Messages

1

Olga Nicholaievna / Re: Anniversary of Olga's birthday -- post tributes & memorial messages here!

« on: November 16, 2011, 11:27:24 AM »

For Olga...

Me, and my Olga

You see us playing together as children
As she teaches me the ropes of life
That come to her so naturally, but in her elegance
In her regency, she takes it in her strife
The kindness, the devoutness, the selflessness
That are so often mistaken as my own
Were taught to me by none other than her
Us two growing up in the grandeur of the throne
Me, and my Olga

You see me now and think nothing of it
but it was her who gave me these elegant robes
That sway and dance at my feet
And her who showed me how to look and pose
In all those photos of just me and her
It was her that gave me kindness
Expecting nothing in return
Retaining our regal blindness:
Me, and my Olga

Is it us you now speak of?
The daughters of the last Tsar
Who lived and few in a fairy tale,
In palaces of splendour near and far
Do you remember her in all her glory
In all that wisdom she imparted on me
In all that strength and belief she held
And gave to me and others so unconditionally
Me, and my Olga

Yet it is us down here in this cellar
Where fairy tales no longer have a place
It is us clutching at one another
As bullets and bayonets beset our face
And it is us sprayed with each other’s blood
Praying for the end with a scream and a tear
Grand Duchesses and sisters born but to die:
Anastasia, Maria,
Me, and my Olga

~ Sara James

2

Palaces in the Crimea / Re: Your trips to the Crimea - opinions/questions/help

« on: March 16, 2010, 03:42:56 AM »

I went to the Ukraine last summer and spent just under a week in Yalta. It's true to say that you're bound to get around better if you can speak some Russian, and although I was a little wary of walking around the streets at night, I didn't really feel threatened at any time.

Whilst there, I went to Livadia (twice!) and Massandra - they are so incredibly beautiful! I took loads of pictures and am dying to go back!!

Trip of a life time!!!

3

Having Fun! / Re: Looking For Pictures?

« on: June 16, 2009, 10:25:58 AM »

Sorry for the poor discription - T and M are the only ones sitting, O and A are standing.

But it is literally the same pose with them in the same order L-R, but they're looking up and to the left-hand side of the picture.

I've never seen one quite like that. I hope someone else has it!

Hmmm, prehaps I just dreamt it then, although I could've sworn I saw it in a book somewhere...

4

Having Fun! / Re: Looking For Pictures?

« on: June 16, 2009, 02:39:09 AM »

Sorry for the poor discription - T and M are the only ones sitting, O and A are standing.

But it is literally the same pose with them in the same order L-R, but they're looking up and to the left-hand side of the picture.

5

The Imperial Family / Re: OTMAA's Formal Photos

« on: June 15, 2009, 12:24:49 PM »

Does anyone have another version of this photo?



It's virtually the same (i.e.: all around the table), but they're looking up, out towards the window (well, I presume it's a window!)

Thanks, Sara

6

Having Fun! / Re: Looking For Pictures?

« on: June 15, 2009, 12:23:57 PM »

Does anyone have another version of this photo?



It's virtually the same (i.e.: all around the table), but they're looking up, out towards the window (well, I presume it's a window!)

Thanks, Sara

7

Films and TV shows about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: New NG show - 'Romanovs: The Missing Bodies'

« on: April 18, 2009, 07:19:40 AM »

Yep, that's it!

So if anyone wants to catch it, it looks like it's on on NG UK at midnight ('til 1am) tonight!

8

Films and TV shows about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / New National Geographic Show - 'Romanovs: The Missing Bodies'

« on: April 18, 2009, 05:42:53 AM »

Did anyone catch The Romanovs: The Missing Bodies last night (Friday, 17/04/09) on National Geographic?? This was a UK showing - not sure when it was/will be aired in the US and other regional NG channels...

If not, I don't think you missed much: it was just a re-hash of their previous programmes with a couple of new clips... Might be worth a look when the repeat comes round though!

9

Alexandra Feodorovna / Re: Nicholas and Alexandra as mainstream cultural phenomenon

« on: October 03, 2008, 11:38:41 AM »

As a curiosity, OK,  a bit of a trifle, right up there with the tee-shirts.

What are these t-shirts you speak of?

10

Olga Nicholaievna / Olga's Prayers

« on: October 01, 2008, 02:19:40 PM »

Around and about, I've seen many poems that have been copied/written by Olga, and I'm slightly confused as to which ones she herself penned.

The one beginning 'Send us patience, Father' or 'Send us, oh Lord, patience' (depending on which translation you go with) is def. not written by her. [I think I have a Russian version of this, if anyone would wish to see it.]
And as the 'Queen of the sky and earth,' prayer is often quoted with the first one (they seemed to be called the First Prayer and Second Prayer respectively) I presume that that one is also just a copy.

There are also then two convieniently titled prayers, 'Before The Icon Of Our Lady' and 'Prayer In Time of Trial and Tribulation'. Are these written by Olga?

Furthermore, in a copy of 'Zhitie, prorochestva, akafisty i kanony svyatym tsarstvennym muchenikam', on the inside of the back cover, the follow poem (I presume it is, rather than a prayer :s) which is attributed to Olga:

Отец всем просит передать,
Не надо плакать и роптать,
Дни скорби посланы для всех
За наш великий общий грех.
Он все обиды позабыл,
Он всех врагов своих простил,
И за Него велит не мстить,
А всех жалеть и всех любить.
Он говорит: мир тонет в зле,
Иссякла правда на земле,
И скорбный крест грядущих дней
Еще ужасней и страшней.
Но час пробьет, придет пора,
Зло одолеет власть добра,
И все утраченное вновь
Вернет взаимная любовь.

Can anyone shed some light on the whole matter? Would be much appreciated!!!

11

The Hesse-Darmstadts (Hesse and by Rhine) / Re: Palaces and Castles of the Hesses

« on: October 01, 2008, 09:20:30 AM »

... and Nicholas II is said to have presented the church with a 'Bronzeluester' (bronze chandelier?)...

Yep, der Lüster --> chandelier

12

The Hesse-Darmstadts (Hesse and by Rhine) / Re: Palaces and Castles of the Hesses

« on: October 01, 2008, 03:21:02 AM »

There's also a Russian chapel in Bad Ems, I believe, erected in honour of Alix... Am I right??

Yes, Bad Ems does have a Russian church.  It was not built in honour of Princess Alix of Hesse (1872-1918), though, but in honour of Alexandra Feodorovna (1798-1860), née Princess Charlotte of Prussia, wife of Nicholas I. The Church in Bad Ems is dedicated to Saint Alexandra, the wife of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

LOL, my bad!! But I swear I read about it being dedicated to Alexandra Fyodorovna and there being a picture of her next to the text...

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The Hesse-Darmstadts (Hesse and by Rhine) / Re: Palaces and Castles of the Hesses

« on: September 30, 2008, 10:33:01 AM »

The Palais was destroyed during the terrible attack on Darmstadt on Sept. 11th 1944 - like 80% of the whole city. The ruin however was blown to bits in the 1950ies in order to make way to a park named "Georg-Büchner Anlage" whereas the new State's Theatre was errected in the former Palais Garden.

In Germany there are numerous cities and places connected to the Romanows: Wiesbaden has a most wonderful Russian Chapel errected to honor Elisaweta Mikhailovna Grand Duchess of Russia, Duchess of Nassau. Bad Nauheim as one too - inaugurated by Nicholas II. in 1896. Stuttgart has one due to Queen Olga Nikolaevna and her niece Vera Konstantinovna, both married to members of the Württemberg Royal House. There is even one in Weimar dedicated to Maria Pawlowna Grand Duchess of Sachsen Weimar Eisenach (whose mother in law was a Darmstadt Princess and ancestor of Alexandra Feodorovna too).

Thank you very much for the information!!!!!

There's also a Russian chapel in Bad Ems, I believe, erected in honour of Alix... Am I right??

14

The Hesse-Darmstadts (Hesse and by Rhine) / Re: Palaces and Castles of the Hesses

« on: September 30, 2008, 08:43:38 AM »

Heya everyone!!

I am so glad that I stumble upon this thread; I was researching the 'Neues Palais' earlier and struggling to find any decent info on the internet.

It's such a shame that the Palais no longer exists - I would've loved to visited it, what with it's connection to Alix. Does anyone actually know what destroyed it? Was it allied bombing raids? Was it the Gestapo as they fled? Or did it just fall into disrepair?

I love Germany and German history very much - are there any other places in Germany with a Romanov connection??

15

Having Fun! / Re: Free Avatars and Signatures

« on: September 12, 2008, 02:23:52 PM »

Thank you very much!!!!!

Do you all create your work in Photoshop?