International Orthodox Christian News

Moscow, July 17, Interfax - Russia is marking the 90th anniversary of the execution of its last emperor, Nicholas II, and the royal family. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church ordered clerics to commemorate the sanctified family with church services.

The murder of the royal family "started the ill doings which had an effect on our people's life for decades," Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia said. He called on the people of Russia for unity. Yekaterinburg, where the royal family was executed 90 years ago, became the center of Church and secular remembrance ceremonies. About 35,000 people took part in a religious procession in the city in small morning hours of Thursday morning. Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna is taking part in the Yekaterinburg remembrance events. She said she had forgiven the killers of the last Russian emperor.

"Certainly, I cannot forget - forgetfulness may lead to recurrences of such mistakes - but, being a true Christian, I must forgive them," she said. The royal family and their entourage (all in all, eleven people) were shot dead early in the morning on July 17, 1918, by decision of the Urals Soviet.

Source:

http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=4956