My Russian Family

by Lilia Sariecheva

  What had earlier been a Beautiful Prince ruling a city near the Beautiful Sea, transformed over time to a Black Prince ruling a city near the Black Sea!

  A side point, the name Chernoff that is now quite common originally implied someone who belonged to a Chernei family, probably a slave but certainly not a family member.

  The Chernei family thus claims a long history in Russia. The princedoms were somewhat independent until the fifteenth century when they united under the Moscow princedom. During the 12th century, some of the smaller princedoms were isolated and a relatively easy target for the Mongol equestrians. The Golden Horde’s destruction of the beautiful city of Chernigov was close to 100 percent because Chernigov resisted the invaders. The prince and his family, all the people who could not escape, and all the animals— even the dogs—were killed. This 1239 attack eliminated the Chernei family line completely according to a recent Russian book.

  The city of Chernigov was rebuilt without the Chernei family. Today it can be found in Northern Ukraine, a pleasant city of almost 300,000 citizens, nestled beside a river and close to dense birch forests. It is also known as Chernihiv and is the capital of Chernihiv Province.

  However, all cities tried to save at least some of their prince’s family and somehow the Chernei line survived. Even today one occasionally finds a person named Chernei. They retained their line and their title even though they lost all their wealth to the Mongols. Evidently they migrated far to the north. Some 500 to 600 years ago, another Prince Chernei came into great disfavor with the Grand Duke, Ivan the Terrible during a war with Lithuania. The unforgiving ruler killed the prince and all the other Chernei male members and the name Chernei was almost obliterated from official records. Out of this history came my maternal grandfather who was born about 1878 into a non-wealthy family.

  He was a prince by birthright. His future promised to be all right, but nothing always goes smoothly in anyone’s life. At three years of age the only child became an orphan when his parents died one after the other during an epidemic. Epidemics of various diseases were common during those years and death from them was accepted as a part of life. A wealthy and powerful relative adopted the little blue-eyed boy with the light brown hair. This man was highly placed in the Russian Orthodox Church hierarchy. His wife had long dreamed of having her own child but God did not provide for her, so this couple was pleased to have this boy as a son. He was a ray of light for this aging religious couple. Thus, the boy became the heir apparent of two fortunes, his title from his biological parents and his wealth from his foster parents. Now, his future appeared outstanding.

  It should be noted that his birth name of Chernei was possibly changed upon his formal adoption by his new parents. His birth name is unknown, as is his middle name. It is also possible that he proudly kept the name Chernei to his death. Similarly, Lena is short for a longer unknown first name, probably Magdalena, Melina, or Evangelena. There are not too many possibilities. Lena’s middle and last names are also unknown to me.

  Ivan enjoyed a happy childhood as his new parents continuously expressed their deep love for him. At a young age, his father provided a small horse to endow some masculinity and partially offset the overabundance of maternal love. He assumed the duties of the horse’s care and, like all small kids and good horses, there was a great deal of empathy between them. They learned much from each other: respect, dependence, communication, instinct, duty, honor, and friendship. An old retainer taught him to feed the horse a piece of bread with an open hand. The large lips of the horse’s mouth left a soft feel in his palm like a thank you kiss. The horse’s lessons stayed with Ivan forever.

  Ivan led an exemplary life. He was very religious, thanks to his parents. He offered prayers at dawn, before meals, and before bed. Adherence to the Russian Orthodox Church’s tenets involved fasting, divine service before confessions, and Communion. He maintained his devotion and obedience to the church his entire life. Even the small country churches in those days were filled with golden icons, candles, silver, flowers, linens, and brocade.

  Ivan received a first class education, chose a military career, avoided the ubiquitous gambling, and became an outstanding officer. His mother was not pleased with the career choice and she shed many tears, but his father supported him, realizing that Ivan was following the biological destiny of his birthright. Ivan led a high life with fashionable friends and was successful in all of his endeavors. He lived within a block of expensive apartments in St. Petersburg that was typical for nobility at the start of the twentieth century. His parents took great pride in him. He was serious, responsible, and generally an admirable citizen.

  A Russian Orthodox Church.

  Typical nobility apartments, unchanged since 1900.

  Ivan enjoyed his bachelor existence and he had no plans to become married, although many families plotted to have the prince as a son-in-law. Then, one winter evening at a gala ball, a silken net trapped his romantic feelings. Lena, a 16-year-old beauty with platinum blond hair captivated Ivan. She became the queen of all his dreams. The prince even stopped looking at the other beauties and gave Lena all his attention. The naïve girl with the childlike face, gracefully curved body, and aura of sensuality drove Ivan crazy. Her eyes were particularly impressive to the prince. They were a rare shade of blue with just a touch of green, and very bright.

  Of course, Ivan was aware that he was not a young man anymore. He was approaching 40 and he realized that this romantic teenager might never find an old mushroom like him physically magnetic. Although he certainly didn’t want sympathy or pity, perhaps an emotional attraction, a tender affection would be possible. Sometimes Ivan would ponder, “I was born too early or she was born too late.” The prince intuitively understood that Lena was pleased that he was paying her his respect and attention, so apparently the age difference was unimportant to her. “I am handsome enough and even look younger than I actually am, but will that be enough for her?”

  The colonel had not thought to fall in love. It required some new strategy, which was actually standard operating procedure for that time. First, he needed a mutual friend to introduce him to her parents. Second, he needed an invitation to all the balls that Lena would attend. Third, he needed frequent invitations to her parents’ home. This could be more difficult since it signified their acceptance of him as a suitor. All of it was possible, but not without pulling in old favors and owing new favors to several friends.

  People usually think that they know themselves but most assuredly they do not, especially when they are in love! Most people think that they are the exception to the rule. Naturally, Colonel Ivan Chernei thought of himself as an exception.

  Ivan lived his life within a military circle of fighting men with social graces. They respected each other as men ready to give their lives for their Mother Russia. This lifestyle included rigorous army training, spit and polish military parades in spectacular uniforms, and social season gala balls. Prostitution was legal, card games, gambling and drinking were widespread, and a wealthy man had many diversions which could occupy his time.

  Tsar Nicholas II and his beautiful wife Alexandra were part of the St. Petersburg social circuit and it is possible that they were acquainted with Colonel Ivan Chernei. Nicholas II was dedicated to the dogma of autocracy and he had a simple view of his sovereign role: his authority came from God, and to God alone was he responsible. It was his sacred duty to preserve his absolute power.

  This was the world of Prince Chernei and the very young Lena. It placed great emphasis on a privileged lifestyle, great wealth, and ambition, and it avoided the savage reality of life for Russian workers and peasants.

  The history of a country is the result of its citizens conceiving, nurturing, and giving birth to their feelings and ideas. Feelings convert to innumerable small decisions which translate into actions. Each act of a person is as a grain of sand and these actions lead to interactions and become the immense desert of infinite grains of sand that we call history.r />
  The lives of the noble prince and the naïve child were typical of thousands of Russians at that time. My grandparent’s time on stage was just a short line on one page of the giant book of destiny. But I feel compelled to tell their story because I believe that without this short line, the interwoven tangle of Russian history would be incomplete.

  13. The Kidnapping

  I was pondering on just how to write about my mom’s parents and capture the spirit of their lives, when a letter arrived from my dad. Among other things, he wrote about this collection of family stories, which he knew I was organizing. He admonished me not to forget about my maternal grandmother’s kidnapping by her future spouse.

  Actually, I had not forgotten, it was simply that I refused to include such a shameful act in the family history. I was too embarrassed to write about the kidnapping. Nevertheless, to be completely honest, this treacherous act had always intrigued me. Why did grandfather do it? What motive did he have for doing such a foolish thing? Indeed, no woman would have said no to a marriage proposal from him!

  My mother recalls that her parents were always full of tender, loving emotions, and were romantic toward each other throughout their long marriage. I came to understand why. When Prince Ivan kidnapped Lena, he brought her to his parent’s home. The frightened and traumatized young girl could neither speak nor even remember what had happened.

  The abduction occurred in the middle of a long dark winter night when the prince and a friend entered Lena’s bedroom through the balcony in her parent’s home. She struggled and tried to scream. Possibly, a bribed servant had unlocked the balcony door and stifled any immediate physical response to the invasion. The men kept a hand on her mouth and wrapped her in a blanket to immobilize her. Onto the prince’s shoulder and out she went. A waiting troika, a carriage drawn by three horses abreast, was her transportation through the crisp winter night, a bearskin rug her protection against the bitter cold.

  Their destination was the home of Ivan’s parents. The colonel gave just a short explanation as he left the girl with the astonished couple and immediately departed for his own place. The incident deeply shocked Ivan’s religious parents. They spent a distressing night worrying about what they should do to help resolve this scandal.

  At first light the next morning, Ivan’s father had his chauffer drive him to Lena’s parents with an explanation, an apology, and with gifts to compensate for his son’s disgraceful act.

  The visit was short.

  When the old gentleman returned home, he announced to his wife that Lena was to stay with them until the wedding. Their son could see Lena only twice a month and in their presence. As far as Lena’s parents were concerned, they would forgive their future son-in-law only after the church wedding. At that time they would both give their blessings to the newlyweds. The preparations for the elaborate wedding commenced in the spring of 1914.

  Lena discovered that her future parents-in-law were wonderful people. They were extremely nice and kind to her. Further, Lena was thinking that their son was a very brave man, considering that he had ignored the fact that his family, friends, and society would undoubtedly condemn his action. Sometimes the girl thought that Ivan had compromised her, but then she would smile to herself and feel a sense of pride. She was never ashamed of the incident as society demanded. Deep in her heart she was proud of it.

  Not one of her girlfriends visited her before the wedding. Not even a phone call from them. Their parents avoided involvement in Lena’s scandal by isolating their daughters from her, but this did not really bother Lena as she came to realize how much Ivan loved her and she, in turn, became consumed with love for him.

  A man had risked everything for her in the name of love. Hallelujah!

  14. White Birches

  As a rule, women consider their wedding and the birth of their children to be the happiest and most memorable events in their lives. The most important thing to them is the fate of their children. Lena was not an exception to this rule.

  The preparations of her wedding were in full swing. Their future house required extensive renovations including new fabric on the furniture, silk panels for the walls, new drapes, and other expensive decorations. A wondrous new carriage was under construction. Experts were fashioning specially ordered jewelry. The list of preparations for the groom to complete was almost endless.

  Lena had a shorter list of responsibilities that included only her dowry. Everything was required in sets of 12, sheets, blankets, tablecloths, nightgowns and nightcaps, and so forth. She checked her numerous new dresses and the accessories for each one and feasted her eyes upon her beautiful new china, silverware, and crystal many times each day. She caressed snowy sheets and pillowcases with intricate embroidery and examined specially designed napkins and lace tablecloths. When Lena was alone in her spacious and ornate bedroom, she tried on her light, gauzy wedding veil in front of the mirror and felt gorgeous.

  Lena loved furs. The look, the texture, and the feel of them on her bare skin could send shivers down her spine. She knew that the finer and more exotic furs were a symbol of affluence and status in ancient societies of China, Greece, and Rome. Sable and ermine were her favorites. They both had the dense undercoat that provided warmth and the longer hairs that shed the rain and snow. A winter in this cold country without fur was unthinkable. Every northern fairy princess wrapped herself in furs.

  She pictured herself in a magnificent cathedral with many guests and a priest pronouncing her the wife of Prince Ivan. “A wife? Oh, my goodness!” The girl knew nothing about how to be a wife and the responsibilities it entailed. The typical mother’s advice of that time was simple and to the point. “Do what your husband wants; always obey and respect him!”

  The optimum time for Russian weddings was late September or early October, although November and December were acceptable. The logic behind this was complicated but among the reasons for not having it in other months was to avoid the long drawn-out religious fasts that prohibited meat and alcoholic drinks.

  The wedding of Ivan and Lena had to be in autumn at the start of St. Petersburg’s social season. Their wedding invitations were sent and everybody was eager to attend the church wedding and to participate in the joyous celebration.

  Typically for military officers of that time, a noble who was financially independent would resign his military commission when he married and years later, if desired, he could reactivate his military career. The newly joined lovebirds would journey to Europe for the honeymoon. Many destinations were possible-the world was their oyster. The honeymoon might last several months or several years.

  However, other events interceded and the wedding did not happen! World War I started the summer of 1914 and Ivan and his troops departed almost immediately for the front. During the horror of trench warfare, machine guns, and mustard gas the following year, Ivan’s military command repeatedly joined the Germans in battle at the front lines. Ivan’s rewards were medals, a promotion from Colonel to Major General, and a short leave. He arrived at his parents’ home and immediately finalized a shortened version of their wedding plans.

  Their joyous union was unforgettable. The postponement seemed to heighten everyone’s emotions. The reality of the war presented a fatalistic sense of “enjoy life while you can” and this unique dimension added spice to the cooking pot. Years later, Lena frequently remembered, “Oh, yes! It was a most romantic wedding.” A hot, passionate love had seized Lena and she became as obsessed with her brave husband as he was with her. This mutual love never left them.

  Wedding portrait of Lena.

  Lena always remembered the small details of their love. Her heart ached when she recalled the Russian October Socialists Revolution in 1917, when most of Ivan’s relatives and acquaintances made the extremely difficult decision to leave Russia. In spite of this, Ivan’s inflexible decision was to stay in Russia with his people. Ivan loved Russia more than life itself!

  He did not want to support the White Army, as he
understood that simple people suffered under the tsar. On the other hand, this aristocrat did not understand why the people of his own country had agreed to lose the war against the Germans. He could not and would not comprehend why Russian soldiers turned their rifles against their military leaders, against their political leaders, against their government.

  Well, Ivan was not a politician. He was a soldier and a patriot, ready to give his life protecting Russia from an external enemy, but the revolution perplexed him. It is most probable that Ivan fought with the white forces. However, little is known of his actions during this period.

  Ivan did survive the bloody mess, although most of his property was confiscated. He and his wife retired to his country estate southeast of St. Petersburg in Novgorod Oblast (district). Within this large oblast are a number of smaller provinces which include a province capital called Malaya Vishera, which is likely where Ivan’s adopted parents occasionally lived, as their estate was less than a day’s journey south.

  The former Chernei Estate that Ivan inherited from the wealthy churchman who adopted him involved a huge area in Novgorod Province. Most of the local peasants had lived in the area for many generations and only a few owned small amounts of land. Their homes were usually situated together in small villages although some lived off by themselves. After the revolution, they were given free gifts of varying amounts of land (all small hectare lots from the Chernei Estate) which they utilized as best they could. These peasants had no money and no tractors or farming equipment, although a few had a horse or two.

  Ivan evaluated this situation upon his return. He had tractors and farming equipment, metal plows, disks, harrows, planters, and harvesters which he loaned out to the peasants in return for labor and food. This was at a time when most Russian peasants still used wooden plows plus sickle and scythe for harvesting, which translates to low yields.