Over the years the simple Orthodox wooden cross over the grave of alias “Evgenia Smetisko” in the cemetery of Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, or “ROCOR”) is disintegrating. It leans to one side with layers of paint peeling.

A more fitting marker is in order.

In Saugerties, New York FROM EUROPE TO YOU (fromeuropetoyou.com) an appropriate marker was found, made of white Guangxi marble, incorporating an Orthodox cross.

Smetisko claimed until her death in 1997 to have been Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. She passed a grueling 30 hour lie detector test with Grover “Cleve” Backster, founder of CIA polygraph protocols, still in use today. After fifteen hours of her saying she was “a friend of the grand duchess” Backster detected deception. He asked her to answer as the grand duchess. He then declared, “She is telling the truth that is she is the Grand Duchess Anastasia.”

The late Robert “Bob” Schmitt, early founder of Visual Face Recognition (VFR) technology, studied her face and that of the young grand duchess in both 2D and 3D formats, coming to the conclusion, “It’s obviously the same woman. In my 30-year career, this is the best analysis I have ever done.” Schmitt was involved in authenticating the earliest known photograph of Abraham Lincoln and in an investigation into the claims of the James family that infamous Jesse James was alive into his 90s having substituted a neighbor’s son in the supposed James grave.

The life of alias Evgenia Smetisko and her seemingly rightful claim to have been HIH Anastasia Nicholaevna Romanov, Grand Duchess of Russia, is explored in this author’s newest publication:

GRAND DUCHESS ANASTASIA: STILL A MYSTERY? (histriabooks.com/product/grand-duchess-anastasia)