European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Of the czars continued Row Page he houses of Britain Russia and Spain inthe 19th Century. It has been called the the Royal disease and the disease of the  Queen Victoria was a Carrier As were two of her five daughters. Their Daugh ters married into the Royal houses of Russia and Spain and their sons were born with  soon Learned that no doctor could heal her son so she decided to turn to god for the Miracle that Sci ence denied her. Eight years passed and the Haemorrhages continued. It was then that Gregory Rasputin a Blue eyed siberian peasant who report edly had miraculous Powers of Healing arrived on the scene. He told Alexandra god has seen your tears and hear your prayers. Do not Grieve. The Little one will not die. Do not allow the doctors to bother him too  under the hypnotic gaze of Rasputin who had the beastly Drunken unclean face of a Bald satyr Alexis Bassoon relieved of pain and the Hemor rages stopped. From that time Alex Andra was convinced that her son s life Lay in Rasputin s  became the Power behind the throne. He advised on affairs of state held the Royal family in a Thrall and concentrated his Powers on Alexandra and her hem Ophilie son. Nicholas and Alexandra through their infatuation with the dirty Monk finally became separated from the very peo ple they thought worshipped them. Ras Putin systematically destroyed the morale of the aristocracy and set the stage for the disaster of world War 1 and Russia s fight with Germany. To Alexandra Rasputin was a Manof god. If she could Trust him with the Dearest thing she possessed her son Why should she not Trust him with choosing ministers commanding the army or directing the life of the entire nation Rasputin says the author was one of the most extraordinary and enigmatic men to appear on Earth. He had prodigious physical strength. His presence projected enormous magnetism prime ministers princes Bish Opsand grand Dukes As Well As society women and peasant girls had Felt his powerful attraction and when the relationship soured had been As Power fully  by the end of 1916 the Monarch was tottering and the leaders of the Duma an embryonic parliament decided that they should Rule and Bluit if the dynasty were to be preserved lit should be brutally purged. Nicholas could not agree. He wanted to pass his autocratic Powers intact to Bis son and heir Alexis. This decision doomed not Only Ras Putin taut also the Imperial family. In december 1916 a group of Noble men headed by Prince Felix Russo upon lured Rasputin to a Tea party and Page 12 Royal portrait of Beautiful tormented Czariki Wandra. Served him cakes and beverages heavily laced with potassium cyanide. The More Poison he absorbed the happier Ras Putin became. In desperation Felix shot Rasputin in the Back. The Nobleman pronounced him dead. But within moment s Rasputin was on his feet fleeing through the courtyard. The noblemen pursued him firing bullets into his head and shoulders. When he fell for the last time the wrapped him with a curtain bound him with rope and stuck him through a Holbein the ice of the Frozen Neva River. Three Days later the body was found with the lungs filled with water. Ras Putin his bloodstream filled with Poi on his body punctured by bullets had died by drowning. I Nicholas left in 1909 with Cousin who later became George v. The stars and stripes a March 1017 the Imperial govern ment collapsed Petrograd now Lenin Grad fell and the revolution was triumphant. Nicholas abdicated. With his family he was taken prisoner by Bol Shevik secret  july 16 the former Imperial fam ily was visited in prison by a squad of executioners. Nicholas died with a bul let in his head. Alexandra had time tomake the sign of the Cross before she joined him. The children followed an then the maid. For the record author Massie say that despite claims to the contrary an Astasia the youngest of the four Daugh ters survived her family Only by seconds. As the killers moved in to assure the family was dead Anastasia who had Only fainted regained conscious Ness and screamed. With bayonets and Rifle Butts the entire band of executioners turned on her. In a moment she too Lay still. It was  photos reproduced by the publishers of Nicholas and Alexandra Darmstadt s russian Church was built on russian soil shares summer Skyline with five fingered wedding Tower. Princess Alix Ball in Carmst thursday by prepares for first a Duchess Elizabeth. 1968 a bit fold Russia in Germany Darmstadt s russian Church is one of the City s major historical attractions especially to visitors who wish to say they be trod on russian soil. The Church was a gift of Nicholas Romanov ii last Czar of Russia to his wife and Empress the former Princess Alexandra of Darmstadt Hesse. After their marriage in 1894 in Russia the Empress returned Many times to visit the scenes of her childhood the Palace in which she was bom the Park through which she used to ride her Pony and the Hunting Lodge at Kranic Stein where she strolled with her family and her great grandmother Queen Victoria of England. These visits prompted Nicholas to have a Church built for his wife in Russia and sent piece by piece to the former hessian capital embedded in carloads of rus Sian soil later used in the foundation. The Church in richly ornate byzantine style with Golden towers and priceless icons was Alexandra s private Chapel she embraced orthodoxy in 1894where she went to worship and to embroider the altar vesture which is still used today. Visitors to Darmstadt usually assume there is some relation ship Between the russian Church and the neighbouring Hochzeit Sturm or wedding Tower with its five fingers thrusting skywards. There is no connection. The wedding Tower was a gift of the town of Darmstadt in 1908 to hessian grand Duke Ernst Ludwig and grand Duchess Eleonore von Solms Hohe Solms Lich who were married in 1905. The Church is now the property of the russian Ortho Dox Church of West Germany and is visited by thousands every year. The Chapel is still furnished the Way it was in the Days of Alexandra. . Towers of russian Church Are Gold plated the stars and stripes Page 13