13/26 August 1914

Papa has made a big decision: He’s changing the name of St Petersburg, which sounds German, to Petrograd. It means the same thing in Russian.

Everyone is very patriotic, and no one more than Papa. That’s why the telegram from Father Grigory made him so angry. Father Grigory, who is still recovering from the assassin’s attack, sent Papa a wire, which Anya delivered to him. I was there when Anya rushed into Mama’s boudoir. “Father Grigory urged Nicky not to go to war,” Anya cried. Then she said Papa was so angry, he tore the telegram into a dozen pieces.

Mama tried to calm Anya down until she could find out from Papa what was going on. Usually Papa and Mama agree with everything Father Grigory says, but not this time. Papa says Father Grigory has no business giving such advice and should stick to being a holy man.