Who Was Grand Duchess Elisabeth and How She Appeared to Be a Saint?
One of
the brightest stars in the celestial array of Russia's New Martyrs is holy
Grand Duchess Elisabeth. A convert to Orthodoxy, she outshone many of those
whose Faith she had so ardently embraced. She was like a sun whose penetrating
rays warm hearts grown cold and renew the lost faith of a fallen and despairing
humanity, as if to say that not all have succumbed to an egotistical self love,
that there are still those servants of Love, whose example points the way to
the true path, tom happiness both on this earth and for aIl eternity. She
placed a law in her heart: that the strong bear the frailties of the weak. Love
was the cornerstone of her life and all her activities. This love made easy for
her what was difficult, it made serving her fellowman a plea sure, and through
it the forgiveness of enemies was made possible. For the sake of this Love she
sacrificed herself for others, thereby fulfilling that greatest of commandments
according to the Apostle of love, that "we ought to lay down our lives for
the brethren" (I John3:16).
There
exists perhaps no more eloquent tribute to the holy Grand Duchess than the
spiritual portrait so finely drawn by the late Metropolitan Anastassy:
"She
was a rare combination of exalted Christian spirit, moral nobility, enlightened
mind, gentle heart, and refined taste. She possessed an extremely delicate and
multifaceted spiritual composition and her outward appearance reflected the
beauty and greatness of her spirit. Upon her brow lay the seal of an inborn,
elevated dignity which set her apart from those around her. Under the cover of
modesty, she often strove - though in vain, to conceal herself from the gaze of
others, but one could not mistake her for another. Wherever she appeared, one
would always ask: "Who is she who looketh forth as the morning, clear as
the sun" (Song of Solomon 6:10)? Wherever she would go she emanated the
pure fragrance of the lily. Perhaps it was for this reason that she loved the
color white - it was the reflection of her heart. All of her spiritual
qualities were strictly balanced, one against another, never giving an
impression of one-sidedness. Femininity was joined in her to a courageous
character; her goodness never led to weakness and blind, unconditional trust of
people. Even in her finest heartfelt inspirations she exhibited that gift of
discernment which has always been so highly esteemed by Christian
ascetics..."
The Grand
Duchess was born on October 20, 186l, the daughter of Princess Alice of Hesse
and the granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England, under whose strict tutelage
she received both an extensive and a practical education. Her mother died when
she was still young, the first tragedy in a life marked by inner suffering. But
through, greatness of spirit, her sorrow at the absence of maternal love was
later transformed into a tender and solicitous compassion for others who lacked
this love.
Chosen as
the future wife of the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the Grand Duchess arrived
in Moscow and set about learning all she could about her newly adopted
homeland, its people and its culture. Her heart was soon captured by the beauty
and spiritual depth of Orthodoxy which she discovered so tightly interwoven
into the rich fabric of the Russian soul. It was not mere formality that
prompted her decision to become Orthodox, but a strong inner conviction. In
Orthodoxy she found full expression for the natural spiritual cast of her
character. Social obligations at the palace, however, prevented this
disposition from blossoming, although in keeping with her new position she was
able to dedicate much time to philanthropic activities. It was only with the
tragic assassination of her husband in 1905 that Providence granted her the
opportunity to withdraw from the tumult of a world which her soul found so
wearisome. But through her patient endurance she had already achieved a measure
of Christian perfection. This was manifest in her ready forgiveness of her
husband's murderer whom she even went to visit in hopes of softening his heart.
On the memorial cross erected upon the site of her husband's death, she had
inscribed the Gospel words, "Father, forgive them for they know not what
they do...' She had already begun the ascent up the ladder of Christian virtue.
Ignoring
the scandal caused by such a move, the Grand Duchess left the royal apartments
and settled in a building which she had acquired at Ordinka. Here, with the
counsel of the eiders of the Zosima Hermitage under whom she had placed herself
in total obedience, she laid the foundation for a sisterhood which combined in
itself the ascetic labors of the monastic life and works of charity. This quiet
haven in the midst of a bustling city was named in honor of Mary and Martha,
the sisters of Lazarus, whose two natures of service and prayer were so
beautifully intertwined in the mission of the new community. "To be not of
this world and at the same time to live and act in the world in order to
transform it - this was the foundation upon which she desired to establish her
convent."
The Grand
Duchess was personally involved in all the plans for the buildings of the
community, and they reflected her refined aesthetic sensibilities. The main
church was built in the traditional Novgorod-Pskov style and painted by the
well-known Russian artist Nesterov. The austere white walls were balanced with
exquisite sculptured ornamentation. The architectural harmony of the buildings,
the peaceful atmosphere, the beauty of the church services - all combined to
lift the tired soul from its earthly cares and give it a glimpse of paradise.
Even members of the unchurchly contemporary Russian society, whose spiritual
re-education was of such concern to the Grand Duchess, were drawn to this
unique community.
"It
is not surprising that the convent quickly blossomed and attracted many sisters
from the aristocracy as well as the common people. Nearly monastic order
reigned within the inner life of the community and both within and without the
convent the activities of the Grand Duchess consisted in the care of those who
visited the sick who were lodged in the convent, in the material and moral help
given to the poor, and in the almshouse for those orphans and abandoned
children found in every large city. The Grand Duchess paid special attention to
the unfortunate children who bore within themselves the curse of their fathers'
sins, the children born in the turbid slums of Moscow only to wither before
they had a chance to blossom. Many of them were taken into the orphanage built
for them where they were quickly revived spiritually and physically. For
others, constant supervision at their place of residence was established. The
spirit of initiative and moral sensitivity which accompanied the Grand Duchess
in all her activities, inspired and impelled her to search out new paths and
forms of philanthropic activity, which sometimes reflected the influence of her
first, western homeland, and its advanced organizations for social improvement
and mutual aid..."
Wherever
there was a need the Grand Duchess would try to answer it, and only her strong
spirit was able to keep her from being entirely overcome physically by all that
she in her willingness was ready to undertake. All her activities, however, did
not cause her to wander from the "one thing needful," and while
serving the least of Christ' s brethren, she was ever at Christ's feet,
listening to His words.
The
sorrowful tribulations which visited Russia as the Revolution spread its shadow
over the land only caused her virtues of love and self-sacrifice to shine more
brightly. Together with her younger sister, Tsaritsa Alexandra, she was
slandered on account of her German blood. But she harbored neither bitterness
nor hatred towards her enemies, and even the revolutionaries recognized her
greatness of spirit and spared her and her community for a time,
Finally,
however, the martyr's crown was brought within her reach. On Pascha, 1918, the
Grand Duchess was suddenly arrested and taken first to Ekaterinburg and then to
Alopaevsk where, with her ever-faithful companion Sister Barbara, she was
imprisoned in one of the city schools. On the fateful night of July 5/18,
together with other royal captives, she was taken in an automobile outside the
city and buried alive in a mine shaft. Even here, in the bowels of the earth,
she did not cease to manifest her sacrificing love. Excavations have shown that
until the last moment she strove to serve the grand dukes who were severely
injured by the fall.
At last
her precious remains - which, according to eye-witnesses were found in the mine
shaft completely untouched by corruption - were received with triumph in
Jerusalem and laid to rest in a sepulchre of the church of St. Mary Magdalen,
just over the hill from Bethany where the sisters, Sts. Martha and Mary, served
and glorified the Lord.
Source: https://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/elizabeth_duchess.htm
