In 1917
Metropolitan Macarius of Moscow saw in a vision the Saviour speaking to Tsar
Nicholas: “You see,” said the Lord, “two cups in my hands: one is bitter for
your people, and the other is sweet for you.” In the vision the Tsar begged for
the bitter cup. The Saviour then took a large glowing coal from the cup and put
it in the Tsar’s hands. The Tsar’s whole body then began to grow light, until
he was shining like a radiant spirit. Then the vision changed to a field of
flowers, in the middle of which Nicholas was distributing manna to a multitude
of people. A voice spoke: “The Tsar has taken the guilt of the Russian people
upon himself and the Russian people are forgiven.” Nicholas himself once said:
“Perhaps an expiatory sacrifice is needed for Russia’s salvation. I will be
that sacrifice. May God’s will be done!”
He had a
very strong sense of his destiny as an Orthodox ruler. Although he had an
opportunity to flee the country with his family and seek refuge outside Russia,
he and his Empress deliberately chose to stay and accept whatever awaited them.
He had been born on the feast of the Prophet Job and because of this he often
remarked to his advisors: “I have a secret conviction that I am destined for a
terrible trial, that I shall not receive my reward on this earth.”
Terrible
was the night of the murder of the Tsar! On that unspeakable night, the
prisoners were all in a deep sleep when they were awakened and ordered to dress
in order to leave the city... The Imperial Family descended to the basement
where the Sovereign sat down, with his ill son, on a chair in the middle of the
room. The Duchesses, the doctor, and three dedicated servants were seated
around him. Every one was waiting for the signal to depart. At the
executioner’s announcement (which stunned all the prisoners) of the impending
execution, the Empress succeeded in crossing herself. She was killed instantly,
together with the Sovereign. God spared them from hearing the groans of the
Tsarevitch and the cries of the wounded Grand Duchess Anastasia. The first
bullets did not bring death to the youngest ones and they were savagely killed
with blows of bayonets and gun-butts and with shots at point-blank range.
Olga, the oldest daughter, born in
1895, was fair, with golden-brown hair (the lightest in the family) and
beautiful blue eyes. She was innocent, modest, sincere and kind. She liked
simplicity and paid little attention to dress. She was most similar to her
father, whom she loved better than anyone else. She had a quick mind and
possessed the virtue of reasoning. According to her tutors, she had a “crystal”
soul and a bright smile; inner joy radiated from her and had an uplifting
effect on those around her. Like her father, Olga deeply loved Russia and the
Russian people. When faced with the possibility of marriage to a foreign
prince, she flatly refused, saying, “I do not want to ever leave Russia. I am
Russian and wish to remain so.” Thus she stayed on in her homeland to receive
the crown of martyrdom.
Tatiana, the second daughter,
born in 1897, was a tall, thin and elegant girl. She had a darker complexion
than the others. She was somewhat reserved, dutiful and pensive; she was often
more decided in her opinions than her sisters. She was a talented pianist and
also painted and embroidered well. Tatiana was her mother’s favorite, having
inherited the Empress’ nobleness and sense of discipline. The younger children
nicknamed Tatiana “the Governess.”
Maria, the third daughter, born in
1899, was strong, broadly-built and good looking, with light gray eyes. She
could paint and draw, and played the piano competently. She was very fond of
children and inclined to domesticity, and would have made an excellent wife and
mother. Maria had the rare quality of being perfectly happy in ally
surroundings, even when the family was imprisoned in Tobolsk. For this reason
she was chosen by her parents to accompany them when they were forced to
separate from the family and embark upon their last fateful journey to
Ekaterinburg.
Anastasia, the youngest daughter,
born in 1901, was initially a tomboy and the family clown. She was shorter than
the others, had a straight nose and beautiful gray eyes. Refined and witty, she
had the talent of a comedienne and made everyone laugh. She had a small dog of
Japanese breed, which the whole family loved. Anastasia carried this dog in her
arms when she went down into the cellar at Ekaterinburg on the fateful night of
July 4th, and the little dog was murdered together with her.
Alexis, the heir apparent, was a very
special child. He was born in 1904, in response to prayers offered by the
Imperial family and the entire faithful populace during the days of
glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, asking God to grant Russia an heir.
However, though born the heir lo the Russian Empire, Alexis could not inherit
it, since Russia was already set on its apocalyptic course; instead, he
inherited an incomparably higher kingdom – the Kingdom of Heaven. Alexis was
destined for martyrdom from the moment of his birth: the only and beloved son,
he was the young Isaac who was actually sacrificed, the innocent sacrificial
lamb who was worthy to atone for the sins of his people. He was born with the
dreaded illness of hemophilia, which showed up when he was only six weeks old,
and which caused him great pain and suffering for the entire 14 years of his
brief life. It was also the cause of the greatest anguish for his family,
especially his parents, and was a contributing factor to the fall of the
Empire. And yet this young boy bore his terrible burden with great fortitude,
silently and without grumbling, in a true Christian manner. At the same time he
was like any other boy: he enjoyed games and horseplay, engaged in outdoor
activities with other boys whenever possible, loved to go sailing with his
father, teased his sisters, liked to watch movies, make boats and other paper
models, and, though a very clever boy, was not fond of books. He had a kind
heart, liked to give presents everyone, and he loved animals. He was a lively
and cheerful child, a universal favorite, beloved by all with whom he came into
contact. His mother loved him passionately, suffering a mother’s indescribable
anguish over his pains and his illness, which he had inherited from her side of
the family.
God
granted these extraordinary royal children a spiritually royal fate on earth:
after having spent their childhood and youth in a most glorious Orthodox way of
life, in absolute innocence and purity, they were ready for the crowning touch
– the shining crown of martyrdom. Their Calvary began on March 2, 1917, the day
of the Tsar-Martyr’s abdication – first in their palace at Tsarskoye Selo, then
at the Governor’s house in Tobolsk, and finally, at the Ipatyev house – the
“House of Special Purpose” – in Ekaterinburg, they suffered increasing stages
of harassment, humiliation and deprivation. Their prison guards became
progressively more insolent, heartless and brutal, subjecting them to insult,
mockery and torment. The royal martyrs bore it all with great fortitude,
strength of spirit, true Christian humility and total acceptance of the will of
God. They sought solace in church services, home prayers and spiritual reading.
They were heinously murdered, these pure and innocent children, in the night of
July 4, 1918, and from the blood-soaked cellar in Ekaterinburg they passed
triumphantly into the royal palace of the King of Heaven.
O holy Royal Martyrs Nicholas, Alexandra,
Alexis, Olga, Tabana, Maria and Anastasia, pray to God for us!
Source: http://www.pravmir.com/tsar-nicholas-and-his-family/
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