Ella on Ernie's Alleged Homosexuality

[Eric_Lowe]

Ella let her intuition and spirtuality guide her to the true faith (for her). Her nunnary became one of the pillers of her life. 

[Romanov_fan]

It did, but it is hard to imagine what else she would have based her life on. It was so much her. She was perhaps the best of the Romanovs, if not the most interesting for me, because of her approach to life and people, her forgiveness, and her faith. I admire her, perhaps more than I am intrigued by her. She was a person whose life deserved emulation, and still does.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes..Her understanding of Ernie, Ducky and Felix's situations made her to be a broadminded and someone with a very forgiving nature. Her hostility and condon on the murder of Rasputin was harder to understand. The only reason I can come up with is that Ella believed that he was the personification of the devil. 

[Romanov_fan]

I think Ella did sincerely believe that he was evil. She didn't see nor condone the very human reasons why Alexandra had him around. It didn't make sense to her, and she told her sister so, thus their ultimate estrangement. She also thought that he did the reputation of the dynasty harm. She was all too accurrate.

[Taren]

Yes..Her understanding of Ernie, Ducky and Felix's situations made her to be a broadminded and someone with a very forgiving nature. Her hostility and condon on the murder of Rasputin was harder to understand. The only reason I can come up with is that Ella believed that he was the personification of the devil. 

She likely saw the harm he was doing to the monarchy as well. Remember, she wasn't just a nun, but a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and someone who had been born, raised, and married into royalty. Perhaps, seeing how the public opinion was against the IF at the time for having anything to do with him, she thought that what was done to Serge could have been done to Nicholas and Alexandra. Sadly, Rasputin's murder didn't prevent the fall of the IF or her own murder.

[Romanov_fan]

No, it did not. It only led to her estrangement from her sister. She was very politically aware, you are right. She was more savvy in that direction than her sister Alexandra ever was. She did not want murder, but she did believe Rasputin should be removed, as many did.  Perhaps,Ella did not see the reasons why Alexandra kept Rasputin around, despite her understanding nature. But more likely, she did not think those reasons were enough to keep him around due to the rumours, and what Rasputin was like.

[Eric_Lowe]

Ella was only following the church's teaching. The Orthodox church was dismayed by the antics of Rasputin. The fact that the monk began to involved himself in politics spell the doom of the dynasty. It was quite different for Ella to see this as oppose to the antics of Serge & Ernie and Felix. Ella tried to open Alicky's eyes, but the younger sister refuse to listen. 

[Romanov_fan]

Well, yes, I am sure the Orthodox church scarcely approved of him. He wasn't formally linked to them at all, although many people seemed to think so.I think it was dangerous to involve himself in politics, and worse, Alexandra to let him. That might well have been her greatest mistake. I think for Ella, the murder of Rasputin was a lesser evil than his continued bad influence and debauchery.

[Eric_Lowe]

I think Ella felt he was the personification of evil, so that is why she was glad when he was removed. 

[Taren]

Maybe someone could start a thread about Ella and Rasputin -if there isn't one already. There seems to be quite a bit to discuss on the subject.

I suppose my initial question was answered. Ella, despite strong religious convictions that would drive lesser people to harsh judgement and cruelty toward others, showed great love to those swhose sexual preference were contradictory to her beliefs. Basically, unlike her sister, she wasn't judgemental and didn't bury her head in the sand.

[Romanov_fan]

True, that is all very true. These threads sometimes continue past their life span. I think about Ella and Rasputin, if you look, there is no doubt a thread somewhere. Ella was indeed politically realistic, as well as religious. It was these two things that led to her be so much against Rasputin. She was a dose of common sense much needed, when she told her sister about Rasputin. But, of course, her sister didn't listen. But if I had been Ella, I am not sure if I would have thought Alexandra would listen.

[Eric_Lowe]

It is my belief that Ella thought that he came from the Devil (the magic from the eyes, the strange behavior and even the strange circumstance of his death show that he is not like any mortal...). It would explain why she was glad of his demise. It would be hard to think that Ella would approver of murder. However if it was an act of removing some evil supernatural "thing" and not a human being, then it would make sense. 

[Romanov_fan]

That is an interesting viewpoint, and perhaps true. Certainly, to Ella's way of looking at the world, I can see why it might be so. Some did believe that Rasputin was from the devil; perhaps she was one of them. They were quite sincere in this belief as well, it was not held for any reason other than sincerity. Ella might indeed not be as disturbed by murder on these grounds.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed ! Ella had hoped that once the "evil" was removed, Alicky might be force to open her eyes to the truth. 

[Romanov_fan]

Alexandra was much too dependent on Rasputin, and the benefits he gave her in the way of saving her son to ever decide that she didn't need him. Ella tried to tell her sister the truth, but Alexandra denied it, or didn't believe it. She was  never going to see his true evil, at least not enough not to appreciate the benefits she got from him. Apparently, Ella at one time thought otherwise.