New martyr
New Martyrs Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Novice Barbara
Holy New Martyrs Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Novice Barbara
New Calendar July 18 Old Calendar July 31
Why they are a saint
Holy New Martyrs Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Novice Barbara are commemorated by the Orthodox Church on July 18. Venerated as new martyrs who gave their life for Christ in more recent centuries; little else about their lives has come down to us.
Limited historical information is available about this saint.
Life
Saint Elizabeth was the older sister of Tsarina Alexandra and the wife of Grand Duke Sergius, governor of Moscow. Of her own free will she converted to Orthodoxy from Protestantism, and she organized women of every class to help soldiers at the front and in the hospitals.
When her husband was killed by an assassin's bomb on February 4, 1905, she visited his killer in prison and urged him to repent. She then withdrew from her former social life, moved out of the palace, and devoted herself to the Convent of Saints Martha and Mary, a community of nuns given to the worship of God and help for the poor. She also nursed sick and wounded soldiers in hospitals and at the front.
At Pascha 1918 the Communists ordered her to leave Moscow; she went with a novice, Sister Barbara. On July 5 (Old Style), near Alapayevsk, they and other prisoners were thrown down a mineshaft and grenades were thrown after them. Elizabeth lived for several hours and could be heard singing hymns. In 1920 the bodies of Elizabeth and Barbara were taken to Jerusalem and buried in the church of Saint Mary Magdalene.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take New Martyrs Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Novice Barbara as a patron when they bear the name New at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on July 18. As a martyr, she is also asked for courage and faithfulness under trial.
Prayer
O holy New Martyrs Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Novice Barbara, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.