RUSSIA: RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH CANNONISES COUNTRY'S LAST TSAR NICHOLAS II AND HIS FAMILY

Record ID: 647289

  • Title: RUSSIA: RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH CANNONISES COUNTRY'S LAST TSAR NICHOLAS II AND HIS FAMILY
  • Date: 13th August 2000
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (AUGUST 14, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. MV: CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL 0.06 2. SV: RUSSIAN ORTHODOX BELIEVERS SINGING HYMNS 0.14 3. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ARCHBISHOP KIRILL: "We have decided to canonise [the Romanov family]" 0.23 MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MONOCHROME FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 4. VARIOUS: TSAR NICHOLAS II, HIS FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES (7 SHOTS) 0.53 MOSCOW, RUSSIA (AUGUST 14, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 5. SV/SCU: BELIEVERS HOLDING BANNERS/ NUN SINGING HYMN (2 SHOTS) 1.05 6. SV'S: RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH BISHOPS LEAVING CATHEDRAL (3 SHOTS) 1.36 7. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ARCHBISHOP TIKHON: "I think this decision was expected although there were various opinions and it was not preordained. We prepared for this decision. We studied the documents. The Tsar and his family showed a great example, they died for their faith and provided a great example for Orthodox believers" 2.23 8. SV: BELIEVERS SINGING HYMNS 2.30 MOSCOW, RUSSIA (AUGUST 13, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 9. LV: PRUSSIAN PATRIARCH ALEXIY II OPENING BISHOP'S COUNCIL 2.33 10. CU'S: MOSAIC OF NICHOLAS II INSIDE OF RUSSIA'S CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL 2.46 11. VARIOUS OF BISHOPS/ DELEGATES AT BISHOP'S COUNCIL PREPARING TO VOTE ON CANONISATION OF TSAR NICHOLAS II AND HIS FAMILY (3 SHOTS) 3.12 12. WS: BISHOPS AND PATRIARCH AT BISHOP'S COUNCIL 3.21 MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MONOCHROME FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 13. WS/SV: TSAR NICHOLAS II REVIEWING TROOPS (2 SHOTS) 3.31 14. SCU: PORTRAIT OF TSAR NICHOLAS II AND HIS FAMILY 3.34 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVAC6XY5A1SGRWYEET2FYWB1GM2U
  • Story Text: The Russian Orthodox Church has made the last Tsar
    and his family saints in a controversial and significant
    decision.



    Russia's Orthodox Church on Monday (August 14)
    canonised the country's last tsar, Nicholas II and his family,
    who were killed by Bolsheviks in 1918.

    A church spokeswoman said that the decision was taken
    unanimously.

    Russian Orthodox believers outside Christ the Saviour
    Cathedral on Monday heard the news from Archbishop Kirill.

    The decision was controversial.

    Most historians see Nicholas as an inept leader who tried
    to withstand modernising forces and oversaw the 1905 'Bloody
    Sunday' massacre of several thousand peaceful strikers who
    were carrying his portrait.

    But the Orthodox Church decided to elevate Nicholas II and
    his family because of their murder by a communist execution
    squad, thus avoiding any justification of his actions as a
    leader.

    Archbishop Tikhon said on Monday: "I think this decision
    was expected although there were various opinions and it was
    not preordained. We prepared for this decision. We studied
    the documents. The Tsar and his family showed a great
    example, they died for their faith and provided a great
    example for Orthodox believers."
    The Orthodox Church made the canonisation at a special
    church Bishop's Council on Sunday that was deciding on the
    sainthood of more than 1,000 candidates, as well as setting up
    policy on controversial modern issues such as abortion.

    The Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, known as the Free
    Russian Orthodox Church, has already recognised Nicholas II
    and his family as saints for many years.

    The Russian Orthodox Church has enjoyed a strong revival
    since the collapse of communism in 1991 and has worked to
    restore pride in Russia's imperial history.


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