The canonization of the royal family of the Romanovs and, above all, of Emperor Nicholas II himself, is not perceived unambiguously by everyone. Quite often one hears questions: what did this king do that, for which he was canonized? Let's turn to the facts.
Shooting in Yekaterinburg
On the night of July 16-17, 1918, in the basement of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg, Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich, who abdicated the throne on March 2, 1917, his wife Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, as well as their children Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei were shot. …
Three days after the execution on July 8 (21), 1918, during a divine service in the Kazan Cathedral in Moscow, Patriarch Tikhon announced: “A terrible thing has happened - the former Tsar Nikolai Alexandrovich was shot. We must, obeying the teaching of the word of God, condemn this deed, otherwise the blood of the shot will fall on us, and not only on those who committed it. We know that he, having abdicated the throne, did this with the benefit of Russia in mind and out of love for her. After renunciation, he could have found for himself security and a relatively quiet life abroad, but he did not, wishing to suffer along with Russia. He did nothing to improve his situation, resignedly resigned himself to fate. In addition, the Patriarch blessed the church archpastors and pastors to perform memorial services for the Romanovs.
Veneration
As Russian church leaders believe, the reverent respect for the anointed one, the tragic circumstances of his death, as well as the pity caused by the death of innocent children, which is characteristic of the Russian people, contributed to the attitude towards the royal family not as victims of political repression, but as Christian ones. martyrs. Therefore, almost immediately, the veneration of the Romanovs began, which continued throughout the entire Soviet period of our history. These sentiments were especially strong in emigre circles. So, in the emigre press there were reports of miracles performed by royal martyrs, for example, the myrrh-streaming of icons with their images.
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In 1981, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad numbered the Romanovs as martyrs. On July 16, 1989, on the vacant lot where the Ipatiev house once stood, a prayer service was held in memory of the Romanovs. On August 18, 1990, a wooden cross was erected at this place, near which prayers and akathists were read several times a week.
Pros and cons
Meanwhile, there were many voices against canonization, especially Nicholas II. His unsuccessful state policy, including the tragedy on Khodynka, Bloody Sunday, the Lena execution, and contacts with Rasputin were cited as arguments. In 1992, by the decision of the Council of Bishops, the Synodal Commission was initiated, which was entrusted with researching materials related to the martyrdom of the royal family. As a result, the political activities of Nicholas II were separated by the Church from the period of spiritual and physical suffering that the last Russian emperor suffered at the end of his life. In the end, the following conclusion was given: “In the sufferings endured by the royal family in captivity with meekness, patience and humility, in their martyrdom, the light of Christ's faith conquering evil was revealed, similarlyhow he shone in the life and death of millions of Orthodox Christians who endured persecution for Christ in the 20th century.
It is precisely in comprehending this feat of the royal family that the commission, in complete unanimity and with the approval of the Holy Synod, finds it possible to glorify in the Cathedral the new martyrs and confessors of Russia in the form of passion-bearers of Emperor Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, Tsarevich Alexy, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia."
On August 14, 2000, at the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church, the tsar's family was canonized as part of the Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, both revealed and undetected.
For church leaders it was also of great importance that Nicholas II led a decent and pious life: he paid great attention to the needs of the Orthodox Church, generously donated funds for the construction of churches. All members of the royal family, according to the ROC, lived in accordance with the traditions of Orthodoxy.
One can relate differently to the political activities of Nikolai Romanov, but in this case, his personality is viewed exclusively from the standpoint of the Christian worldview. By his martyrdom, he atoned for all his sins.