KOLYA DEREVENKO’S STORY

KOLYA DEREVENKO’S  STORY
Alexei Romanov and his best friend Kolya Derevenko

I was a little boy, just twelve years old. I did not know of the evil in people’s souls. We were living at the Popov house near the Ipatiev house. In the middle of the summer of 1918, I was afraid and worried for Alexei. I wanted to see him and at the same time I am sure he wanted to see me too. Until that sad day of July 17, 1918, my father, Gilliard, Gibbes, and others knew everything, but I knew nothing. Something terrible was going to happen, but I didn’t know what it was… In the last week of July 1918, myself, my father, Gilliard, Gibbes, and others entered the Ipatiev house. There was a terrible scene… The house was in complete chaos; diaries, letters, albums, and other things were strewn all around in the house.. “But where is Ieskela*?” I asked my father, but he stayed silent. Ieskela’s diary was found by a White guard, I think his name was Nemetkin, I am not sure. But Leonid Sednev… I saw him. He cried. His cries were so loud… so loud!

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THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST PRAYER SERVICE AT THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE.

THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST PRAYER SERVICE AT THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE
Testimony of Father [Protoirei] Ioann Storozhev (as given to investigator Nikolai Sokolov)
Father [Protoirei] Ioann Storozhev, who performed the last prayer service to the Romanov family at “The House of Special Purpose”

 

Around 8 o’clock in the morning on 14 July, a soldier came to see me, and requested I serve obednitza at the Ipatiev house. At 10 o’clock, I was already at the Ipatiev house with deacon Buimirov. Inside, behind the fence, at the bottom of stairs and inside the house, there were lots of armed young men, standing on guard. When we entered the commandant’s room, we saw disorder, dust and mess. Yurovsky was sitting at the table, drinking tea and eating bread with butter. Another man was sleeping on the bed, fully dressed. Having entered the room, I said to Yurovsky: “The clergy was invited here, so here we are. What do we need to do?” Yurovsky directly stared at me without a greeting, and said “Wait here, then you will serve obednitza” I asked “Obednya or obednitza?” “He wrote obednitza”, said Yurovsky. Read more THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LAST PRAYER SERVICE AT THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE.

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ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: OLGA ROMANOV. 4-5 MAY, 1918

ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: OLGA ROMANOV. 4-5 MAY, 1918

The last known photograph of Olga Romanov, circa 1918.
The last known photograph of Olga Romanov, circa 1918.

1918 Letter from Olga Romanov to Ekaterinburg:

Read more ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: OLGA ROMANOV. 4-5 MAY, 1918

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ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: NICHOLAS II – 2 MAY, 1918

ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: NICHOLAS II – 2 MAY, 1918

Last known photograph of Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna before their deaths.
Last known photograph of Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna before their deaths. circa 1918. 

From the 1918 diary of Nicholas II:

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ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: NICHOLAS II – 1 MAY, 1918

ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: NICHOLAS II – 1 MAY, 1918

Nicholas II in captivity after the revolution
Nicholas II in captivity after the revolution

From the 1918 diary of Nicholas II:

Read more ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: NICHOLAS II – 1 MAY, 1918

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ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: ALEXANDRA ROMANOV – 18 APRIL, 1918

ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: ALEXANDRA ROMANOV – 18 APRIL, 1918

Alexandra Romanov
Alexandra Romanov

From a letter byAlexandra to Olga Romanov (Ekaterinburg to Tobolsk):

Read more ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: ALEXANDRA ROMANOV – 18 APRIL, 1918

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