for their rights and freedom.” There was no public execution. The killer fanatic was hanged in the Shlisselburg fortress. They say that on the last night before the execution, the Holy Gospel and the icon of Elizabeth lay next to him.

SCENE 5

LEADING. Having put on mourning for her tragically deceased husband, the Grand Duchess went even deeper into prayer. An expression of hopeless longing seemed to freeze on her face, and this continued until she finally realized the vanity of the secular world and passed into the world of spirituality. Elizaveta Fedorovna did not stop her former social activities, but with even greater zeal she devoted herself to charity. And, each time starting a new business, she mentally consulted with the deceased: “What would Sergei do in this case?”

When and under what circumstances she first came up with the idea of creating the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent is unknown. We can only say with certainty that without the blessing of spiritual mentors and elders, without the support and help of close friends, this grandiose plan would hardly have taken on a real shape.

Elizabeth's room in the palace, more like a monastic cell. In the corner is a wooden cross. On the walls there are only icons and paintings of spiritual content. The room is dimly lit by a kerosene lamp. At the table, on which there is a modest dinner, a young girl is sitting. This is MARIA PAVLOVNA, the niece of Sergei Alexandrovich, who was raised from infancy by the grand ducal couple. The clock strikes.

MARIA (starts, gets up, paces the room nervously). It's already ten o'clock! Where is Aunt Ella?! Again she went on foot to her hospital! The streets are so restless, so scary! It seems that she is looking for her death.

Enter ELIZABETH, she is in a mourning dress. Baptized on the icon.

Hugs his niece.

ELIZABETH. I'm sorry, Masha.

MARIA. Aunt Ella! Honey, you can't! I worried so much! What are you doing?.. Walk around Moscow without guards at night! If Uncle Seryozha were alive, he would now reprimand you to the heat! (Trying to soften the tone, playfully). I would put it in the corner!

ELIZABETH (lowering her head and crying). I'm sorry, my dear, I'm sorry. In each of these unfortunates, I see Sergei. Easing their suffering is one consolation. And grief somehow dulls its own, it seems not so sharp and hopeless ...

MARIA. Everyone, calm down. (Wipes Elizabeth's tears.) Forgive me for lashing out like a tigress. But I love you very, very much! You replaced my mother when she died, and for me there is no one dearer than you.

ELIZABETH (smiling, kissing Mary). I won't, I promise, bother you like that again. I know what to do.

MARIA. I know too: have dinner first. True, everything has cooled down, but a glass of wine will warm my chilled, beloved aunt a little. (Bustle at the table).

ELIZABETH. No, dear, don't bother. Bring me those boxes over there that are in the closet.

MARIA (jokingly). Your personal jewelry store?.. With pleasure!.. (Bring boxes, open them together, take out jewelry). How lovely! How I loved looking at them, little one!.. Here is a pearl necklace, I remember, Uncle Seryozha gave you. And this brooch with emeralds is a gift from Queen Victoria, right?.. But these diamond earrings are from Sasha's grandfather and Minnie's grandmother. Looks like you got them for Christmas. Miracle, how good! ..

MARIA. In what sense? What else are you thinking, Aunt Ella?

ELIZABETH (divides the jewels into three parts). All gifts from the Imperial family I will hand over to the state treasury. I return personal jewelry to relatives. And I decided to use the third part of this goodness for a God-pleasing cause - the organization of the Abode of prayer, work and mercy.

MARIA. Abode?.. What?.. Where?..

ELIZABETH. In Moscow. And dedicate it to Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, whom the Lord resurrected after his death.

MARIA. I do not understand anything! Are you willingly leaving the light, society? Do you want to go to a monastery?

ELIZABETH. I really part with high society because of my widowhood. Shine, holidays, receptions, parties - in the past. But I do not think of “leaving the worldly life”. On the contrary, I want to enter it. People suffering from poverty, experiencing moral and physical suffering, should receive at least a little Christian love. This has always bothered me since early childhood. And now it has become the purpose of my life.

MARIA. Is it not possible to do good while living in a palace? You have been doing mercy all your life, as far as I know you. Are you not satisfied with hospitals, orphanages and orphanages, all sorts of charitable societies that you patronize? Why such extremes?.. Distribute property, doom yourself to a beggarly existence. Why, dear Aunt Ella?! No one will understand, will not appreciate your sacrifice, and even laugh.

ELIZABETH. Maybe I'm wrong. But I believe that sometimes someone will look in my direction and come to help, leaving empty entertainment for a while. And then he will see what boundless joy brings a kind word, support or comfort in suffering. And the Abode is just the place where two virtues can be combined: active service to the Lord through one's neighbor, like Martha; and service to God through prayer and contemplative deepening into the Divine Mysteries, as Mary preferred.

MARIA. I'm impressed. Aunt Ella, but what you have in mind ... Will you have the strength to carry out such a grandiose plan? Is he up to a woman, even one as strong as you? ..

ELIZABETH. I know that I have neither mind nor talent, except for the love of Christ. But I do nothing without the instructions of elders experienced in the spiritual life. One nun told me, "Put your hand in the hand of the Lord and go without hesitation." It is my choice. Pray for me, my good friend, my girl.

LEADING. Despising the tears of friends, and gossip, and ridicule of the world, the Grand Duchess courageously went her own way. And as always, having outlined a plan, she set about implementing it with admirable perseverance, demonstrating an amazing talent as an organizer. Elizabeth bought land for construction, invited the best architects and artists, attracted influential clerics, enlisted the support of the Emperor and the Holy Synod, and already in 1909 the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy opened its doors to the suffering. The following were built at the Monastery: the Church in the name of the Holy Wives Martha and Mary, an exemplary hospital, a pharmacy and an outpatient clinic, where the most destitute were constantly received and treated free of charge. On the territory of the Convent there were: a shelter for orphans, a Sunday school, a library, a sewing workshop, a free canteen and a hostel for sisters of mercy, as well as the chambers of the Mother Superior and the priest-confessor. But the Temple of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, built according to the design of the famous architect A.V. Shchusev, and painted by the great painter M.V. Nesterov. And all this amazingly beautiful architectural complex was surrounded by a luxurious garden, lovingly cultivated by the hands of mother Elizabeth and her sisters of the cross.

SCENE 6

At the forefront. ELIZABETH appears, takes off the nurse's apron

and rubber gloves. It can be seen that she is very tired, sits down on the bench.

Enter about. MITROFAN.

O. MITROFAN. Good health, Mother. I see you just got out of the operating room. Assisted the doctor again? ..

ELIZABETH. Yes, they did everything possible, however, stomach cancer leaves little illusion. I think, father, now the unfortunate man needs your consolation.

O. MITROFAN. I will definitely visit him.

ELIZABETH. I keep thinking, are we not taking sin upon our souls when, out of false humanity, we try to lull such sufferers with an unrealizable hope for an imaginary recovery? Would it not be more merciful to prepare them in advance for the Christian passage into eternity?...

O. MITROFAN. You work very hard, Mother, beyond the human limit. Sleep for three hours ... Do not do this. The sisters whispered to me that tonight you again read psalms over the deceased, and in the morning, without closing your eyes, you got up to the operating table. And now, I suppose, go to the office to sort out petitions, to receive visitors. Take care of yourself, my dear.

Enter VARVARA and EKATERINA, greet.

ELIZABETH. What is there, Varya? .. (To O. Mitrofan). On my instructions, the sisters went to Khitrovka, where a woman was in a desperate situation, asking for help.

VARVARA (sits beside him). Yes, Mother, the situation is terrible. A young mother, tuberculosis in the last stage, and two children, a little less small.

EKATERINA. And a drunken husband. I wanted to take the kids with me right away, but - where! He pounced with his fists, swearing, barely carried his legs.

ELIZABETH (resolutely got up). Katya, go to the hospital and tell them to prepare a place in the ward. As a last resort, let them put a side bed. And you and I, Varya, are going to Khitrovka immediately.

BARBARA. Mother, I need to change my shoes. There is impassable dirt.

ELIZABETH (looks at Catherine's feet). We seem to be the same size. Take off your shoes, Katya. (Changing shoes).

O. MITROFAN (tries to stop). Mother…

ELIZABETH (interrupts gently). Bless, father.

O. MITROFAN (blesses). Go in peace!..

Everyone leaves.

Hitrov market. There is a brisk trade in everything you like - edible, moonshine, stolen, all kinds of rags ... There are a lot of beggars, beggars, from time to time brawls break out among vagrants in different parts of the square. A couple is darting around the market - a boy of about twelve years old and a girl of about five years old, this is a brother and sister -

they pester passers-by, beg for alms, and if they succeed, they get into their pockets. There is a FAT MAN, decently dressed.

DASHA (stretches her hand to the Fat Man). Father-master, give me, for Christ's sake! ..

VANYA (blocking his way). Our mother has died. Give it to the poor kids!

The fat man tries to bypass the little beggars, but they do not let him pass. Finally, he gives up: he takes out a voluminous purse and, putting a coin into his outstretched hand,

retreats hastily.

VANIA. How much did he give you? Show me.

DASHA. Dime. Vanya, let's go home, I'm tired.

VANIA. Look, she's tired! And do you want to eat? .. Look, the barge is sailing, see? Not that it also hits the neck.

A LADY of bulky dimensions is moving across the square, leading a dog on a leash.

DASHA. Lady, madam, show mercy, give a penny to the orphan. Mommy died, the crippled father lies unconscious.

LADY. Get out of here, you filthy beggar. How many of you are divorced, it is impossible to go out into the street!

DASHA. For Christ's sake! .. (Pulls out the pen). I really want to eat.

LADY. Get out!.. Or I'll set the dog on!

Vanya hurries to help her sister. He shoots the dog from a slingshot, he squeals.

The lady bends down to take him in her arms, her legs part in the mud, and the lady flops into a puddle. He begins to lament: “They killed, Herods! .. Help! ..”

VANYA (helping the Lady get up). Allow me, madam, I will hold your dog. Get up.

LADY (rising with difficulty, cursing). Where is the government looking? Dirty, stink, stench! It is high time to eliminate this hotbed of crime! .. (Takes a dog from Vanya's hands, reaches into his pocket). Here's to you for your work. (Exits, angry.)

VANYA (looks at the coin). Here's a damn doll, she threw a nickel in everything.

DASHA. Go home! I want to eat, my stomach is cramped.

VANIA. She whined! .. What didn’t you see there? The father is drunk on the board, the mother is spitting blood, and the caudle is cut into cards. They will also pump you up with vodka and make you dance. Have fun with you later. And I will feed you now. Look what I took out of the hold of this barge while it was floating in a puddle. (Shows a watch on a chain.) Op-la! .. Silver! .. Now let's go to the shop, to the old Jew, push the clock - and order. We'll buy shoes and a decent dress for you. Well, mom is medicine. It's a shame, she's completely exhausted.

DASHA. Vanya, what have you done! The policeman will grab us.

VANIA. If it catches up. And now we're going to the tavern, to sham, and, really, it's time.

Sharp whistle. A GODOVOY and a LADY are running, shouting: "Stop the thief!" Vanya, quickly thinking, grabs his sister by the hand, and the children run away. And... stumble

on the newly appeared on the market VARVARA and GRAND DUCHESS.

LADY. There he is! Scoundrel, thief, recidivist! (City). Grab it! Why are you standing like a rotten stump?

VANYA (to Varvara). Aunty, hide us, for God's sake! They want to hide us in prison! They say we're homeless! And we are not homeless at all, we have both papa and mama. You know you were with us this morning.

BARBARA. Mother, these are the children for whom we came here.

ELIZABETH. What's the matter, sir?

CITY. Hello, Mother Elizabeth. This lady claims that her watch was stolen.

LADY. I went to the market with a watch, and now they are gone! He stole it, you little bastard!

ELIZABETH. Do you have any reason to claim this?

LADY. No one else! I fell and this brat helped me up. And that's it - no hours!

ELIZABETH. Mister policeman, these children are my wards. Now I intend to visit their parents and obtain consent for the children to live in our shelter. Any misunderstandings, I hope we can sort it out. You know the address of the Abode.

CITY (saluts). That's right, Your Highness!

Elizaveta and Varvara, holding the hands of the children, leave.

LADY (indignantly). What kind of arbitrariness? .. Some nun is covering for thieves! .. I won’t leave it like that! I will complain!

CITY. You are a fool, excuse me, stuffed, madam. This is not “some kind of nun”, but the Mother Superior of the Martha and Mary Convent, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, sister of our Empress. Understood? .. (Leaves, the Lady minces after).

SCENE 7

A rooming house where homeless, downtrodden people live. Bunk beds are curtained with shabby matting. The motley company of the inhabitants of the rooming house at the table is cut

into cards. One of them does not take part in the game, he sits in an embrace with a bottle, hanging his head, this is VASILY. From behind the curtain comes a hacking cough, there lies the sick mother of Vanya and Dasha - NATALIA.

FEMALE. Well, are we chasing another batch? .. On a “dummy”? Weave? .. Sword! I'll do all of you, darlings, don't even flutter.

FIRST TRAMP (towards the patient). Will you shut up, finally?

THE SECOND TRAMP. Come on, do not knit, she is not sweet anyway.

NATALYA (through a cough). Do something with me, for Christ's sake. Suffocate, poison. My urine is gone, everything in my chest is torn.

FEMALE. Hey boy! Vaska, I'm telling you. Sits, embraced with a bottle. Would you give your wife a sip. Vodka is the first cure for all sorts of ailments. Share with half of yours. After all, he will soon die.

Enter VARVARA, VANYA, DASHA and MOTHER ELIZABETH. The children immediately rushed

to his mother, whispering something to her.

THE FIRST TRAVELER. Bah, what kind of people came to us! ..

ELIZABETH. Peace to this house.

WOMAN (sarcastically). If only by your prayers, Mother. We have long forgotten about him, about the world. As well, and he is about us.

ELIZABETH. Where is the patient?

THE SECOND TRAMP. Vaska, why are you frozen? Lead to Natalia.

VASILIY. Get rid of me all of you!

THE SECOND TRAMP. But, but, brother, take it easy on the corners. Do you know, fool, who came here, to your stinking lair? .. Mother Elizabeth herself! Fall at your feet and thank the Lord that he despised you, he sent an angel.

NATALIA appears, children support her from both sides.

NATALIA. Hello Mother. Thanks for listening to my cry for help. God bless you. You are my last hope. It is about these children of mine that my heart aches. Only because of them, my bloodlines, I dared to beg you, Mother, for mercy. (A fit of coughing). Your sisters came in the morning, they wanted to take the children away, but ... this Herod did not give. Vzashey kicked out. Forgive me humbly...

BARBARA. Sit down, Natasha, sit down, calm down. Now everything will be fine.

VASILY (raised his heavy head). Again for the old, creature?! Where - “take it away”? .. (He hits the table with his fist). They have a father! Legal! .. I, Vasily, the son of Petrov! ..

ELIZABETH (addressing the company at the table). Dear, could you please leave us? I must speak to this kind man, the head of this family.

WOMAN (laughs). A kind man?.. Have you heard, gentlemen, vagabonds?.. Yes, this is a thief! And the drunkard is bitter!

VASILIY. Well, you scumbag, shut your filthy mouth!

Vasily and the woman are ready to grapple, but her two companions do not give

a fight breaks out.

FIRST TRAMP (to a woman). Take it easy, woman. Do not throw brushwood, and it's so hot.

THE SECOND TRAMP. Let's go, Mother. But beware of Vaska, he really is spoiled.

WOMAN (feeling safe). Makes the kids beg, and drinks everything. And if they don’t bring it in the beak, it hits mercilessly. How many times they took away from him, half dead. They soldered vodka.

The Tramps and the Woman leave. Elizabeth sits down at the table. Varvara laid Natalya on the bunk, giving her some kind of decoction to drink. The children sit next to their mother, tensely watching what is happening.

ELIZABETH. Vasily Petrovich, let's talk, calmly discuss everything

VASILY (gloomy). Nothing to talk about. I won't give up my kids. If we die, then together. So, that's how it's written. I am a great sinner. Look for someone better, and help him.

ELIZABETH. There are no bad people, there are people for whom you especially need to pray. This is the opinion of our shepherd, Father Mitrofan, confessor of the Monastery. But I'm making you a very specific offer. Now we will all leave here - your wife, you. Children. Natalia needs treatment, a place in the hospital has already been prepared for her. Dasha will live in the Convent, in an orphanage. There her girlfriends are waiting for her, more than twenty of the same girls. (Dasha squeals happily). Vanya... How old is he?

VANYA (shouting). Twelve! I'm an adult!

ELIZABETH. If a young man considers himself an adult, then there will be work for him. Do you want to be a messenger?

VANIA. Distribute letters?

ELIZABETH. Not only. Perform various responsible tasks.

VANIA. Will you pay money?

ELIZABETH. Of course, all good work must be paid.

VASILY (gloomy). I won't let go.

ELIZABETH. You didn't listen to the end, Vasily Petrovich. I told you: let's leave this ... inhospitable house all together. There is a pretty decent job for you too.

VASILY (grinning). You have been warned: I am a thief and a drunkard.

ELIZABETH (ignoring what was said). Would you agree to help our gardener? The Abode has a very large garden, and it is difficult for one person to keep it in order. This is my suggestion. The decision, of course, is yours.

NATALYA (pleasantly). Vasya, my dear, golden! ..

VANYA and DASHA. Daddy, let's go!

VASILIY. OK. If you're not kidding. Let's see what kind of paradise you have there. (Children). Get it together, scumbag!

Natalia crosses herself, the children rejoice, Varvara smiles.

ELIZABETH. I have already told them that I did not leave the Kremlin in order to be driven there again. And if it is difficult for the current government to keep me here, let them give up any attempt to do so. And father Mitrofan, how will I - there and you, my dears, here?

O. MITROFAN (cheerfully). Have you noticed how this non-Christ kissed the cross after you? ..

ELIZABETH. The Lord created man in His Image and Likeness, but this image is not manifested in everyone. And this is our hope and duty - to help the light of God shine in lost souls.

Enter VARVARA.

BARBARA. Mother, an important gentleman is asking for you there. And he does not speak our way. I only understood that he had arrived from afar. Looks like it's from overseas. I took him to your office.

ELIZABETH. God, is it really Ernie?! .. It can't be! I haven't seen them, my dears, for three years since the war began.

O. MITROFAN. To see you off, Mother?

ELIZABETH. Do me a favor.

Everyone leaves.

LEADING. Elizabeth Feodorovna was expected in the office by the Swedish minister. He persuaded the Grand Duchess to leave Russia and go abroad. The minister acted on behalf of the German Kaiser Wilhelm, who wanted to save Ella, whom he passionately loved in his youth. It was a very strong temptation to be back at home, among loved ones, in safety. But Mother Elizabeth turned out to be stronger - she refused to leave her new homeland and those people for whose fate she was responsible. And having made that choice, she signed her own death warrant.

SCENE 9

Marfo-Mariinsky Convent. ELIZABETH in her room, more like a cell: a hard bed, a table and the only "luxury" - a wicker chair. She is sick, lies with her eyes closed on the couch. Stepping carefully, Sister EKATERINA enters with a tray on which is a simple breakfast for Matushka.

ELIZABETH. Katya, my dear, could you knock before you enter?

EKATERINA. Mother, forgive me, for God's sake. I thought you finally fell asleep after a sleepless night. Everyone was coughing, delirious. We were very scared.

ELIZABETH. Who made my bed? Where did the mattress come from?

EKATERINA. So the doctor ordered to put. How about on bare boards! He saw that he was very angry. He also said that the crisis, they say, has passed, and now you need to gain strength. So I brought you testicles, milk, fresh vegetables. These are the peasants from your Ilyinsky, as they learned about your ailment, they brought it. And they asked to convey that they love you and remember you, and pray for your health. So eat, do not offend the kind-hearted.

ELIZABETH. Thank you. My dear people. Help me, Katyusha, to move into a chair.

Ekaterina helps Matushka to sit in a wicker chair, covers her legs with a blanket.

BARBARA. They brought black bread, dried fish, vegetables, and a little fat and sugar. And also iodine, quinine, cotton wool, bandages. Otherwise, they were afraid that they would have to cut the sheets in order to make dressings for the sick.

ELIZABETH. I ask what is going on behind the gates of the monastery?

VARVVARA (hesitates). Worried, Mother. Parishioners say that the new government does not stand on ceremony - on simple suspicion, innocent people are seized on libel, property is taken away, or even entire families are completely exterminated. I wanted to, it was, yesterday to reach Iverskaya, to light a candle at the shrine - the Mother of God, where is it! .. Impossible! Above the Kremlin - red flags. On the streets - soldiers with five-pointed red stars in their foreheads. At night they shoot, everyone catches someone. It's scary, Mother, to go out the gate. Bony guards around every corner.

ELIZABETH. There is no need, Varya, to be afraid of death. One must be afraid to live if one betrays one's duty in a critical situation.

BARBARA. What are you, Mother, everything is going on in the monastery, as before! Father Mitrofan serves the Divine Liturgy every day, the sisters stand up for a common prayer. Old people, our orphans are well-groomed. We feed the orphans and the homeless with meals. In the outpatient clinic we conduct receptions from early morning until late evening. We help everyone who comes.

ELIZABETH. Okay, Varya. Thank you. We need to get ready for Easter. Think about what we will give to our wards, first of all, to the children. So that everyone receives gifts, let people rejoice. Now it is especially important - to support in sorrow so that the hope in the soul does not fade away.

BARBARA. Let's try, Mother. Yes, but we have few assistants left. Who left, who hid, and who went over - in a hurry to please the new government. The confusion, the confusion...

ELIZABETH. It is a great sin to fall into despair, you know. He notices everything, sees through everyone and leads by the hand. We just need to do something ourselves.

ELIZABETH. God bless you, Elijah. But what is this secret conversation you have with me?

ILYA (lowering his voice and looking around). Mother, you need to run! .. This is happening, God forbid! It's dangerous for you to stay here. Get there, bloodsuckers, their arms are long. But I have a relative, he keeps good horses, and a sleigh with a canopy. On the fresh snow and we will drive you away. Let's hide it, no dog will sniff it out.

ELIZABETH. Dear man, do you understand what you are offering? What danger do you expose yourself and your family to?.. Do you remember that you have four children?

ILYA (embarrassed). Five. To celebrate that she recovered, Agasha gave me a boyfriend.

ELIZABETH. You see, and the heir appeared. He still needs to be nurtured. What was it called?

ILYA. They named him Sergius. In honor of Sergius of Radonezh and your late husband.

ELIZABETH (touched). Good luck to you, my dears. (Pulls out a knitted blanket from the basket.) Here, take a present for the baby. It will come in handy, I think.

ELIZABETH. Bow to your hostess, thank you for the hotel. God bless you.

Ilya leaves.

O. MITROFAN. How glad I am to see you in good health, Mother Elizabeth!

ELIZABETH. So inopportunely attached to this disease. Quickly get back on your feet, so many things have accumulated. And Easter is just around the corner. You know, father, for me it is also a very personal and dear holiday. Nineteen years ago, on Palm Sunday, my conversion to Orthodoxy took place. When I could rightfully repeat to every Russian person the words of the Moabite Ruth: “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” And I can confess to you, my dear father, I have never, not for a minute, regretted that choice of mine. And I pray the Lord for only one thing - to give me the strength to drink the cup of suffering that fell to his lot.

O. MITROFAN. All is in God's hands. The new power does not yet oppress us. Even provides some assistance - food, medicines. The service in the temple is not prevented from being ruled.

ELIZABETH. Is there any news... about my dear sufferers?

O. MITROFAN. Unfortunately, nothing definite. All at the level of rumors, assumptions. As if the royal family is still in Tobolsk. And the conditions of detention are not too harsh.

ELIZABETH (baptised). Father, please remind me of the dream that they told me about on February 17. Haven't forgotten it?

O. MITROFAN. How can one forget such a passion!.. Then I saw four pictures, one after another, as in cinema. The first is a burning church. On the second - a portrait of Empress Alexandra, sorry, in a mourning frame, from which white lilies suddenly began to grow, and soon completely covered the beautiful face of your sister. The third picture showed the Archangel Michael with a fiery sword in his hands. And on the fourth I saw the Monk Seraphim praying on a stone.

ELIZABETH. And then I tried to interpret the meaning of sleep.

O. MITROFAN. And I remember it. You said that in the near future events will come from which the Russian Church will suffer greatly in the first place.

ELIZABETH. Yes. The portrait of Alix, strewn with white lilies, is a sign of her martyrdom. Archangel Michael with a fiery sword warns us of great disasters that will overwhelm Russia. I'm afraid this dream is already coming true.

O. MITROFAN. But the praying Reverend Seraphim of Sarov?.. Doesn't this mean that the Almighty will hear his prayer and protect Russia and will not let her perish in a fiery hyena?

ELIZABETH. This is the only thing we can hope for.

O. MITROFAN. Mother, remember what Isaiah said: “Those who trust in the Lord will be renewed in strength, they will lift their wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not get tired.”

ELIZABETH. Father, of course, is my dear friend and mentor. Pardon my cowardice. But with whom, besides you, can I afford to be weak? ..

O. MITROFAN. Do not grieve, Mother, do not punish yourself. Everyone has moments of weakness. We are people, and in moments of sorrow it is difficult to resist not to repeat the words of the praying Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, not to exclaim: “Lord, take this cup away from me!” But He gives us sinners an example of how to act in such cases.

ELIZABETH. Yes, and I repeat His words hourly: "Not as I will, but as You." Father, I want to partake of the Holy Mysteries.

O. MITROFAN. Mother, you know that I cannot be a strict confessor. But if the soul asks, let's go to the temple.

Elizabeth rose with difficulty, straightened up and, stepping firmly, accompanied by her confessor, Fr. Mitrofana went to the exit.

SCENE 10

Easter, the last in the life of the Grand Duchess, Mother Elizabeth. Marfo-Mariinsky Convent. The bells are ringing. ELIZABETH, O. MITROFAN, the sisters of the monastery, among whom are VARVARA and EKATERINA, the children of the monastery and parishioners. Everyone is smartly dressed, congratulating each other on the holiday, christening, exchanging gifts.

ELIZABETH. But I must make the necessary arrangements, say goodbye to the sick, children, sisters ...

COMMISSIONER. Don't dare to object!

ELIZABETH (to the audience). Farewell, dear guests. Forgive us, and God help you!.. Katya, take the children away. Varya, go around the wards, ask everyone who can walk to gather in the church of Saints Martha and Mary. (To the Commissioner). Will you allow?

COMMISSIONER (irritated). You have thirty minutes and not a second more! ..

At the forefront, ELIZABETH is surrounded by her closest, like-minded people.

ELIZABETH. So the time has come for us to part, my family, my loved ones. Thank you for being there all these years, doing mercy, not thinking about self-interest or worldly glory. Thank you too, Father Mitrofan, our dear shepherd, without your sensitive, affectionate, but strict guidance, our monastery would not have been able to become a reliable, warm and hospitable home for tens, hundreds of those suffering. I ask you to continue not to leave the holy monastery and to serve in it as long as it is possible. My relatives, unite and be like one soul all for God and say, like John Chrysostom: "Glory to God for everything."

O. MITROFAN (intentionally loudly). “I hear you, and I will heartily fulfill your words.” May the Lord be with you!

The commissar and the Chekists rudely force Elizabeth and the sisters to go to the car.

ELIZABETH (to the commissioner). Why are you imprisoning these holy souls? They are sisters of mercy, and they are not guilty of anything!

VARVARA and EKATERINA. We will not leave you, Mother! ..

COMMISSIONER (chuckles). Voluntary escort. They asked for it themselves, let them sip.

Elizabeth overshadows everyone with the cross and bows low to the Convent. Everyone leaves.

LEADING. The Grand Duchess was taken away by Latvian Chekists. Obviously, the Bolsheviks were afraid to entrust such a scandalously brutal deed to the Russians, Muscovites, among whom the authority of Elizabeth was so high, and the love of the common people was immeasurable. Fearing unrest in Moscow, Elizabeth was sent as far as possible, deep into Russia.

On July 18, 1918, in the dead of night, not far from the Ural city of Alapaevsk, the Grand Duchess and nine of her companions and relatives were thrown alive into an old mine, the first to be pushed with a butt into a black pit was Elizabeth. She prayed, repeating: “Lord, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing!” The mine was bombarded with grenades and set on fire. The sufferers died in terrible agony from thirst, torture and wounds. But for another day, the sounds of the Cherubic song and prayers were heard from under the ground. When the bodies of the martyrs were removed from the mine, Elizaveta Feodorovna was found with the icon of the Savior on her chest, the one with which the Emperor blessed her when the princess converted to Orthodoxy. And the fingers of the right hand of the holy ascetic were folded for the sign of the cross.

Elizabeth to an old friend, Countess Olsufieva:

“Dear Alix, Christ is Risen!

How often my thoughts fly to you, and I remember my dear countess, sitting in her living room… We talk over a cup of tea, and years flash by in our memories… If we delve deeply into the life of every person, we will see that it is full of miracles. You will say that life is full of horror and death. Yes it is. But we do not clearly see why the blood of these victims should be shed. There, in heaven, they understand everything and, of course, they found peace and a real homeland - the Heavenly Fatherland.

We, on this earth, must direct our thoughts to the Kingdom of Heaven, so that with enlightened eyes we can see everything and say with humility: “Thy will be done.” Great Russia, fearless and irreproachable, is completely destroyed. But "Holy Russia" and the Orthodox Church, which the "gates of hell" will not overcome, exist, and exist more than ever before. And those who believe and do not doubt for a moment will see the "inner sun" that illuminates the darkness during a roaring storm. I'm not exalted, my friend. I'm only sure that the Lord who punishes is the same Lord who loves... Who illuminates our path. And then joy becomes eternal even when our poor human hearts and our little earthly minds experience moments that seem very terrible.

Think thunder. What a majestic and terrible experience! Some are afraid, others hide, some perish, while others see the greatness of God in this. Doesn't this look like a picture of the present time? ..

We work, we pray, we hope, and every day we feel the grace of God. Every day we experience a permanent miracle. And others begin to feel it and come to our church to rest their souls.

Pray for me dear.

Sincerely, your constant devoted friend"

For the director: the ending of the story may be different. The words of Patriarch Alexy, which are given at the very beginning, can also be heard; may also end with a Prayer to the Holy Martyrs Grand Duchess Elisabeth and Nun Barbara…

Portrait of the family of the Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt: Alix, Princess Elizabeth, Duke Ludwig IV, elder sister Princess Victoria, brother Ernst Ludwig. Artist Heinrich von Angeli, 1879

“I was taught everything at home”

Princess Elizabeth, Ella, as her family called her, was born Nov. 1(n.st.) 1864 in the family of the Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt Louis IV and Princess Alice, daughter of the English Queen Victoria.

Like any princess, Ella was taught music, languages (she spoke and wrote in English and French), painting, literature, history. Ella knew how to sing, draw, dance, appreciated poetry, had a delicate taste and excellent manners. But not only.

Ella's mother, Grand Duchess Alice, taught her children strict rules. She taught the little princesses to do all the housework themselves: clean their rooms, make their beds, light the fireplace, and even take care of their own toilets, with the help of maids in a pinch.

Later ow. book. Elizabeth will say: "The house taught me everything."

The family was Protestant. Duchess Alice believed, not because such is tradition and good tone, but because she was a kind and warm-hearted woman. She believed in deeds: she went to hospitals, almshouses, orphanages, and took older children with her. From childhood, Ella not only knew that there are poor, lonely and suffering people, she saw how and in what way she could help them and did it.

But maybe someone will say: it is easy to be kind and generous when you are a princess. It is easy to love when you have a big friendly family and everyone loves you.

Indeed, true faith and kindness are tested in trials. Often, in terrible.

When Ella was only 9, the family experienced a tragedy: in front of her mother, Ella's three-year-old brother, Friedrich, crashed to death.

When she was 12, an epidemic of diphtheria began in Darmstadt, all the children fell ill, except for Ella. Princess Alice was caring for children and became infected.

Soon four-year-old Maria died, followed by the Grand Duchess herself, at the age of 35.

Ella's childhood ended that year.

But grief did not close the heart, but opened it even more: the mother, who gave her life to her children, taught Ella this.

She saw the suffering of her father, the confusion and loneliness of her younger sisters and brothers, and did her best to console and support them.

After the death of their mother, Ella and Alix (the future Empress of Russia, St. Alexander) were brought up mainly in England, with their grandmother, Queen Victoria. The girls really missed their mother, both were strongly attached to each other. Ella, as the eldest, always motherly took care of little Alix. She continued to do this in Russia, at least she tried.

Another relative

But in Ella's family there was another relative who played a huge role in her life and fate, according to the princess herself. This is a saint Elizabeth of Thuringia(XIII century), the ancestor of the family of the Dukes of Hesse. It was in her honor that the future venerable martyr was named.

Edmund Leighton, The Charity of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1895)

This saint, who today bears the title "Gloria Teutoniae" ("glory of Germany"), was distinguished by amazing compassion, active love for people and rare fortitude.

Despite her Protestant upbringing, the young princess of Hesse-Darmstadt ardently revered her patron saint, visited Marburg more than once, where her relics rest, and openly expressed the desire to at least to a small extent become like her holiness. God heard her prayer;

there are many striking similarities in the fate of the two Elizabeths.

Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia lost her mother in childhood, married a foreign prince for love, survived the death of her husband, endured numerous ridicule and mockery of her relatives, giving all her fortune to the poor, ended her journey in voluntary poverty and illness. And at the same time she shone with joy and infected everyone around her. Ap words. Paul “Always rejoice, pray without ceasing, give thanks for everything” (1 Thess. 5:16), became a reality in the life of Elizabeth of Thuringia, and for her great-great-great-granddaughter - a covenant.

In 1891, ow. book. Elizabeth accepted Orthodoxy. She retained her former name - Elizabeth, but, according to Orthodox tradition, - in honor of the new saint - the righteous Elizabeth, the mother of the great prophet and friend of the Lord John the Baptist. Having become the abbess of the monastery of mercy, the holy venerable martyr Elizabeth became a mother to all who need love and compassion.

One of the first shots of the Hessian Princess Elisabeth - Ella is 1 year old. Darmstadt, 1866

Saint Elizabeth is 2 years old. Darmstadt, 1866

Princess Ella with her sister Irena and parents: Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse and Duchess Alice of England. 1867

Elizabeth of Hesse. 1871

Holy Martyr Elizabeth Romanova at the age of seven. 1871

Portrait of Princess Ella. Ella is 7 years old. Artist Reginald Easton (1807-1893)

Portrait of Princess Ella at age 9. Artist Josef Hartman. At this age, misfortune happened in the family, Ella's younger brother, three-year-old Friedrich, died. In front of his mother, Princess Alice, he fell out of the window. 1873

Children of the Hesse family. 1878

Children of the house of Hesse. 1878

Princesses of Hesse: Victoria, Irena, Alix, Elisabeth (right) in mourning for their mother, Princess Alice. 1879

Children of the house of Hesse with their father, Louis IV and grandmother, Queen Victoria of England in mourning for their mother, wife, daughter - Duchess Alice. 1878

Princess Ella (left) with her brother Ernest Louis and sisters: Victoria, Alix (the future Empress of Russia, St. Alexander, sitting) and Irena. 1880

Elizabeth of Hesse is 16 years old. 1880

Karl Rudolf Sohn, portrait of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. Germany. 1885

Portrait of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna Romanova (artist A.P. Sokolov). 1886

Elizaveta Fyodorovna Romanova. 1884

K. Brozh, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich with his fiancee Elizaveta Feodorovna; print, 1884

Sergei Alexandrovich and Elizaveta Feodorovna. 1884

Daughters of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and Princess Alice of Great Britain: Princesses Irene, Victoria, Elisabeth and Alix. 1885

Sergei Alexandrovich and Elizaveta Feodorovna. 1892

Sergei Alexandrovich and Elizaveta Feodorovna. 1893

Ella. 1894

Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov, Ernest Louis of Hesse, Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov. Alexandra Feodorovna, Victoria of Hesse, Elizaveta Feodorovna. Ladies right and left of E.F. - Irena Prusskaya, sister and Victoria Melita, sister. 1894

Elizaveta Romanova in a kokoshnik. 1897

Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna with a lady-in-waiting. 1897

Sergei Alexandrovich and Elizaveta Feodorovna. 1903

Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna, children of Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich - Maria and Dmitry in the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery during their stay in Moscow on March 29-April 16, 1903

Portrait of Elizabeth Feodorovna by N.V. Kharitonov. 1905

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“Among the thousands of strong, talented and courageous people killed by the so-called Soviet government in Bolshevik Russia, an unforgettable figure stands apart. This is a woman, a courageous and generous woman, whose life path began in the splendor of imperial splendor and ended in the black depths of the Siberian< уральской- ред.>mines, where the executioners threw her after severe torment.
Dazzlingly beautiful, She appeared at the balls, sparkling with diamonds; but the vocation was already imprinted on Her calm brow - only, perhaps, less clearly than on the face of Her sister, the Empress: even in the most prosperous times, the mournful folds near her mouth did not disappear, giving Her beauty a tragic expression.

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I appeal to my compatriots: they remember a wonderful vision - a woman in a modest light gray or blue dress and a small white hat; a friendly smile illuminates a face with regular features; here she comes, rejoicing at the sight of hundreds of working women, united by a common goal - to alleviate as much as possible the suffering of those who are now there, in the Far East, fighting under the bullets of the Japanese.
- -

It was a wondrous rite, it will never be forgotten by those who took part in it. The Grand Duchess left the world, in which she occupied a brilliant position, in order to go, as She herself said, "into a larger world, the world of the poor and miserable." Bishop Tryphon (formerly Prince Turkestanov in the world), handing Her a white apostle, uttered prophetic words: "This veil will hide you from the world, and the world will be hidden from you, but will become a witness of your good deeds, which will shine before God and glorify Him."

And so it happened. Through the gray sisterly veil, her deeds shone with divine light and led Her to the feat of martyrdom.
If one of the patients gave cause for concern, She sat down near his bed and sat like this until the morning, trying to alleviate the exhausting hours of the night for the sufferer. Thanks to the exceptional intuition of her mind and heart, She managed to find words of consolation, and the sick assured that Her very presence eased the pain, they felt how healing power emanates from Her, giving patience and peace in suffering; the timid boldly went to the operation, strengthened by Her comforting word.

- -

It is impossible to imagine that you will no longer see this creature, so different from others, so towering above everyone, such captivating beauty and charm, such irresistible kindness; she had a gift, without any effort, to attract to her people who felt that She was above them and tenderly helps to rise to Her. She never sought to show her superiority, on the contrary, without false humility, she brought out the best qualities of her friends.
It may turn out that in the time of our grandchildren the Church will glorify Her as a saint,” Countess A. Olsufieva.

- -

“Rare beauty, wonderful mind, subtle humor, angelic patience, noble heart - these were the virtues of this amazing woman”,- VK. Alexander Mikhailovich.

“She is so feminine; I do not fall in love with her beauty. Her eyes are amazingly beautifully outlined and look so calm and soft. In her, despite all her meekness and shyness, one feels some self-confidence, a consciousness of her strength. Under such a beautiful appearance there must certainly be an equally beautiful soul.- from the diary of V.K. Konstantin Konstantinovich.

- - - -
Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna / Empress Maria Alexandrovna.

“I know that you keep Her fragrant memory deep in your heart. She is still praying for you, of course. Here God sent you a dear wife, who, I think, would be after her own heart; many see in her, and I also see, as if a reflection of the graceful image of the deceased Empress,”- from a letter from K. Pobedonostsev to V.K. Sergey Alexandrovich on September 14, 1884.

“She fascinated with her beauty, emphasized by a lovely toilet. What has an even stronger impact than her beauty is the charm of modesty, simplicity that comes from her, her thoughtful look and the bewitching look that she plunges into your eyes when she talks to you or listens to your answer. There is something in her that reminds her of the late Empress (Maria Alexandrovna),"- from a letter to A.F. Tyutcheva.

“She impressed with her appearance, facial expression: it was modesty itself, unusually natural - without realizing it, she was exceptional. Deeply thoughtful, always calm, even,- Countess Maria Belevskaya-Zhukovskaya.

- -

“She had just married then; Her beauty struck me like a wondrous revelation. Her charm is what is called an angelic type. Eyes, mouth, smile, hands, gaze, manner of speaking were inexpressible, graceful almost to the point of tears. Looking at Her, I wanted to exclaim with Heine:

Like a color, You are pure and beautiful;
Delicate like a flower in spring.
I look at you and anxiety
Creep into my heart.
And it seems as if I had hands
I put it on your forehead,
Praying that God will tender you,
Beautiful and clean kept.

- -
Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Grand Duke Ernst-Ludwig (Elizabeth's brother)

Most of all I admired Uncle Serge and Aunt Ella. Then they just got married, and Her beauty and charm seemed fabulous .... Ella was all charm and womanly charm. Being quite the eldest, She was our cousin, like the daughter of my father's sister, the late Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse. Through marriage, she became our aunt, and since at a young age a few years make a big difference, we treated her with the respect due to an aunt. Having married a very young girl, he treated her somewhat like a school teacher. I can't forget the charming blush that filled her cheeks when he reprimanded her, which happened often no matter where and with whom they were. “But, Serge!” she exclaimed, and her expression was like that of a schoolgirl taken by surprise. Until now, I just have to remember her and my heart stops. She had wonderful jewelry and Uncle Serge, who idolized her, despite his lectures, invented all sorts of pretexts and reasons to bring amazing gifts to her. There was a special talent in the way she dressed; although, of course, with her height, slenderness, incredible grace, everything went on with her, and not a single ruddy rose could compete with the complexion of her complexion. She resembled a lily, so perfect was her purity. It was impossible to look away, and, parting in the evening, you again waited for the hour when you could see her again, ”- Queen Maria of Romania.

- -

“... Aunt Ella was<…>one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen in my life. She was a tall and fragile blonde with very regular and delicate features. She had gray-blue eyes, one of which had a brown speck, and this produced an extraordinary effect.- V.K. Maria Pavlovna Jr.

“Elizaveta Feodorovna is charming, intelligent, simple ... I decided to say that there was only one voice from everywhere, that her name was also blessed in the troops. She accepted it simply - and I was thrilled to say it was "true"! ... The conversation stopped, and I left under a charming impression, ”- Count S.D. Sheremetev.

- -

“At the beginning of January 1904, there was a ball at the governor-general’s house. Elizabeth Feodorovna received guests, standing with the Grand Duke at the end of the hall. She was wonderfully pretty in a pale pink dress with a tiara and a necklace of large rubies. The Grand Duke knew a lot about precious stones and loved to give them to his wife. We all looked with admiration at Elizaveta Feodorovna and admired her amazing complexion, white skin and elegant dress, the drawing of which she sketched with her own hand for the dressmaker .... At the next ball she was even more beautiful; she wore a white dress with diamond stars scattered all over her dress and diamond stars of the same kind in her hair. She looked like a fairy princess,- N.S. Balueva-Arseniev.

- -
Grand Duke Elizaveta Feodorovna, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark, Grand Duke Maria Pavlovna (in her arms).

“All who knew her admired the beauty of her face, as well as the charm of her soul. The Grand Duchess was tall and slender. The eyes are bright, the look is deep and soft, the facial features are clean and gentle. To a beautiful appearance, add a rare mind and a noble heart ... In the war of the 14th year, she further expanded her charitable activities, establishing collection points for helping the wounded and founding new charity centers. She was aware of all events, but did not engage in politics, because she devoted herself to work and did not think about anything else. Its popularity grew day by day. When the Grand Duchess came out, the people knelt down. People made the sign of the cross or kissed her hands and the edge of her dress, going up to her carriage ...

- -

One of our archbishops told me that when he was passing through Jerusalem, he stood in prayer at her tomb. Suddenly the door opened and a woman in a white veil entered. She went deeper and stopped at the icon of the Holy Archangel Michael. When she looked back, pointing to the icon, he recognized her. Then the vision disappeared.
The only thing left to me in memory of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna is a few beads from the rosary and a chip from her coffin. Sliver sometimes sweetly smells like flowers. The people called her a saint. I have no doubt that one day the church will recognize this too,” F. Yusupov.

-
-

“The bazaar usually lasted three days, but of course the first day was the liveliest. On one of these days, an old peasant fell on me, who, looking at me, said:
- Here, they say, the princess herself. Show me which one.
Just at this time, the Grand Duchess went into the small drawing room to drink tea and sit for at least a quarter of an hour, as she could not do it at her table. I said to the old man:
- Stay with me, grandfather, when she returns, I will show her to you.
He began to tell me that he had traveled more than a hundred and twenty miles to look at the princess and get something from her hands.
- I heard a lot about her, I wanted to see what she is like.
Then he leaned towards me and asked mysteriously:
- Is it true that she is so kind and loves the people as much as they say?
I said it was all true.
- And what is she like?
- And now you'll see.
-
-

It must be said that all the trade at our table was conducted exclusively by the Grand Duchess, since everyone wanted to buy personally from her and pay her money. The prices were cheap, and almost everything added to the cost of the purchase, for which the Grand Duchess thanked everyone ... Her patience knew no bounds, she showed everything herself, looked for suitable things, although people themselves often did not know what they, in essence, want to buy.

- -

But the Grand Duchess has returned. She had a tired face, she could hardly move her legs, which were very swollen. I pointed it out to him. He still couldn't figure out which one, because he probably expected to see her wearing a crown. Finally got angry and said:
“Show me exactly where she is.”
I calmed him down.
- Wait, grandfather, I will talk to her, and when she begins to answer me, you will see where the Grand Duchess is.
I told her in English about an old man who wants to buy something from her hands and look at her. She smiled her angelic smile. There was no tired look. Leaving the table, she approached the old man. I whispered to him:
- Here she is.
He looked at her for a long time, she looked at him, then crossed himself and said:
- Thank You, Lord, that I was able to see you, princess.
The Grand Duchess leaned towards him and asked:
- What do you want to buy, grandfather?
- I, mother, can not buy anything. You give me something yourself, I have no money at all.
The Grand Duchess looked on the table and finally took a good glass holder with a glass, very simple work, with a spoon, and asked:
- Grandpa. Do you want this glass? You like him?
- I like it very much, princess.
She ordered it to be wrapped for him.
- Goodbye. Grandfather,” she said, and put ten rubles into his hand.

- -

He did not notice the money, thinking that she had extended her hand to him. He grabbed her in indescribable joy and kissed her several times, as icons kiss. She saw that a ten-rouble note was lying on the floor, and said:
- Raise the money.
He asked who dropped them.
- This is your money, I gave it to you on the road.
He did not want to take them for a long time, but she said:
- No, take it, grandfather, on the road and goodbye. Now I must go, others are waiting for me.
He stood next to me on the other side, kept looking at her and said to me:
- The people were right when they praised her, and what a beauty she is. When she smiles, she looks like an angel, which is written on the images.
Then he turned to me and bowed:
- Thank you, dove. who showed me her.
To my question, is he pleased that he saw her. He replied:
I won't forget until death. How she received me. When I get home, I'll tell everyone.

The following year, the same story repeated itself, but with an old woman who came from another region, almost a hundred and fifty miles away. The Grand Duchess gave her a towel embroidered by her. The old woman even cried out of emotion. I involuntarily followed both the old man and the old woman. When they left.
Both the one and the other, having reached the door, turned and, crossing themselves widely, bowed from the waist, looking at Elizaveta Feodorovna. They were not interested in anyone and nothing, except for Elizabeth Feodorovna, in this market, ”- Countess V.V. Kleinmichel.

- -
V.K. Elizaveta Feodorovna, V.K. Sergey Aleksandrovich, V.K. P-Avel Aleksandrovich

“Once, running with Nix through the garden, crawling out from under the bushes. We were both dumbfounded, as an unearthly beauty appeared before our eyes in a white airy dress and a white hat, with two very tall handsome officers. Probably, we looked funny, we were disheveled, soiled ... "Who are you?" The strangers asked us. We answered: "Kleinmichel". “That's how good it is. We are looking for your mother and got lost,” they said, still laughing as they looked at us. An unearthly creature took Nyx by the hand, and I went along ...
Niks did not take his enthusiastic eyes off the Grand Duchess and kept looking and gazing after her until she disappeared into the pavilion ... Suddenly, with horror, I hear the voice of the Empress (Maria Feodorovna): “Farewell, Niks, but look at me.” And my Nix was still looking after Elizaveta Feodorovna. She turned his head, taking his chin and smiling at him, because he did not notice her hand, which she held out to him, she kissed him on his curly head and asked where he was looking and what was the matter with him today. We answered in chorus: “To the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, Your Majesty.” She laughed and said: "Then I understand, I'll tell her. Goodbye, children,"- Countess V.V. Kleinmichel.

- -

“Grand Prince. Elizaveta Feodorovna was charming, delightfully charming, full of tact and grace, clouded by some kind of cloud of moral light, as always, amiable with everyone, and moreover, not with cultivated courtesy, but with an expression of a kind, condescending human feeling.- A. Polovtsov.

“I see her like this…. Tall, stern, with bright, deep and naive eyes, with a delicate mouth, soft features, a straight and thin nose, with harmonious and clean outlines of the figure, with a charming rhythm of gait and movements. There was a charming female mind in her conversation - natural, serious and full of hidden kindness.
Her face, framed by a long white woolen veil, strikes with its spirituality. The subtlety of the features, the pallor of the skin, the deep and distant life of the eyes, the faint sound of her voice, the reflection of some kind of radiance on her forehead - everything reveals in her a being that has a constant connection with the ineffable and divine.- M. Paleolog.

- -

“It was a rare combination of an exalted Christian mood, moral nobility, an enlightened mind, a tender heart and exquisite taste. She possessed an extremely subtle and multifaceted mental organization. Her very outward appearance reflected the beauty and grandeur of Her spirit: on Her brow lay the seal of innate high dignity, which distinguished Her from the environment. It was in vain that she sometimes tried, under the cover of modesty, to hide herself from the eyes of men: She could not be confused with others. Wherever She appeared, one could always ask about her: “Who is this, the watching dawn, bright as the sun?” (Song 6:10). She everywhere brought with her the pure fragrance of a lily; perhaps that is why She loved the white color so much: it was a reflection of Her heart. All the qualities of Her soul were strictly proportionate to each other, never creating the impression of one-sidedness. Femininity was combined in her with courage of character; kindness did not turn into weakness and blind unaccountable trust in people; the gift of reasoning, which Christian ascetics place so highly on, was inherent in Her in everything, even in the best impulses of her heart.

- -

Hiding her exploits, She always appeared before people with a bright smiling face. Only when She was left alone or in a circle of close people, on her face, especially in her eyes, a mysterious sadness appeared - the seal of high souls languishing in this world. Having renounced almost everything earthly, She shone the brighter with the inner light emanating from Her, and especially with her love and affection. No one more delicately than Her could do something pleasant for others - each according to his needs or spiritual appearance. She was able not only to weep with those who weep, but also to rejoice with those who rejoice, which is usually more difficult than the first.
She sensitively responded to all requests, except for those that were politically tinged ...
- -

When the revolutionary storm broke later, She met her with remarkable composure and calmness. It seemed that She was standing on a high, unshakable rock and from there, without fear, she looked at the waves raging around Her, directing her spiritual gaze to eternal distances. She did not have a shadow of bitterness against the frenzy of the excited crowd. “The people are a child, they are not to blame for what is happening,” she said meekly, “he was misled by the enemies of Russia
Like a wondrous vision, She passed over the earth, leaving behind a radiant trace. Together with all the other sufferers for the Russian land, she was at the same time the redemption of the former Russia, and the foundation of the future ... Such images have an enduring meaning: their destiny is eternal memory both on earth and in heaven, ”- Archbishop Anastassy.

Queen Victoria with orphaned granddaughters; Ella is standing on the right, next to her is little Alix, the future Russian Empress

Ella (second from right) with her sisters

Second. Ella, having moved with her husband to distant Russia, wrote to her grandmother frequent and detailed letters about her life. Everything was described in them - from important family events and religious impressions that shake her soul, to trifles like a wasp sting, a dance party, or a dress she liked, seen in a picture in a fashionable French magazine. And at the same time, not a word, not a hint of failure in family life, of neglect on the part of her husband, of the fact that hopes for happiness have failed.
Suppose Ella, who received a strict upbringing, simply did not consider it possible to complain, considered it unworthy. But outright lies would be just as unworthy. She could "eloquently" keep silent about her troubles, often such silence speaks much more than words. But Ella's letters are letters from a happy young woman enjoying a harmonious marriage, and there is no doubt about that. A prosperous life, full of joy, and endless references to "my dear Sergei", with whom she does not want to part for a minute ... Together to the estate, together to the capital, together on regimental exercises, on a trip to holy places, on a visit to overseas relatives. " All I can always repeat is that I am quite happy..."
And this is written by a young beauty who married a man who does not need and is not interested in women?
Third. Sergei Alexandrovich was, according to everyone's conviction, a true believer. Even in his early youth, he made pilgrimages to holy places, led large Christian organizations, donated to Orthodox churches and participated in their consecration. His faith was not ostentatious, but internal, capturing the soul. He revealed to his young wife all the beauty of Orthodoxy, so that Elizabeth, who was brought up in the traditions of Protestantism, was imbued with love for the Russian church and, contrary to the orders of her father and grandmother, converted to Orthodoxy. Nobody demanded this from her, she herself, under the influence of her husband, decided to share his religious beliefs.
But, being Orthodox, Sergei had to regularly confess his sins to the priest, telling about everything without concealment. And the attitude of the church to the "sin of Sodom" is known. Could the Grand Duke combine Christian ideas about morality and similar hobbies, remaining spiritually pure before God?
Fourth. Alexander III, the elder brother of Sergei, could not help but know the whole ins and outs about such a close relative. He himself was not only an absolutely heterosexual person, but also an exemplary family man, who did not allow even innocent romantic hobbies outside of marriage, and would hardly have become condescending to the "non-traditional hobbies" of relatives. Nevertheless, he had friendly relations with Sergei, not overshadowed by any disagreements, Alexander even appointed his brother to the post of Moscow Governor-General. This is an exemplary appointment in every sense. The second city in Russia after the capital (and according to Muscovites, just the first!), Moscow was distinguished by patriarchal customs, and people in it, like in a large village, were in sight, especially representatives of high society. The whole mother of the Mother See was discussing who got married to whom, who walks from his wife, who bought the estate beyond his means, and who got entangled in gambling debts. Almost nothing could be hidden! And the governor-general, the first person in the Moscow hierarchy, was even more so for the townspeople as if under a magnifying glass. The level of tolerance in Moscow in those days, and later did not rise to transcendental heights, it was supposed to live "like everyone else." A fact-based rumor that the governor was from the "gays" would instantly deprive Sergei Alexandrovich of all authority and turn him into a general laughingstock.
So would Alexander III have thoughtlessly decided on such a compromise of the august family?

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich and his wife Xenia Alexandrovna, sister of Nicholas II

Ella and Tsarevich Nicholas

To be continued.

Portal for the student. Self-training

“I was taught everything at home”

Another relative

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