Romanov sainthood

The canonization of the Romanovs (also called "glorification" in the Eastern Orthodox Church) was the elevation to sainthood of the last imperial family of Russia – Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Tsarina Alexandra, and their five children Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexei – by the Russian Orthodox Church.

The family was murdered by the Bolsheviks on 17 July 1918 at the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. The house was later demolished. The Church on Blood was built on this site, and the altar stands over the execution site.

Canonization

On 1 November 1981, Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia (the younger brother of Nicholas II) and his secretary, Nicholas Johnson, were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The two men were both murdered at Perm on 13 June 1918.

On 15 August 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church announced the canonization of Nicholas II and his immediate family for their "'humbleness, patience and meekness'" during their imprisonment and execution by the Bolsheviks.

On 3 February 2016, the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Nicholas II's personal physician, Eugene Botkin, as a righteous passion bearer.

Controversy

The canonizations were controversial for both branches of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1981, opponents noted Nicholas II's perceived weaknesses as a ruler and said that his actions had led to the Bolshevik Revolution, which caused so much damage for Russia and its people. One priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad noted that martyrdom in the Russian Orthodox Church has nothing to do with the martyr's personal actions but was instead related to why he or she was killed.Massie, Robert K., ''The Romanovs: The Final Chapter'', Random House, , 1995, pp. 134-135 Other critics noted that the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad appeared to be blaming Jewish revolutionaries for the deaths and equating the political assassination with a ritual murder.

Others rejected the family's being classified as new martyrs because they were not killed because of their religious faith. There was no proof that the execution was a ritual murder. Religious leaders in both churches also had objections to canonizing the Tsar's family because they perceived him to have been a weak emperor whose incompetence led to the revolution, and the suffering of his people. They said he was at least partially responsible for his own murder and the murders of his wife and children. For these opponents, the fact that the Tsar was said to be, in private life, a kind man and a good husband and father did not override his poor governance of Russia.

Despite their official designation as " passion-bearers" by the August 2000 Council, the family are referred to as "martyrs" in Church publications, icons, and in popular veneration by the people.

Since the late 20th century, believers have attributed healing from illnesses or conversion to the Orthodox Church to their prayers to Maria and Alexei, as well as to the rest of the family.

Gallery

Image:Yekaterinburg cathedral on the blood 2007.jpg, Yekaterinburg's " Church on the Blood," built on the spot where Nicholas II and his family were murdered in 1918
Image:%D0%93%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D1%8F%D0%BC%D0%B0_1.jpg, Church of St. Nicholas at the Romanov Monastery near the site where the Romanovs' remains were found at Ganina Yama

See also

* Martyrs of Alapayevsk
* Tsarebozhiye

References

External links

In Memory of the Royal Martyrs, by St. John of Shanghai and San FranciscoThe Royal Martyrs of Russia (Fr. Nektarios Serfes)

Video of the canonization of 1 November 1981 by the Russian Church AbroadVideo of the canonization of 20 August 2000 by the Moscow Patriarchate

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romanovs, Canonization of the
20th-century Christian saints
Russian Orthodox child saints
Canonization
Canonization
Passion bearers
Eastern Orthodox royal saints from Russia
Romanovs
House of Romanov
Romanovs
Blood libel