Orthodox saint
St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer
Holy Passion-Bearer Tsar Nicholas II
Άγιος Νικόλαος ο Βασιλομάρτυς, Τσάρος της Ρωσίας · Святый страстотерпец царь Николай · Святой страстотерпец император Николай II
St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer is remembered on 17 July on both calendars. Orthodox Christians pray to St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer for strength for fathers to lead their families in faith, a faithful and loving marriage and patience and meekness under trials and slander.
Feast days
- Feast
- Martyrdom with the Royal Family
- Kept on
- 17 July on both calendars
- Next
The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.
The life of St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer
Nicholas Alexandrovich was born on 6 May 1868, the feast of the Righteous Job the Long-suffering, and was raised in deep piety. He was crowned in 1896 and began his reign hoping for peace. He was a devoted husband to Alexandra and a loving father to their five children, and he made his home a little church. He prayed often, honored the saints, and took part in the glorification of St Seraphim of Sarov. When the First World War came, he believed it his Christian duty to defend his fellow Orthodox. In March 1917 he gave up the throne. From then until his death he bore exile, humiliation and imprisonment with the meekness of Job, never murmuring, forgiving his enemies and praying with his family. On the night of 16-17 July 1918 he was killed at Yekaterinburg together with his wife, children and faithful servants. The Church honors him as a passion-bearer.
What the faithful ask of St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer
The faithful pray for
- strength for fathers to lead their families in faith
- a faithful and loving marriage
- patience and meekness under trials and slander
- forgiveness of sins and guidance in every virtue
- the spiritual welfare of Russia
- acceptance of God's will in suffering
St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer protects
- the family
- those wrongly accused
- the persecuted
Patron of
- fathers and heads of families
- husbands
- Christian rulers and those in authority
- the Russian land
- those who bear injustice meekly
Miracles
Born on the feast of the Righteous Job the Long-suffering, he bore all his trials after his abdication firmly, meekly and without a murmur, as the Church's life of him teaches.
Where the traditions differ
Venerated with his family as 'Royal Martyr' in ROCOR (1981) and as passion-bearer in the Moscow Patriarchate (2000). The Russian Church celebrates him with the Royal Family on 4/17 July. A man named Nicholas keeps his name day with St Nicholas the Wonderworker (6/19 Dec or 9/22 May), the Tsar's own heavenly patron, not with the Tsar. Content kept strictly hagiographic, without political claims.
St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer: icons and items in our shop
Folding diptychSt Nicholas II (passion-bearer) & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych$99$69
Folding diptychSts Nicholas II & Alexandra (Royal Passion-Bearers) Folding Diptych$99$69
Our diptych pairs St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer with the Guardian Angel: the patron saint and the angel given at baptism, side by side in one folding icon.
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Name days
These names keep their name day on a feast of St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer:
Related saints
Questions
When is the feast day of St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer?
Martyrdom with the Royal Family: 17 July on both calendars.
What do Orthodox Christians pray to St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer for?
Orthodox Christians pray to St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer for strength for fathers to lead their families in faith, a faithful and loving marriage, patience and meekness under trials and slander, forgiveness of sins and guidance in every virtue, the spiritual welfare of Russia and acceptance of God's will in suffering.
What is St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer the patron saint of?
St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer is the patron of fathers and heads of families, husbands, Christian rulers and those in authority, the Russian land and those who bear injustice meekly.
What does St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer protect from?
St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer protects the family, those wrongly accused and the persecuted.
Whose name day is on a feast of St Nicholas II the Passion-Bearer?
The name day of Nicholas, Nikolai, Nikolay and Kolya.
Sources
- Страстотерпец Николай II Романов (Азбука веры) (read 14 October 2026)
- Акафист святым царственным страстотерпцам (Азбука веры) (read 14 October 2026)
- Canonization of the Romanovs - Wikipedia (read 14 October 2026)