Shirinskaya Anastasia Alexandrovna. Princess Anastasia, last stop

Today, after watching the film "Anastasia. Angel of the Russian Squadron"
on Channel One I learned about the fate of such a wonderful person as Anastasia Shirinskaya-Manstein.
A film about a man who has always loved Russia. I want to write a lot, but honestly I can’t, I can’t find words to describe the feelings that I experienced while watching this film. Since the film touches on everything dear to us that we sometimes don’t even think about... a film about the history of the Russian Fleet, a film about the amazing Russian woman Anastasia Shirinskaya-Manstein.

Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya-Manstein.
The film "Anastasia" is a unique story told by the last witness to the exodus of the Russian Imperial squadron from Crimea in 1920. Then her name was Asta. The daughter of Alexander Manstein, commander of the destroyer Zharkiy, retained in her memory the details of the tragedy of the civil war in southern Russia, when thousands of people were forced to leave their native shores. Having lived her whole life in the Tunisian city of Bizerte in northern Africa, she became a participant in the events of the last century, and remembers the fates of many people, whom she talks about with love and respect.
The main thing, in her opinion, is that Russian sailors and their families preserved the Russian language and Russian culture in a foreign land, built an Orthodox church with their own hands and passed this culture on to their children and grandchildren.
www.sootetsestvenniki.ru/

Life away from the homeland. Biography of A. Shirinskaya

Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya-Manstein was born on September 5 (August 23, old style) 1912, in the family of naval officer A.S. Manstein.

Anastasia Alexandrovna's mother, Zoya Nikolaevna Doronina, was born in St. Petersburg. After the evacuation from Crimea she lived in Bizerte. She died and was buried in France.

Anastasia Alexandrovna's father, Alexander Sergeevich Manstein, came from the family of General Christopher Hermann von Manstein. He graduated from the Naval Cadet Corps and served in the Baltic Fleet. In 1920, Senior Lieutenant Manstein was the commander destroyer"Zharkiy", which, together with other ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, left Crimea in November 1920, and then arrived in Bizerte. In Bizerte he was the commander of the battleship "George the Victorious", a member of the committee for the construction of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Alexander Nevsky. He was buried in Bizerte in 1964.

Some facts from the biography of A. Shirinskaya-Manstein:

On December 23, 1920, Anastasia, along with her mother and sisters Olga and Alexandra, arrived in Bizerte on the passenger transport "Grand Duke Constantine" with other sailor families. For several years she lived with her family on the battleship St. George the Victorious.

On October 29, 1924, the St. Andrew's flag was lowered on all ships of the Russian squadron in Bizerte. Anastasia witnessed this tragic event while on board the St. George the Victorious.

In 1929, Anastasia graduated high school Lyakor. Given her good exam results, she was accepted into the penultimate class of the Stephen Pichon College. Then she began giving private lessons.

In 1932, Anastasia went to Germany to continue her education. Graduated from the Higher Mathematics School. In 1934 she returned to Bizerte.

In 1935, Anastasia got married. Husband - Murtaza Murza Shirinsky, born in 1904 - a direct descendant of the ancient Tatar family of princes Shirinsky in Crimea. He was buried in 1982 in the Muslim cemetery in Bizerte.

In 1936, the Shirinskys had a son, Seryozha. He was married to a Tunisian woman, divorced. He lived with Anastasia Alexandrovna in a small house in Bizerte. He worked as a journalist, made films and acted in films himself. Now he continues to live in the same house.

In 1940, the Shirinskys had a daughter, Tamara. She was not married. Tamara is a French citizen. Lives in France.

In 1947, the Shirinskys had a daughter, Tatyana. She married and took French citizenship. Lives in Nice, takes care of the Russian Orthodox community. She has two sons, Georges (George) and Stefan (Stepan). Georges worked for the Hollywood director Spielberg, then drew cartoons at the Disney film studio. Now he works independently. Lives in Paris, his wife Barbara is French, they have two sons: George Alexander and Romeo Nicolas.
Stefan is an architect, lives in Nice, married to a French woman. Daughter Anna was born in December 2006 and became the favorite of Anastasia Alexandrovna’s large family.

In July 1990, Anastasia Alexandrovna and her daughter Tatyana visited for the first time Soviet Union(Moscow, St. Petersburg, Lisichansk, Rubezhnoye).

In 1992, Anastasia Alexandrovna again visited Russia with her grandson Georgy (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kronstadt).

On October 29, 1996, at 17:45, the St. Andrew's flag from the gunboat "Grozny", lowered in 1924, was raised again in Bizerte on the sailing ship "Peter the First". The solemn ceremony was attended by Anastasia Alexandrovna and Vera Robertovna von Viren-Garchinskaya, the daughter of the commander of “Grozny”.

On July 17, 1997, at the Russian Embassy in Tunisia, Anastasia Alexandrovna was solemnly presented with a Russian passport with the image of a double-headed eagle. The 70-year epic has ended: all these years she lived with a Nansen passport (a refugee passport issued in Europe in the 20-30s), which contained the inscription: “This passport is issued for all countries except Russia.”

December 1998. Anastasia Alexandrovna is finishing the manuscript of her book of memoirs on French and begins to work on its Russian version. The book entitled "LA DERNIERE ESCALE" was published in Tunisia in 2000 and republished under the title "BIZERTE. LA DERNIERE ESCALE" in October 2009. The book was published in Russian in 1999 under the title "Bizerta. The Last Station." The book was handed over to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In response, Putin sent the book "In the first person. Conversations with Vladimir Putin." with a dedicatory inscription. In November 1999, Anastasia Alexandrovna came to Moscow for the presentation of her book.

On December 21, 2009, at 6 o’clock in the morning, Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya-Manstein died in her home in Bizerte. The last witness to the tragic events of the Civil War in Crimea, a witness to the fate of many sailors and officers of the Russian Squadron, has passed away.

Anastasia Alexandrovna was buried on December 24, 2009 at the Christian cemetery in Bizerte, next to the grave of her father, Alexander Sergeevich Manstein. On one of the wreaths it is written: “From Russian sailors.” (N.S.)

2010 90th anniversary of the departure of the Russian squadron

1920 Civil War in Russia ended in the defeat of the White armies. The Red Army broke into Crimea and evacuation was ordered by General Wrangel, commander of the White Army in southern Russia. 130 ships, including ships of the Imperial Black Sea Squadron, passenger, icebreaker, cargo, tug and other ships, left Crimea. On board them, over the course of a few days in November 1920, almost 150,000 people were evacuated from Crimea to Constantinople: sailors, soldiers and officers of Wrangel’s army, students, officials, doctors, teachers, priests...

Most civilian refugees and military units remained in Turkey, Serbia and Bulgaria.

On December 1, 1920, the French Council of Ministers decides to send Russian warships to the port of Bizerte in Tunisia, which was at that time under a French protectorate. On December 8, 1920, the Russian squadron left Constantinople.

From a message from the headquarters of the Russian fleet: “Ships [left Constantinople for Bizerte] with 6,388 refugees, of whom 1,000 officers and cadets, 4,000 sailors, 13 priests, 90 doctors and paramedics and 1,000 women and children.”

Russian ships sailed to the African coast with French flags on the main masts and with the St. Andrew's flag at the stern. In total, 33 Russian warships arrived in Bizerte, having crossed three seas, overcoming storms and storms.

On the ships of the Squadron in Bizerte, all the traditions of the Russian Imperial Navy were preserved. Officers and sailors did everything in their power to keep the ships in fighting condition. Moreover, the Naval Corps was recreated. The Naval Corps itself, the brainchild of Peter I, existed in Russia since 1701. First in Moscow under the name School of Mathematical Sciences and Navigation, and then in St. Petersburg as a maritime school. His listeners were called midshipmen. After the revolution, the Naval Corps ended up in Crimea, and then became one of those evacuated from Sevastopol.

Since 1921, the training of Russian midshipmen for the future Russian fleet began in Bizerte. As the director of the school, Vice Admiral A. Gerasimov, said then, “Russian children learned to love and honor their Orthodox faith and Motherland, and prepared to become useful figures in its revival.” Three hundred people graduated from this school by May 1925.

The Russian squadron in Bizerte was to support France. In 1922, the ships Don and Baku were transferred to France, then eight more Russian warships. They were sold to Italy, Poland and Estonia, and the money went to maintain the squadron. At the huge floating ship repair yard "Kronstadt", renamed "Vulcan", the French naval flag was raised, and it sailed to Marseille to become part of the French Navy.

October 29, 1924 is one of the most tragic days in the history of the Russian fleet. At 17:25, Russian officers lowered the St. Andrew's flag for the last time. On this day, everyone who still remained on the ships of the squadron: officers, sailors, midshipmen, participants in the First World War, sailors who survived Tsushima, saw the St. Andrew's flag fluttering over the ships for the last time. And then the command sounded: “To the Flag and Guys!” and a minute later: “Lower the flag and Guys!”

Anastasia Alexandrovna could not talk about these minutes without emotion. And she always added in the ensuing silence: “Many had tears in their eyes...”

In December 1924, after the establishment of Soviet-French diplomatic relations, a Soviet delegation led by Academician Krylov arrived in Tunisia from Paris, which included Evgeniy Andreevich Behrens, a red naval officer, brother of Mikhail Andreevich Behrens, commander of the Squadron. The commission was supposed to inspect the ships and monitor the preparation of their towing to the Black Sea. A list of ships was compiled to return to their homeland. But after protests from General Wrangel, as well as from some countries that did not want the restoration of Russia’s naval power, France refused to hand over the ships, and they remained in Bizerte forever and were eventually sold for scrap. As Krylov wrote in his book, “all the work of the commission was in vain: politicians and diplomats interfered.”

Gradually, the "General Alekseev", "George the Victorious", "General Kornilov", "Almaz", "Zharkiy", submarines were dismantled...

Russian entrepreneurs created a company to dismantle ships, and part of the proceeds were used to help Russians in Tunisia and for the construction of the Alexander Nevsky Temple in Bizerte.

Having left the ships on shore, officers and sailors took on any work. They were surveyors and topographers, mechanics and electricians, cashiers and accountants, they taught music and healed. Many left for other countries, to Europe, primarily France, America, Algeria and Morocco. Some of the officers went to serve in Foreign Legion France, in the armies of other states. Russian officers fought and died defending foreign lands and foreign freedom. Young people continued their studies in France, Czechoslovakia and other countries, and many of them became the pride of the fleets of these countries.

In 1956, Russian sailors scattered all over the world raised funds and built another Orthodox church, in the capital of Tunisia, in honor of the Russian squadron and named it the Church of the Ascension of Christ.

In 1996, Russia celebrated the tercentenary of its Fleet, created by Peter the Great. In St. Petersburg, in the Kazan Cathedral, the St. Andrew's flag of the destroyer "Zharky" was raised, which was preserved and transferred to the homeland by the family of senior lieutenant A.S. Manstein. A delegation of the Russian Navy arrived in Bizerte, which presented the Temple of Alexander Nevsky with a precious gift from Sevastopol: a box with soil taken from the entrance to the Vladimir Cathedral, where back in 1920 the sailors who left their native shores under the St. Andrew's flag were blessed.

Shirinskaya Anastasia Shirinskaya Career: Actor
Birth: Russia, 5.9.1912
For the birthday of the Russian pride of Tunisia, the municipality of Bizerte decided to rename one of the squares where the Orthodox church is located and name it after Anastasia Shirinskaya. This is the only square in all of North Africa that bears the name of a living Russian legend. To a true patriot, a courageous woman, a talented person, a keeper of the memory of the Russian squadron and its sailors. No one else has ever received such a high honor from our compatriots.

The fate of Shirinskaya is the fate of the first wave of Russian emigration. She remembers the words of her father, a naval officer, commander of the destroyer Zharkiy: We took the Russian spirit with us. Now Russia is here.

In 1920, when she ended up in Africa in a French colony, she was 8 years old. Only on this continent did 6 thousand uncles agree to shelter the remnants of Baron Wrangel’s army.

Lake Bizerte is the most northern point Africa. Thirty-three ships of the Imperial Black Sea Fleet that left Sevastopol found it difficult here. They stood tightly pressed against the sides, and bridges were thrown between the decks. The sailors said that this was the naval Venice or last stop those who remained loyal to their Emperor. Each day the St. Andrew's banner was raised.

Here was a real Russian town on the water, a seaside hulk for midshipmen on the cruiser General Karnilov, an Orthodox church and educational institution for girls on St. George the Victorious, repair shops on Kronstadt. The sailors were preparing the ships for a long voyage back to Russia. It was forbidden to climb onto land; the French surrounded the ships with yellow buoys and quarantined them. This went on for four years.

In 1924, France recognized the young Soviet Republic. Bargaining began: Moscow demanded the return of the ships of the Black Sea squadron, Paris wanted payment of royal loans and accommodation for sailors in Tunisia. It was not possible to reach an agreement.

The ships went under the knife. Perhaps the most tragic moment in the life of Russian sailors has come. On October 29, 1924, the last command to lower the flag and jack was heard. Flags with the image of the cross of St. Andrew the First-Called, the symbol of the Navy, the symbol of the past, almost 250 years of glory and greatness of Russia, were quietly lowered

Brilliant naval officers built roads in the desert, and their wives went to work for wealthy local families. Some as a governess, and some as a laundress. “My mother told me,” recalls Anastasia Alexandrovna, “that she was not ashamed to wash other people’s dishes in order to get finances for her children. I'm ashamed of not washing them properly.

Homesickness, the African climate and unbearable living conditions made it a native occupation. The Russian corner in the European cemetery was expanding. Many left for Europe and America in search of a better life and became citizens of other countries.

It was only in the 90s that changes began to occur in Bizerte. Patriarch Alexy II sent an Orthodox priest here, and a monument to the sailors of the Russian squadron was erected in the old cemetery. And among the African palm trees the beloved march of sailors, Farewell of the Slav, thundered again.

Her first book with the help of the head of the Paris city administration and Russian diplomats was presented to President Vladimir Putin. After some time, the postman brought a parcel from Moscow. On another book it was written to Anastasia Alexandrovna Manstein-Shirinskaya. In gratitude and as a good memory. Vladimir Putin.

Anastasia Alexandrovna, loving Tunisia with all her soul, lived for 70 years with a Nance passport (a refugee’s identity document issued in the 20s), not having the right to leave the borders of Tunisia without special permission. And only in 1999, when this became possible, she again received Russian citizenship and, having arrived in her homeland, visited a nearby former family estate on the Don.

“I was waiting for Russian citizenship,” says Anastasia Alexandrovna. - I didn’t want Soviet. Then I waited for the identity document to have a double-headed eagle; the embassy offered it with the coat of arms of the international; I waited with the eagle. I am such a stubborn old woman.

She is the most famous mathematics teacher in Tunisia. They call her Madame Teacher. The former students who came to her home for private lessons became big people. Full of ministers, oligarchs and the modern head of the Paris city administration, Bertrano Delano.

Actually, I dreamed of writing children’s fairy tales,” admitted Anastasia Alexandrovna. - But she had to hammer algebra into the heads of schoolchildren in order to get a living.

Together with her husband (Server Shirinsky, a direct descendant of an old Tatar family), she raised three children. In Tunisia, only his son Sergei remained with his mother; he is already close to 60. Daughters Tatyana and Tamara have been in France for a long time. Their mother insisted that they leave and become physicists. Only exact sciences can save us from poverty, Anastasia Alexandrovna is convinced.

But her two grandchildren, Georges and Stefan, are real French. They don't speak any Russian, but they all equally adore the Russian grandmother. Styopa is an architect, lives in Nice. Georges worked for Hollywood director Spielberg, and currently draws cartoons for Disney.

Anastasia Alexandrovna has an excellent Russian language and excellent knowledge of Russian culture and history. Her house has a simple, but very Russian atmosphere. Furniture, icons, books are all Russian. Tunisia begins outside the window. A moment comes, says Anastasia Alexandrovna, when you understand that you must make a confirmation of what you saw and know. This is probably called a sense of duty?.. I wrote a book - Bizerta. Last stop. This family chronicle, a chronicle of post-revolutionary Russia. And most importantly - a story about the tragic fate of the Russian fleet, the one that found a berth off the coast of Tunisia, and the fate of those people who tried to save it.

In 2005, for her memoirs published in the Rare Book series, Anastasia Alexandrovna was awarded a special award of the All-Russian Alexander Nevsky Literary Prize, which is called For Work and the Fatherland. It was this same motto that was engraved on the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, established by Peter I.

In the 90s, Tunisian filmmakers made a documentary film, Anastasia from Bizerte, dedicated to Shirinskaya. For her contribution to the formation of Tunisian culture, she, a true Russian lady, was awarded the Tunisian state Order of Commander of Culture. In 2004, an award came from the Moscow Patriarchate. For the great work of preserving Russian maritime traditions, for caring for the churches and graves of Russian sailors and refugees in Tunisia, Anastasia Alexandrovna Shirinskaya was awarded the Patriarchal Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, who sowed the seeds of the Orthodox faith in Rus'.

And here is a new reward... The square in Bizerte, on which the Alexander Nevsky Temple stands, the one that former Black Sea soldiers built in the middle of the last century in memory of their fallen squadron, is named in her honor.

Today St. Petersburg sailors come here to get married. Blue domes. The joyful ringing of bells, drowned out by the loud singing of a mullah from a nearby mosque. This is her area. She says she's happy. I waited on the Russian ships for the St. Andrew's flag to rise again.

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For the birthday of the Russian pride of Tunisia, the municipality of Bizerte decided to rename one of the squares where the Orthodox church is located and name it after Anastasia Shirinskaya. This is the only square in all of North Africa that bears the name of a living Russian legend. To a true patriot, a courageous woman, a talented person, a keeper of the memory of the Russian squadron and its sailors. No one else has ever received such a high honor from our compatriots.

In 1920, when she ended up in Africa - in a French colony - she was 8 years old. On this continent alone they agreed to shelter the remnants of Baron Wrangel’s army - 6 thousand people.

There was a real Russian town on the water here - a naval building for midshipmen on the cruiser "General Karnilov", an Orthodox church and a school for girls on the "St. George the Victorious", repair shops on the "Kronstadt". The sailors were preparing the ships for a long voyage - back to Russia. It was forbidden to go on land - the French surrounded the ships with yellow buoys and quarantined them. This went on for four years.

The ships went under the knife. Perhaps the most tragic moment in the life of Russian sailors has arrived. On October 29, 1924, the last command was heard - “Lower the flag and guy.” Flags with the image of the cross of St. Andrew the First-Called, the symbol of the Navy, the symbol of the past, almost 250-year-old glory and greatness of Russia, were quietly lowered...

Brilliant naval officers built roads in the desert, and their wives went to work for wealthy local families. Some as a governess, and some as a laundress. “Mom told me,” recalls Anastasia Alexandrovna, “that she was not ashamed to wash other people’s dishes in order to earn money for her children. I’m ashamed to wash them poorly.”

Homesickness, the African climate and unbearable living conditions took their toll. The Russian corner in the European cemetery was expanding. Many left for Europe and America in search of a better life and became citizens of other countries.

It was only in the 90s that changes began to occur in Bizerte. Patriarch Alexy II sent an Orthodox priest here, and a monument to the sailors of the Russian squadron was erected in the old cemetery. And among the African palm trees the favorite march of the sailors “Farewell of the Slav” thundered again.

Her first book, with the help of the mayor of Paris and Russian diplomats, was presented to President Vladimir Putin. After some time, the postman brought a parcel from Moscow. On another book it was written - “Anastasia Alexandrovna Manstein-Shirinskaya. In gratitude and as a good memory. Vladimir Putin."

Anastasia Alexandrovna, loving Tunisia with all her soul, lived for 70 years with a Nance passport (a refugee passport issued in the 20s), not having the right to leave Tunisia without special permission. And only in 1999, when this became possible, she again received Russian citizenship and, having arrived in her homeland, visited her former family estate on the Don.

“I was waiting for Russian citizenship,” says Anastasia Alexandrovna. - I didn’t want Soviet. Then I waited for the passport to have a double-headed eagle - the embassy offered it with the coat of arms of the international, I waited with the eagle. I’m such a stubborn old woman.”

She is the most famous mathematics teacher in Tunisia. That's what they call her - Madame Teacher. The former students who came to her home for private lessons became big people. Full of ministers, oligarchs and the current mayor of Paris - Bertrano Delano.

“Actually, I dreamed of writing children’s fairy tales,” admitted Anastasia Alexandrovna. “But she had to hammer algebra into the heads of schoolchildren in order to earn a living.”

Together with her husband (Server Shirinsky - a direct descendant of an old Tatar family), she raised three children. Only son Sergei remained with his mother in Tunisia - he is already well over 60. Daughters Tatyana and Tamara have been in France for a long time. Their mother insisted that they leave and become physicists. “Only exact sciences can save us from poverty,” Anastasia Alexandrovna is convinced.

But her two grandchildren, Georges and Stefan, are real French. They don't speak Russian at all, but they still adore the Russian grandmother. Styopa is an architect, lives in Nice. Georges worked for Hollywood director Spielberg, and now draws cartoons for Disney.

Anastasia Alexandrovna has an excellent Russian language and excellent knowledge of Russian culture and history. Her house has a simple but very Russian atmosphere. Furniture, icons, books - everything is Russian. Tunisia begins outside the window. “A moment comes,” says Anastasia Alexandrovna, “when you understand that you must make a testimony about what you saw and know... This is probably called a sense of duty?.. I wrote a book - “Bizerta. Last stop." This is a family chronicle, a chronicle of post-revolutionary Russia. And most importantly, the story is about the tragic fate of the Russian fleet, which found a berth off the coast of Tunisia, and the fate of those people who tried to save it.”

In 2005, for her memoirs published in the “Rare Book” series, Anastasia Alexandrovna was awarded a special award from the All-Russian Literary Award “Alexander Nevsky,” called “For Work and the Fatherland.” It was this motto that was engraved on the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, established by Peter I.

Tunisian filmmakers in the 90s filmed documentary“Anastasia from Bizerte”, dedicated to Shirinskaya. For her contribution to the development of Tunisian culture, she, a truly Russian woman, was awarded the Tunisian state order “Commander of Culture”. In 2004, an award came from the Moscow Patriarchate. For her great work in preserving Russian maritime traditions, for caring for the churches and graves of Russian sailors and refugees in Tunisia, Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya was awarded the Patriarchal Order of “Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga,” who sowed the seeds of the Orthodox faith in Rus'.

And here is a new reward... The square in Bizerte, on which stands the Alexander Nevsky Temple, which was built by former Black Sea soldiers in the middle of the last century in memory of their fallen squadron, is named in her honor.

Today St. Petersburg sailors come here to get married. Blue domes. The joyful ringing of bells, drowned out by the loud singing of a mullah from a nearby mosque. This is her area. She says she's happy. I waited - the St. Andrew’s flag was raised again on Russian ships...

In 1920, when she ended up in Africa - in a French colony - she was 8 years old. On this continent alone they agreed to shelter the remnants of Baron Wrangel’s army - 6 thousand people.

It was only in the 90s that changes began to occur in Bizerte. Patriarch Alexy II sent an Orthodox priest here, and a monument to the sailors of the Russian squadron was erected in the old cemetery. And among the African palm trees the favorite march of the sailors “Farewell of the Slav” thundered again.

“Actually, I dreamed of writing children’s fairy tales,” admitted Anastasia Alexandrovna. “But she had to hammer algebra into the heads of schoolchildren in order to earn a living.”

In the 90s, Tunisian filmmakers made a documentary film “Anastasia from Bizerte,” dedicated to Shirinskaya. For her contribution to the development of Tunisian culture, she, a truly Russian woman, was awarded the Tunisian state order “Commander of Culture”. In 2004, an award came from the Moscow Patriarchate. For her great work in preserving Russian maritime traditions, for caring for the churches and graves of Russian sailors and refugees in Tunisia, Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya was awarded the Patriarchal Order of “Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga,” who sowed the seeds of the Orthodox faith in Rus'.

Today St. Petersburg sailors come here to get married. Blue domes. The joyful ringing of bells, drowned out by the loud singing of a mullah from a nearby mosque. This is her area. She says she's happy. I waited - the St. Andrew’s flag was raised again on Russian ships...

Greetings from Russia (Kostroma)
Alexander Popovetsky 2006-10-05 20:48:21

I saw you in the documentary series “RUSSIANS” (Host: Svetlana Sorokina), I admire your perseverance and am proud that I am also Russian.

Condolences from Patriarch Kirill and Sergei Lavrov
Nikolay Sologubovsky 2009-12-25 14:47:37

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' expressed condolences on the death of Anastasia Alexandrovna Shirinskaya-Manstein, an elder of the Russian community in Tunisia. She died on December 21, 2009 in Bezerte at the age of 98. To the rector of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Tunis (Tunisia), Archpriest Dimitri Netsvetaev, to the Russian community in Tunisia With a feeling of deep sorrow, I learned about the death of the elder of the Russian community in Tunisia, A.A., in the 98th year of his life. Shirinskoy-Manstein. I pray for the repose of her soul in eternal abodes. Living far from her homeland, Anastasia Alexandrovna showed truly Christian care for our compatriots who had found their refuge on the soil of North Africa. She put a lot of effort and work into the arrangement of Russian churches in Tunisia, being their permanent patron for several decades. In my memory, Anastasia Alexandrovna left the image of an amazingly bright, modest and noble person, rooting for the fate of the Fatherland. I believe that her life legacy will be preserved by our contemporaries and descendants, who have already done a lot for this good cause, creating a museum named after her in Tunisia. Eternal memory of the newly deceased servant of God Anastasia! KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL Rus' In Russia, the bright memory of Anastasia Shirinskaya-Manstein will be preserved Moscow, December 22. In connection with the death of the permanent spiritual mentor of the Russian community in Tunisia, Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya-Manstein, on December 21, 2009, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sent a telegram of condolences to her family and friends. The daughter of a Russian naval officer A.A. Shirinskaya was born in 1912 in St. Petersburg, and in 1920, by the will of fate, she was taken on a ship of the Black Sea squadron of the Russian Fleet to the Tunisian city of Bizerte, where she spent her entire life. Anastasia Alexandrovna carefully preserved the traditions of Russian culture and Orthodoxy, never accepted citizenship other than Russian, and sincerely and sparing no effort contributed to strengthening friendly ties between the peoples of Russia and Tunisia. She did a lot to unite the Russian community in Tunisia. In 1999, her book of memoirs, Bizerta, dedicated to Russian sailors and their families, was published. Last stop." Anastasia Alexandrovna’s notable contribution to patriotic education has received recognition both in Russia and among her compatriots abroad. In 2003, by Presidential Decree Russian Federation A.A. Shirinskaya was awarded the Order of Friendship. For many years of ascetic activity, the Russian Orthodox Church awarded A.A. Shirinskaya with the Orders of Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga and Sergius of Radonezh. The Russian Geographical Society awarded her the Litke medal, and the Navy Command awarded her the “300 Years” medal. Russian fleet" Anastasia Alexandrovna is the only woman whom the St. Petersburg Maritime Assembly awarded the Order of Merit. In 2005, for her outstanding personal contribution to the cultural development of St. Petersburg and the strengthening of friendly ties between the peoples of Russia and Tunisia, the Legislative Assembly of the city awarded her an Honorary Diploma. For services in the field of culture A.A. Shirinskaya was awarded state award Tunisia, one of the squares of the Tunisian city of Bizerte is named after her. The Russian Foreign Ministry will preserve the fond memory of Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya. Information bulletin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation dated December 23, 2009.

Gratitude
Lyudmila 2010-02-21 14:38:42

I offer my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in restoring the true history of the Russian state, to those who are not indifferent to the memory of great people, true patriots. Today my family and I watched a Channel 1 program about Anastasia Shirinskaya. A low bow to everyone who, like us, was imbued with a sense of patriotism, pain for the departed worthy, honest generation of our ancestors, for whom honor is not an empty phrase. Special thanks to Vladimir Putin for recognizing Anastasia. Even though we live in Ukraine, patriotism has no borders.

And her sailors.

Curriculum Vitae

Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya-Manstein was born on August 23, 1912 in the Rubezhnoye family estate in Donbass. Her father is senior lieutenant Alexander Sergeevich Manstein. In 1920, he was the commander of the destroyer Zharkiy. Mother - Zoya Nikolaevna Doronina, whose family belonged to the middle class of St. Petersburg: small entrepreneurs, artisans, officials.

She graduated from Lyakor high school this year. Given her good exam results, she was accepted into the penultimate class of Stephen Pichon College. Then she began giving private lessons.

In the same year, Anastasia went to Germany to continue her education. In the year she returned to Bizerte. In 1935 she got married and gave birth to three children.

Today Anastasia Aleksandrovna Shirinskaya-Manstein is the last of the “white” Russians who came with the Russian Squadron to Bizerte. Having lived her life far from Russia, she never parted with it. Her house has a simple but very Russian atmosphere. It is Anastasia Alexandrovna who is today the heart and soul of the Russian diaspora, the keeper of Russian traditions on the soil of Tunisia. The Motherland awarded Anastasia Alexandrovna the Order of Friendship. The Maritime Assembly of St. Petersburg awarded the “Order of Merit”. Russian Orthodox Church - medal of St. Princess Olga. Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali awarded the Order of Commander of Culture.

But Anastasia Alexandrovna herself considers the day June 20, 1996, to be her greatest reward, when Russian sailors handed over to the Alexander Nevsky Church, built in Bizerte in memory of the last squadron, a handful of earth taken from the entrance to the Vladimir Cathedral of Sevastopol, where back in 1920 year, the sailors of the Black Sea squadron, leaving their native shores into the unknown, received the blessing.

In the year of the birthday of the Russian pride of Tunisia, the municipality of Bizerte decided to rename one of the squares on which the Orthodox church is located and name it after Anastasia Shirinskaya. This is the only square in all of North Africa that bears the name of a living Russian legend. To a true patriot, a courageous woman, a talented person, a keeper of the memory of the Russian squadron and its sailors. No one else has ever received such a high honor from our compatriots.

History of life and activities

The fate of Shirinskaya is the fate of the first wave of Russian emigration. She remembers the words of her father, a naval officer, commander of the destroyer Zharkiy: “We took the Russian spirit with us. Now Russia is here.” The year she ended up in Africa - in a French colony - she was 8 years old. On this continent alone they agreed to shelter the remnants of Baron Wrangel’s army - 6 thousand people.

Lake Bizerte is the northernmost point of Africa. The thirty-three ships of the Imperial Black Sea Fleet that left Sevastopol were cramped here. They stood with their sides pressed tightly together, and bridges were thrown between the decks. The sailors said that this was the naval Venice or the last stop of those who remained faithful to their Emperor. St. Andrew's banner was raised every morning. There was a real Russian town on the water here - a naval building for midshipmen on the cruiser "General Kornilov", an Orthodox church and a school for girls on the "St. George the Victorious", repair shops on the "Kronstadt". The sailors were preparing the ships for a long voyage - back to Russia. It was forbidden to go on land - the French surrounded the ships with yellow buoys and quarantined them. This went on for four years.

In 1924, France recognized the young Soviet Republic. Bargaining began - Moscow demanded the return of the ships of the Black Sea squadron, Paris wanted payment of the royal loans and accommodation of sailors in Tunisia. It was not possible to reach an agreement. The ships went under the knife. Perhaps the most tragic moment in the life of Russian sailors has arrived. On October 29, 1924, the last command was heard - “Lower the flag and guy.” Flags with the image of the cross of St. Andrew the First-Called, the symbol of the Navy, the symbol of the past, almost 250-year-old glory and greatness of Russia, were quietly lowered...

Russians were offered to accept French citizenship, but not everyone took advantage of this. Anastasia’s father, Alexander Manstein, stated that he swore allegiance to Russia and would forever remain a Russian citizen. Thus, he deprived himself of official work. A bitter emigrant life began... Brilliant naval officers built roads in the desert, and their wives went to work for rich local families. Some as a governess, and some as a laundress. “Mom told me,” recalls Anastasia Alexandrovna, “that she was not ashamed to wash other people’s dishes in order to earn money for her children. I’m ashamed to wash them poorly.” Homesickness, the African climate and unbearable living conditions took their toll. The Russian corner in the European cemetery was expanding. Many left for Europe and America in search of a better life and became citizens of other countries.

But Shirinskaya tried her best to preserve the memory of the Russian squadron and its sailors. Using her own modest means and the means of a few Russian Tunisians, she cared for the graves and repaired the church. But time inexorably destroyed the cemetery and the temple fell into disrepair. It was only in the 90s that changes began to occur in Bizerte. Patriarch Alexy II sent an Orthodox priest here, and a monument to the sailors of the Russian squadron was erected in the old cemetery. And among the African palm trees the favorite march of the sailors “Farewell of the Slav” thundered again. Her first book, with the help of the mayor of Paris and Russian diplomats, was presented to President Vladimir Putin. After some time, the postman brought a parcel from Moscow. On another book it was written - “Anastasia Alexandrovna Manstein-Shirinskaya. In gratitude and as a good memory. Vladimir Putin."

Anastasia Alexandrovna, loving Tunisia with all her soul, lived for 70 years with a Nansen passport (a refugee passport issued in the 20s), not having the right to leave Tunisia without special permission. And only in 1999, when this became possible, she again received Russian citizenship and, having arrived in her homeland, visited her former family estate on the Don. “I was waiting for Russian citizenship,” says Anastasia Alexandrovna. - I didn’t want Soviet. Then I waited for the passport to have a double-headed eagle - the embassy offered it with the coat of arms of the international, I waited with the eagle. I’m such a stubborn old woman.”

She is the most famous mathematics teacher in Tunisia. That’s what they call her – “Madame Teacher”. The former students who came to her home for private lessons became big people. Full of ministers, oligarchs and the current mayor of Paris - Bertrano Delano. “Actually, I dreamed of writing children’s fairy tales,” admitted Anastasia Alexandrovna. “But she had to hammer algebra into the heads of schoolchildren in order to earn a living.” Together with her husband (Server Shirinsky - a direct descendant of an old Tatar family), she raised three children. Only son Sergei remained with his mother in Tunisia - he is already well over 60. Daughters Tatyana and Tamara have been in France for a long time. Their mother insisted that they leave and become physicists. “Only exact sciences can save us from poverty,” Anastasia Alexandrovna is convinced. But her two grandchildren, Georges and Stefan, are real French. They don't speak Russian at all, but they still adore the Russian grandmother. Styopa is an architect, lives in Nice. Georges worked for Hollywood director Spielberg, and now draws cartoons for Disney.