She was called the most beautiful princess in Europe and they believed that only Elizabeth of Austria, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph, was equal to her in beauty.

Elizabeth Feodorovna, the elder sister of Alexandra Feodorovna, the future Russian empress, was the second child in the family of the Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt Ludovig IV and Princess Alice, daughter of Queen Victoria of England. Another daughter of this couple - Alice - later became the Empress of Russia Alexandra Feodorovna.

The children were brought up in the old traditions, their life was held according to a strict schedule. Clothing and food were the most basic. The older daughters did their own homework - they cleaned the rooms, beds, and heated the fireplace. Much later, Elizaveta Fyodorovna will say: "They taught me everything in the house."



At twenty, Princess Elizabeth became the bride of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, the fifth son of Emperor Alexander II. Prior to that, all applicants for her hand received a categorical refusal. They got married in the church of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, and, of course, the princess could not but be impressed by the majesty of the event. The beauty and antiquity of the wedding ceremony, the Russian church service, like an angelic touch, struck Elizabeth, and she could no longer forget this feeling all her life.

Elizabeth had a desire to get to know this mysterious country, its culture and faith. And her appearance began to change - from a coldish beauty, the Grand Duchess gradually turned into a spiritualized woman, all as if glowing with an inner light.



Ancient Moscow, its way of life, its old patriarchal way of life and its monasteries and churches charmed the Grand Duchess. Sergei Alexandrovich was a deeply religious person, observed fasting and church holidays, attended services, and went to monasteries. And the Grand Duchess was everywhere with him, standing up for all the services.

How different it looked like a Protestant church! How the princess's soul sang and rejoiced, what grace poured out in her soul when she saw Sergei Alexandrovich transformed after communion. She wanted to share with him this joy of finding grace, and she began to seriously study the Orthodox faith, read spiritual books.



And then Emperor Alexander III instructed Sergei Alexandrovich to be on Holy land... They attended the consecration of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, which was built in memory of their mother, Empress Maria Alexandrovna. The couple visited Nazareth, on Mount Tabor.

She stood at the majestic Church of St. Mary Magdalene, as a gift to which she brought precious utensils for divine services, the Gospel and the air. And here a wonderful feeling seized the princess, and she said: "I would like to be buried here." It was a sign from above!

At present, the relics of the Grand Duchess Elisabeth rest in the church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene at the foot of the Mount of Olives. The memory of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth and the nun Varvara is celebrated on July 18 and on the day of the Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.