Orthodox saints
The Royal Passion-Bearers
Holy Royal Passion-Bearers: Tsar Nicholas, Tsaritsa Alexandra, Tsarevich Alexei, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia
Άγιοι Βασιλομάρτυρες της Ρωσίας Νικόλαος, Αλεξάνδρα, Αλέξιος, Όλγα, Τατιανή, Μαρία και Αναστασία · Святии царственнии страстотерпцы Николай, Александра, Алексий, Ольга, Татиана, Мария и Анастасия · Святые царственные страстотерпцы Николай, Александра, Алексий, Ольга, Татиана, Мария и Анастасия
The Royal Passion-Bearers is remembered on 17 July on both calendars. Orthodox Christians pray to the Royal Passion-Bearers for love and unity in the family, a faithful and honorable marriage and raising children in the faith.
Feast days
- Feast
- Martyrdom at Yekaterinburg (1918)
- 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 The Royal Passion-Bearers
The last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas, his wife Alexandra and their five children, Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei, lived as one household of the Church of Christ, bound together by love. The Church's hymns praise how they built their home on love, kept their marriage honorable, and raised their daughters as wise virgins for Christ. Their son Alexei bore a grave illness from infancy as a cross from the Lord, without complaint. During the war the Empress and her elder daughters served the wounded as sisters of mercy. After the Tsar's abdication in 1917 the family was held in captivity. They bore humiliation with Christian meekness, prayed together, and forgave their persecutors. In the night of 16-17 July 1918 they were killed together at Yekaterinburg. The Russian Church Abroad glorified them in 1981, and the Moscow Patriarchate glorified them in 2000 as passion-bearers, those who imitate Christ by meekly accepting suffering and death.
What the faithful ask of the Royal Passion-Bearers
The faithful pray for
- love and unity in the family
- a faithful and honorable marriage
- raising children in the faith
- healing of sick children
- comfort for parents grieving over children in sickness or sin
- patience and meekness in suffering
- forgiveness of enemies
- the spiritual welfare of Russia and her people
The Royal Passion-Bearers protects
- the family hearth
- children from sickness and the passions of this age
- the persecuted
- Orthodox families from division
Patron of
- Christian families as a "domestic church"
- married couples
- parents
- children and youth
- parents of sick children
- the Russian land
- the sick and suffering
Miracles
Tsarevich Alexei was born, after long prayer, as 'the fruit of the prayers of the Wonderworker of Sarov', the longed-for heir of his royal parents.
Source: Акафист святым царственным страстотерпцам (Азбука веры)
Collections of testimonies record many healings and answered prayers through the intercession of the Royal Passion-bearers since their glorification.
Where the traditions differ
The Russian Church Abroad (ROCOR) glorified the family in 1981 as 'Royal Martyrs'; the Moscow Patriarchate glorified them in 2000 as 'passion-bearers'. Devotion is strongest in the Russian Church and among Serbs. Greek, Antiochian and other churches accept them, but popular devotion there is smaller. The OCA lists them on 17 July. Their faithful servants, martyred with them, are honored in ROCOR usage.
the Royal Passion-Bearers: icons and items in our shop
Folding diptychRoyal Passion-Bearers (Romanov family) & Feodorovskaya Mother of God Folding Diptych$99$69
Folding diptychRoyal Passion-Bearers (Romanov family) & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych$99$69
Folding diptychSts Nicholas II & Alexandra (Royal Passion-Bearers) Folding Diptych$99$69
Our diptych pairs the Royal Passion-Bearers with the Guardian Angel: the patron saint and the angel given at baptism, side by side in one folding icon.
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Ask our priest
Our priest can serve a moleben to the Royal Passion-Bearers for the people and the need you name.
Prayed to for
Related saints
Questions
When is the feast day of the Royal Passion-Bearers?
Martyrdom at Yekaterinburg (1918): 17 July on both calendars.
What do Orthodox Christians pray to the Royal Passion-Bearers for?
Orthodox Christians pray to the Royal Passion-Bearers for love and unity in the family, a faithful and honorable marriage, raising children in the faith, healing of sick children, comfort for parents grieving over children in sickness or sin and patience and meekness in suffering.
What are the Royal Passion-Bearers the patron saints of?
The Royal Passion-Bearers are the patron of Christian families as a "domestic church", married couples, parents, children and youth, parents of sick children, the Russian land and the sick and suffering.
What does the Royal Passion-Bearers protect from?
The Royal Passion-Bearers protect the family hearth, children from sickness and the passions of this age, the persecuted and Orthodox families from division.
Sources
- Акафист святым царственным страстотерпцам (Азбука веры) (read 14 October 2026)
- Акафист святому страстотерпцу царевичу Алексию (Азбука веры) (read 14 October 2026)
- Canonization of the Romanovs - Wikipedia (read 14 October 2026)
- OCA Lives of the Saints, 17 July (read 14 October 2026)