22 December 1917. Alexandra Feodorovna → Anna Vyrubova

Tobolsk, Russian Republic

This is the feast day of the Virgin of Unexpected Joy. I always read the day's service, and I know that you, dear, do the same. It is the anniversary of our last journey together, to Saratoff. Do you remember how lovely it was? The old holy woman is dead now, but I keep her ikon always near me. Yesterday it was nine months since we were taken into captivity and more than four months since we came here. Which of the English nurses was it who wrote to me?

I am surprised to hear that Nini Voyeikoff and her family did not receive the ikons I sent them before leaving. Give kind regards to your faithful old servant and Nastia. This year I cannot give them anything for their Christmas tree. How sad. My dear, you are splendid. Christ be with you. Give my thanks to Fathers John and Dosifei for their remembrance.

I am writing this morning in bed. Jimmy is sleeping nearly under my nose and interfering with my writing. Ortipo lies on my feet and keeps them warm. Fancy that the kind Kommissar Makaroff sent me my pictures two months ago, St. Simeon Nesteroffs, the little Annunciation from the bedroom, four small prints from my mauve room, five pastels of Kaulbach, four enlarged snapshots from Livadia; Tatania and me, Alexei as sentry, Alexander HI, Nicholas I, and also a small carpet from my bedroom. My wicker lounge chair, too, is standing in my bedroom now. Among the other cushions is the one filled with rose leaves given me by the Tartar women. It has been with me all the way. At the last moment of the night at Tsarskoe I took it with me, slept on it on the train and on the boat, and the lovely smell refreshed me. Have you had any news of Gaham (Chief of the Karaim)? Write to him and give him my regards. One of our former wounded, Sirobojarski, has visited him.

There are 22 degrees of frost today, but bright sunshine. Do you remember the sister of mercy K. M. Bitner? She is giving the children lessons. What luck! The days fly. It is Saturday again, and we shall have evening service at nine. A corner of the drawing room has been arranged with our ikons and lamps. It is homelike—but not church. I got so used to going almost daily for three years to the church of Znamenia before going on to the hospitals at Tsarskoe. I advise you to write to M. Gilliard. (Now I have refilled my fountain pen.) Would you like some macaroni and coffee? I hope soon to send you some. It is so difficult for me here to take the vegetables out of the soup without eating any of it. It is easy for me to fast and to do without fresh air but I sleep badly. Yet I hardly feel any of the ills of the flesh. My heart is better, as I live such a quiet life, almost without exercise. I have been very thin but it is less noticeable now, although my gowns are like sacks. I am quite gray too. The spirits of the whole family are good. God is very near us, we feel His support, and are often amazed that we can endure events and separations which once might have killed us. Although we suffer horribly still there is peace in our souls. I suffer most for Russia, and I suffer for you too, but I know that ultimately all will be for the best. Only I don't understand anything any longer. Everyone seems to have gone mad. I think of you daily and love you dearly. You are splendid and I know how wonderfully you have grown. Do you remember the picture by Nesteroffs, Christ's Bride? Does the convent still attract you in spite of your new friend? God will direct everything. I want to believe that I shall see your buildings (my hospital) in the style of a convent. Where are the sisters of mercy Mary and Tatiana? What has become of Princess Chakoffskaia, and has she married her friend? Old Madame Orloff has written me that her grandson John was killed in the War and that his fiancee killed herself from grief. Now they are buried beside his father. My regards to my dear Lancers, to Jakoleff, Father John, and others. Pray for them all. I am sure that God will have mercy on our Russia. Has she not atoned for her awful sins?My love, burn my letters. It is better. I have kept nothing of the dear past. We all kiss you tenderly and bless you. God is great and will not forsake those encircled by His love. Dear child, I shall be thinking of you especially during Christmas. I hope that we will meet again, but where and how is in His hands. We must leave it all to Him who knows all better than

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Alexander Zamaraev

Totma, Vologodskaya guberniya, Russian Republic

There's overall chaos in the country. Troops are fighting each other. Many people refuse to acknowledge these authorities. The Constituent Assembly had still not begun their session. Bolsheviks are not letting anyone achieve freedom. The Englishmen have taken Jerusalem - the relic of the Christian world - from the Turks.

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Sophie Buxhoeveden

Siberian railway

The journey to Tumen, from where we would travel on to Tobolsk, ought, we thought, to have taken four days. From there we needed to travel two hundred kilometres to Tobolsk. However, we were bitterly disappointed. See more

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Yuri Gotye

Moscow, Russian Republic

Today preventative censorship for newspapers was introduced in Moscow, along with martial law and revolution tribunals. The majority of people with whom it was necessary to speak today are of the opinion that this is either a sign of the government's weakness or evidences an even greater acceleration of the drag to the right. See more

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Vladimir Lenin

Petrograd, Russian Republic

Please bring no less than 100 absolutely loyal members of the party to room №75 (III floor) - the Anti-Pogrom Committee. (To serve as commissars.) It is extremely important. The party is responsible. Please approach local districts and factories.

Chairman of the Committee of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

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1, Poshingerstrasse, Munich, German Empire

I'm finishing this bookThomas Mann, "Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man" on the day when peace talks started between Germany and Russia. If nothing stops them, then my wish that I've been carrying in my heart since the very beginning of the war, will come true. A peace with Russia! See more

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Mathilde Kschessinska

9 Vokzalny lane, Kislovodsk, Russian Republic

As soon as we decided to remain in Kislovodsk, Vova entered the local grammar school, an excellent establishment with first-class teachers, where he finished his secondary education. He made many friends there, "all as troublesome as himself!" according to Ivan, who was indignant at seeing Vova return home, his suit and overcoat torn, still breathless from running and playing in the park.

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Grand Duchess Tatiana Anna Vyrubova

Tobolsk, Russian Republic

My darling: I often think and pray for you, and we are always remembering and speaking of you. It is hard that we cannot see each other, but God will surely help us, and we will meet again in better times. We wear the frocks your kind friends sent us, and your little gifts are always with us, reminding us of you. We live quietly and peacefully. The days pass quickly. See more

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21 December