Royal dates: 162nd anniversary of the birth of the Holy Martyr Elizabeth Feodorovnatranslated

The life of the Hesse-Darmstadt princess, who converted to Orthodoxy and founded the Martha and Mary Convent of Mercy in Moscow, became a model of true service to one’s neighbor. Having fallen in love with Russia with all her heart, the Grand Duchess devoted her entire life to the Russian people, constantly performing acts of mercy and charity.

The Holy Martyr Elizabeth Feodorovna was born on November 1, 1864 and was the second child in the family of the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt Ludwig IV and Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria of England. Another daughter of this couple, Alice, later became the Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

In her twentieth year, Princess Elizabeth became the bride of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the fifth son of Emperor Alexander II, brother of Emperor Alexander III. The whole family accompanied Princess Elizabeth to her wedding in Russia. Her twelve-year-old sister Alisa also came with her, who met her future husband here, Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich. The wedding took place in the Church of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The German princess, who from now on became Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna, intensively studied the Russian language, wanting...