Posted on 07/18/2018 10:53:34 AM PDT by NRx
Lead by Patriarch Kyril more than 100,000 marched in a procession from the Church on the Blood in Yekaterinburg to the Monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers about 20km outside the city. There followed a moleben in honor of the Royal Passion Bearers and a hierarchical liturgy (mass) later that night. (Link to the video of the full liturgy is in the comments.)
(Excerpt) Read more at youtu.be ...
Link to the video of the full Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (Russian Orthodox Appx 2.5 hrs)
More communist heritage; coals heaped on their heads.
The national narrative of “greats” also stands at odds with academic interpretations, which take a critical perspective of both Nicholas II’s often inept governance and of the Bolsheviks’ violent excesses. But the canonization of Nicholas II and his family by the Russian Orthodox Church as Christian martyrs in 2000 diminished their identity as political actors subject to academic scrutiny. In Yekaterinburg, where the largest events marking the centennial of the Romanovs’ deaths are being held, the Romanovs are martyred saints revered by devoted pilgrims, with virtually no reference to politics, policies or ideology. - Ala Graff
The Tsar was not canonized for his politics. He (and his family) were canonized for the lives they lead and the heroic and Christian manner in which they bore the suffering of their last days.
That may be the case re: canonization but now one is liable to backlash simply for being politically critical of their legacy.
Much idiocy on display when movie “Matilda” was released about Nicholas II’s ballerina mistress.
Martyrs who suffered at the hands of both tsars and Red dictators don’t get their due. That’d be worthwhile. Too much energy was spent protesting movie made about tsar Nicholas’ scandalous sex life.
“Persecution of Christians in tsarist Russia”
Bumping...well said!
Russia is Russia.
I think it is a hopeless endeavor for us to ever try to put them in a “western” box when the lid will never properly close.
Ivan, Perter, Catherine, Alexander, Nicolas, Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, Gorbachev, or Putin.
Russians seem to be drawn to central power figures, actual temperament or benefit aside). Even to the point of making them saints.
And finally, one cannot help but wonder if the Russian Revolution and all that followed after was God’s judgment on the sins of tsars.
It does not surprise me that the British monarchy survived. Hardly perfect obviously, but when push came to shove at the most crucial moments of their people — they rose to the occasion in a way that honored and glorified God.
Can’t say the same for the monarchies that fell.
Speaking as someone who is Orthodox, I partly share your concern. The Russian Church has indeed got a little too cozy with the current regime. But the idea of Putin being crowned Tsar is bonkers. Politically the Russian Orthodox Church is very sympathetic to monarchism. But the bishops are overwhelmingly royal legitimists. Most of them, including Pat. Kyril, have made it clear that they recognize the Grand Duchess Maria as the heir to the throne if the monarchy were ever restored. Most political experts believe there is little likelihood of a monarchical restoration while Putin lives (let’s be honest he has basically become President for life). Putin doesn’t want any large institution in Russia that he can’t control. The Church being the sole exception, where there is a sort of entante cordial between them. A restored monarchy, even on a purely ceremonial basis, would not fit that pattern. I suppose it is possible he might support such a move if he were near the end of his life, in the same way Francisco Franco restored Spain’s monarchy. But while he is in good health and with a firm grip on the levers of power, I can’t see him creating a potential political rival or entity that with its vast prestige could challenge his authoritarianism. And the Church will never put a crown on his head. It would shatter the unity of the Russian Church and I doubt there is a single bishop who would support the move.
“The church received quite a bit of cash from the Russian treasury.”
True. The Russian Orthodox are very Russian and not very Orthodox. They reject the Pope in Rome with a fury and want their own country and their own church like Brigham Young, etc.
Nice to see a large crowed. I hope there were chairs for the church goers. St. George, pray for us.
I am reading about the forensic investigation to ID what are suspected to be the bones of the Russian Royals.
I am getting the impression that many Russians regret that part of their history and wish to atone or grieve somehow.
I read The Last Days of the Romanovs, interesting and tragic.
Well if their preoccupation with American domestic political matters is of any indication, they seem more obsessive about Western freedom and democracy than Americans! It is attraction to America that is at the root of the obsession. Not unbelief. They may have more faith in our country than we do.
Totally valid concern, but the government in Russia now is a direct inheritor of the Bolshevik terrorist rule installed by Lenin not the tsars. There has never been a formal break with the 1917 establishment, even following the Soviet Union's demise in '91. So Putin is more of a Stalin-lite than candidate for tsar.
But I think perhaps the czar might have gotten out earlier but wanted to stay out of a sense of duty, not sure.
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/king-george-tsar-nicholas-1913/
Picture at link. I'm not sure which was which they looked so much alike.
Probably someone else has more information ... but I thought they were recognized as Passion Bearers for their steadfast faith at the end. Poor family. They have been re-buried at a cathedral in St. Petersburg. We visited at Easter several years ago and people were leaving flowers at their graves.
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