A Somber Anniversary: the Romanovs

Tsar Nicholas II of Russian and his family were executed at Yekaterinburg today (17 July) in 1918. Born Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov in 1868, he was the last Tsar of Russia. He, his wife Alexandra Fyodoronova, daughters Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, and their son Alexey were executed by the Bolsheviks.

Hoping to save his country from the violence that was occurring, Czar Nicholas abdicated in February 1917. The abdication did little to calm the revolutionists though and after the Bolshevik Revolution in October, he and his family were exiled to Siberia under house-arrest. It was there, in a basement, the still young family was lined up in the basement and shot. Their bodies were discarded by the Bolsheviks in an unmarked grave.

Today, the Romanov family are saints of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Royalty and martyrdom were joined together, O blessed ones,

In your death for righteousness and right belief, O wise Sovereigns,

Nicholas and Alexandra, with your five children.

Hence, Christ our God counted you worthy of thrones in Heaven;

And with twofold crowns of glory,

You reign forever, adorned with grace divine.

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