He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:7-8
Grand Duchess Elizabeth (1918)
Devoted to Others
Born of royal blood (the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria), Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia laid aside a life of luxury and poured out herself – and her wealth – in caring for the poor and lowly, motivated by her faith in Christ. She said, “I want to work for God and in God for suffering mankind.” When the Revolution broke out in 1917, the Grand Duchess, as a member of the country’s aristocracy, was vulnerable but she turned down an offer from a Swedish Cabinet Minister to leave the country, preferring to stay and continue her humanitarian work.
She had totally devoted herself to serving others following the assassination of her husband, the Grand Duke Sergei in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. The Grand Duchess bought a house and a large piece of land in Moscow and established a community with several women from all classes of society devoted to tending the sick, helping the poor and taking care of the street children of Moscow. She also founded a rent-free hostel for young women workers and students, a hospice, a hospital, a clinic, a school for nurses and a soup kitchen. All her personal fortune was devoted to such good works.
Following the outbreak of revolution, the rebels regularly visited the community and tried to arrest the Grand Duchess a number of times. There were also threats to kill her but nothing happened. She was taken into captivity with other members of the Imperial Family in May 1918. On the night of 18 July, following the execution of Tsar Nicholas II, they were taken to a mine, blindfolded, and thrown alive into the shaft. Hand grenades were then thrown into the shaft, but after the explosions, the horrified murderers heard singing, the hymn “O Lord, Save Thy People”, coming from the shaft. They filled it with brush and set it ablaze, finally killing the Grand Duchess and the others. Her life and martyrdom were commemorated with a statue in Westminster Abbey in London in 1998.
He that is down needs fear no fall
He that is low, no pride:
He that is humble shall
Have God to be his Guide.
John Bunyan (1628-88)