Beasts in Cassocks: The Crimes of the Heads of the Russian Greek Catholic Orthodox Church in America/Chapter 20
CHAPTER XX.
I Meet The Czar
On August 16, 1915, I was commandeered to the Reserve Officers' Corps in Moscow, and attached to the Second Grenadiers' Regiment of His Imperial Highness, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrowitch. I was appointed Captain of the Sixth Company. A week later I was sent to the Nortwest Front. After three months I was wounded and taken to the hospital in Wilno. While there I wrote twice to Platon in Kishiniev, requesting him to return my money. I received no answer. After having recuperated from my wound, I was again sent to the front. After a short period I was ordered by the Corps Commander to go to General Headquarters in the city of Moghilev, under the command of General Alexyev. On May 17, 1916, I was appointed Adjutant at the High Commander in Chief's quarters, where I succeeded in obtaining an audience with His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Nicholas Alexandrowitch, to whom I presented my complaint against Platon, recently appointed Exarch of Georgia, in the Caucasus. The Emperor said to me'
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Nicholas II—Last Czar of Russia.
"I'm sorry, I can't see him immediately. According to rumors that have been reaching me since 1905 he is a very degraded person, indeed. Yes," he added: "All this is true, and Peter Arkadyevitch (Stolypin) was right. The edifice is large, its pillars are strong, but it will not stand the strain and must collapse. Evidently, German espionage is in full swing." There were present at this conversation, which lasted a whole hour, Constantine, the Archbishop of Moghilev, and the Generals, Alexeyev, Scherbachev and Nicholas Nicholayevitch Duchonin. When I was about to take my leave, His Majesty addressed these parting words to me:
"Do not worry, my son. … Everything will be done to
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The First Revolution
cleanse the Orthodox Russian Church from its foulness." I thanked the Emperor and departed. Two days later, I was again summoned to the Czar, quite unexpectedly, by General Duchonin. During this second brief audience of mine with the Emperor, General Duchonin said to me: "Try to see Platon personally, don't pay much atttention to the money question, but instead try to sound him on his political views." I was given leave of absence and went to Platon, the Exarch of Georgia, in the City of Tiflis, and carried out this secret mission in detail.