Investigation Concludes Romanovs' Remains Authentic

A Russian investigative committee has determined that the bodies identified as belonging to Tsar St. Nicholas II and his family are in fact their remains. The identity of the bodies, most of which are buried in St. Petersburg's Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on Hare Island, is contentious in Russia due to the Russian Orthodox Church's refusal to recognize their identities despite the findings of several investigations. The House of Romanov will not accept or reject the findings until the Moscow Patriarchate recognizes them as being the relics of the last imperial family. More here.

Holy Royal Martyrs of Rus'

Joyous feast! С праздником! Today we commemorate the Royal Martyrs of Rus', the passion-bearing Tsar-Martyr Nicholas, his wife Tsaritsa Alexandria, their children Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia, and Alexis, and their companions in exile. More on their lives can be found here. A homily delivered by St. John of San Francisco after a memorial for the imperial family served in 1934 can be found here. May the Royal Martyrs' blessings and prayers be with us all!

St. Macarius of Moscow, Apostle of the Altai

Joyous feast! С праздником! St. Macarius II (Nevskiy) of Moscow and the Altai was one of the lights of the Church of Rus' in the 19th century. Born to a poor family in rural central Russia, he later felt called to witness amongst the Altai and served in that region as a translator, evangelist, and teacher. While there he became a monk and was ordained to the holy priesthood and the later consecrated a bishop, becoming the head of the mission to the Altai in the meantime.

In 1912 Tsar St. Nicholas named St. Macarius Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna and a member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in recognition of the archbishop's praiseworthy missionary labors in Siberia amongst the Altai. In 1917 the interim government of Russia removed St. Macarius from his see and was sent into internal exile in a monastery, later being persecuted by the Bolsheviks and dying in 1926 of pneumonia.

St. Macarius was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000. A full account of his life and labors can be found here. May his blessing and prayers be with us all!

Russian Government Closes Romanov Investigation

A Russian investigative committee has confirmed the identification of remains at St. Petersburg's Sts. Peter and Paul's Cathedral as those of Emperor Nicholas II of Russia and his family. More here.