Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine was a German princess who later became a Grand Duchess of Russia and an Orthodox nun. Born in Darmstadt in 1864, she was the daughter of Grand Duke Ludwig IV and Princess Alice, a daughter of Queen Victoria. After marrying Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, she became known for her charitable work and her dignified presence in Russian society. Following the assassination of her husband, she transitioned from royal life to religious devotion, establishing a convent to serve the poor before her death in 1918.