Here's a letter from Maria. I don't have a date for it, nor do I know who it was written to. I saw it in a Russian book some years ago and copied it out. The translation is mine, and I accept all responsibility for the poorness of it! If anyone else has any letters or correspondence of Maria's from captivity, feel free to post in this thread.
The four of us live in one room. in the mornings we keep ourselves busy studying history, language etc. We go for a walk twice a day in the yard and the tiny garden. We built a snow mountain in the yard and slide down it.
To pass the time, we practice little French and English plays which we perform on holidays. Previously we were allowed to go to Church on holidays, but it was later decided we could not go to Church except on major Feast Days. They let us have the vigil-service and Liturgy at home though. It takes place in the hall - it's comfortable enough and we organised it like a Church with icons, - but, it is not so nice as it is at Church. With sadness we remember the Feodorovsky Cathedral. Do you remember how we all prepared for Communion there in the grotto? That place always put me in such a marvellous mood. Now we don't know how we shall fast. Soon it will be Lent.
Time flies by with a horrible quickness. Soon it will be a year since we saw our friends. Well, it's nothing - God will grant us all to meet again.
Just now Mama and my sisters are singing. I'm not sure how it will work out - I haven't sung with the choir yet, but we often sing ourselves.
Some of the old injured soldiers (from the lazaret) write to us.
Today we have been rehearsing an English play. Tomorrow is Sunday and we shall perform it. I've played male roles sometimes - it's very easy now since I have short hair.
