Anastasia didn't have her period in exile?

[lostfan]

LMAO!!   .. That's gptta be the cutest, yet slightly T.M.I that I've read for the Romanovs..hahaha

I agree . I suppose any man would wish that if he hadn't seen his wife for a long time. Although that is definately TMI, however, I don't think Nicholas expected people to be reading his personal letters to Alexandra 100 years later!

[Maria_Pavlovna]

Nicky to Alix, April 8, 1916: "My sweet Love, I want you so! Please do not have M.B. [Mme Becker] when I come home!"

Lol! Nicky, silly old devil! ( it just a saying! dont worry)

[moonlight_tsarina]

Some examples of how this was referred to in their letters (from the book A Lifelong Passion):

Alix to Nicky - March 3, 1916:
"Olga and Anastasia have Becker."

April 2, 1916: "Maria is in a grumpy mood and grumbles all the time and bellows at one, she and Olga have
B[ecker] [...]"


Nicky to Alix, April 8, 1916: "My sweet Love, I want you so! Please do not have M.B. [Mme Becker] when I come home!" LOL

On the girls having it all at the same time, that is rather odd.

And on Nicky's comment:    
Lol...

[Laura Mabee]

in those days, people thought periods controlled women in a way

Really? Like in a "can't go swimming" kind of way?

I don't think Nicholas expected people to be reading his personal letters to Alexandra 100 years later!

Very true! I suppose it's more of a "wow, I feel very bad for prying" kinda feeling. Since it's really me that's looking at they private diaries/letters and not them saying these things in public.

That's true though, Alix and Nicky were seperated quite alot, especially during the war, so private time is precious  

[ferngully]

people in those days thought that periods were the reason that women were so hysterical and so on, like it was the central nervous system of women which is why women weren't considered to be the same as men
selina              xxxxxxxxxx

[Laura Mabee]

people in those days thought that periods were the reason that women were so hysterical

Heh, this is my mothers thinking too.. I hate it when she blames whatever I am talking about passionately on PMS  

[clockworkgirl21]

Well, I do sort of feel bad for prying, but I guess that's what happens when you're a monarch. lol Didn't Aleksandra burn a lot of her letters to Nikolai, except the ones that proved they still loved Russia, in case they were put on trial?

[Georgiy]

Well, even these days a woman with Becker can't kiss an icon, nor have Communion - because she is bleeding - and with Communion you are taking the Body and Blood of Christ into you, and it becomes part of you, so to have that then bleed out of you is the reason why a menstrating woman can't have Communion. (There are physical reasons why a man can't have Communion or kiss icons sometimes too BTW, which are not nice to talk about on a board that could be read by youngsters). Also if after Communion I got a cut and bled, I'd have to do my best to mop up that blood, and burn it when it is dried, or perhaps bury it.

[bluetoria]

Georgiy, you know I would never criticise your faith/religion but this seems SO wrong to me.
In the Gospels the woman with the endless haemorrhage (which was a euphemism)  was afraid to even speak to Jesus for this very reason - she was an outcast because of her gynaecological troubles. She touched the hem of his garment & he reached out to touch her to show that there was nothing wrong about her & that it was not 'sinful.' (And he healed her of course, which doubtless made her life a million times better!)
It seems a complete humiliation to women - whom God created as they are - that the Church should prevent them from receiving Him.
Besides, you do not receive the Eucharist into your blood stream, but into your digestive system... :-/
Sorry Georgiy...I just CANNOT accept this.
(But then, I'm not Orthodox so...sorry if I offend you You KNOW I don't mean to.)

[bluetoria]

As an Orthodox woman convert I have had to come to grips with this question myself.... 

Thank you for your honesty, Pravoslavnaya  . I admire your humility & your devotion.

That's just me....

I know I could never accept it but...lacking your humility & faith...that's just me    

[Georgiy]

Ah, but what goes into your digestive system also goes into the bloodstream, and that is why. (The male one is a 'defilement' before haveing the sacrament.) I think it is the respect we have for taking the very body and blood of Christ into our bodies that means there are times when it is inappropriate for taking Communion - and not just at times when one has certain bodily functions happening, but also if one is not spiritually in the right state. We have a lot of preparation before Communion - reading of certain canons and akathists, fasting etc, and take it very seriously (at least I hope I do, but I am probably a great sinner in this respect - nor do I wish to suggest that you don't take it seriously either Bluetoria, as I am sure you do!)

I would imagine with the Tsarevich, since it was internal bleeding mostly, it wouldn't have been a problem. Maybe if he had Communion whilst bleeding externally, they would have probably disposed of the bandages or whatever else, in an appropriate manner.

[bluetoria]

I'm sorry Georgiy but it's just beyond me!
I totally appreciate being spiritually in the right state...but physically  :-/ ??
Forgive me, it seems to me to be a rule made by a male-dominated hierarchy with a fear of women.
Sorry, that's insulting to your faith isn't it? I respect your views & your Church's views - I just can't agree with them.
(I remember having this conversation witha man in hospital who was a Copt Christian from Egypt who was adamant that women could not be Eucharistic Ministers because of this & it seemed such a sad thing that he would not accept the Sacrament because of whose hands it passed through.
'Would you refuse to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem,' I thought, 'because he was riding on a manky donkey!!')

Sorry Georgiy...I, lacking Orthodox humility, will have to bow out of this   (You know I always respect you anyway, don't you   )

[ferngully]

religion always patronises women because of their periods. in judaism, we have a mikveh whcih women bathe in to wash in so the husband won't get 'contaminated'. in other religions they do the same sort of thing
selina                xxxxxxxxxxxx

[clockworkgirl21]

Just a stupid question, but I'm curious. If OTMA had been old enough to have periods when their brother was born, would they have been allowed to attend Aleksey's christening? Also, I know girls had their periods later in those days. Can someone told me how old OTMA was when they had theirs? Just curious. )?

[Forum Admin]

This question is not appropriate and I will ask that it not be discussed.