Comments on: An Orthodox Student Who Defied Hitler and Was Glorified by the Church

By: Anastasia Parkhomchik

Anastasia Parkhomchik — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 09:09:02 +0000

In reply to Lygia Grigoris. Dear Lygia, many thanks! Unfortunately, we lack the resources to distribute this article to America's parishes. But you can share it yourself giving credit to our blog.

By: Anastasia Parkhomchik

Anastasia Parkhomchik — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:20:18 +0000

In reply to Denis Lipman. Thank you for the feedback and your interesting perception!

By: Anastasia Parkhomchik

Anastasia Parkhomchik — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:56:38 +0000

In reply to Julia.

Yes, what was said in the book is true. But Alexander took an oath after all, as he himself said during one of the interrogations in 1943: «… I took the oath to the Fuhrer. I openly admit that even then something internally disgusted me, but I explained this to myself by the unusualness of military life and hoped later to acquire a different mood. Undoubtedly, I was deceived in this hope of mine, because in the shortest possible time I came into conflict with my conscience, thinking that I wear the uniform of a German soldier while I sympathize with Russia.»
And thank you for the clarification about the type of execution.

By: Denis Lipman

Denis Lipman — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 13:00:46 +0000

A heartbreaking story, I had no idea of these young people, their courage and tenacity remains a inspiration for anyone at any age at any time, who values freedom and is willing to stand up to tyranny. I was especially moved by the picture of the girl with the flower, I could see the resolve and courage in her face along with the realization, as if she knew how things would end for her but not for the cause of liberty.

By: Lygia Grigoris

Lygia Grigoris — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 11:17:47 +0000

Thank you for bringing the life and contributions of this courageous young Christian to light for those who, like me, were previously unaware of him.
Orthodox Christian youth should be made aware if him. Please forward this to all churches in America so his story may be duscussed in their youth groups. Feel free to contact me and I will help. I’m very organized and feel this is important enough for a grass-roots effort to save our floundering Orthodox youth. I can be reached at lygiagrigoris@comcast.net.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 19:37:27 +0000

In the book on his life, “Alexander Schmorell, Saint of the German Resistance” by Elena Perekrestov, no mention is made that he ever swore allegiance to Hitler. It states: “But when he was forced to swear the obligatory oath of loyalty to Hitler, his conscience was so perturbed at the thought of wearing a German uniform while holding sympathies with his native Russia that he informed his superiors of this conflict of loyalties and asked to be discharged from the army. His request was turned down, but, strangely, he suffered no consequences (although his father was called in for a conference).”

Also, he was not hanged but guillotined: “With dignity he walked across the prison courtyard to a small barrack containing the guillotine that had claimed his friends’ lives and was about to claim his. Firmly and loudly resounded his ‘Yes’ in the gloomy death chamber when the prosecutor on duty asked him whether he was Alexander Schmorell. Seconds later, he passed over into that ‘new life, the glorious and everlasting life’ which he so fervently spoke of in his letters…”