by Ioannesfrobenius, froebelgalleries, ©2025
(Jun. 20, 2025) — The two-hour drive to the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Monastery in Jordanville, Herkimer County, New York, from Hudson (Columbia County), NY was exceedingly rainy. Luckily, the group of four planning to decorate the grave of alias Evgenia Smetisko, alias HIH Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanov, Grand Duchess of Russia were equipped with umbrellas. Upon reaching the monastery, all noticed that the roadway was dry. Here it was NOT raining and the group’s efforts to prepare the grave for summer would be much easier!
A refreshing breeze and moderate temperatures facilitated the joyous work as all pitched in to tidy the grave of the woman who has called this her earthly resting place since 1997. The grave marker lists her date of birth NOT of that on the immigration papers of “Evgenia Smetisko,” rather 18 June 1901, the date of birth of Her Imperial Highness, Anastasia Romanov which the monastery chose to mark her earthly remains. Of course, according to sources in Newport, Rhode Island who knew her until her death, it was very important to her that people believe that she was truly Anastasia Romanov, who she claimed to be.
The tradition of decorating the grave for each season has continued faithfully for about 20 years with most of the wreaths still in storage as mementos of each year’s efforts. Orthodox panikhidas (prayers for the deceased), an Anglican prayer service, a Spanish language Rosary, etc. have been held at the grave. One year, while arriving with a Mexican friend, Consuelo Lopez Serrano, who had always believed that Evgenia’s imperial claim was true, visitors were greeted by a huge huazontles bush, an edible plant from Mexico reserved exclusively for Mayan nobility in the pre-Conquista era, proudly emerged from the center of the grave. Consuelo had been searching for this delicacy for an entire year before this event. They are a buttery delight, breaded with egg batter and served with hot sauce, which had proven inaccessible in all the Latino markets up and down the New York State Hudson River Valley.
Read the rest here.
See more from the visit below (photos courtesy of Garrett Roche).
