Скачать или смотреть RUSSIA: MOSCOW: SYNOD CONSIDERING CANONIZING CZAR NICHOLAS II

(18 Feb 1997) Russian/Nat

Russia's last Czar is returning to public favour - with the Bishops of Russia's Orthodox Church now considering the canonisation of Nicholas II.

A convention of the Holy Synod meets this week to vote on whether Russia's last absolute monarch should be made a saint.

Religion has been making a slow but steady comeback among the Russian people - and with the Orthodox church comes the veneration of the Royal Family.

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox church opened this week for their biannual bishops convention.

On the agenda is the status of Russia's last holy ruler.

The Synod is considering canonizing Czar Nicholas II and his family -- all of whom were murdered by the Bolsheviks in the early years of the Russian revolution.

Parishes across Russia have been pushing for Sainthood for Nicholas II -- many believers consider him a martyr and a religious hero.

One Moscow church has already canonized the last emperor.

At the cathedral of Nicholas the Miracle Worker, icons of Nicholas II hang from nearly every wall.

Believers come here to light a candle in honour of the Romanovs or to say a prayer for the last Czar.

The Russian Orthodox Church began the lengthy process that could lead to sainthood last October.

They will make the final decision this week.

A cult of sorts has developed around Czar Nicholas II since the fall of the Soviet Union -- many Russians already consider him a saint.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Czar Nicholas II has such special qualities, he was not just a regular person. Our priest here always says to us that the Tsar was such a precious person, such a great personality, he was capable of doing anything and at the same time a man of the people."
SUPER CAPTION: Tatyana Vasileevna, clergy woman

During Soviet times, just mentioning the last Czar or his family could bring trouble.

Now, with hundreds of churches being rebuilt, and a nationwide religious renaissance underway, the Romanov's have once again become a national symbol.

Free from government pressure, the Russian Orthodox church abroad canonized Nicholas II and his family years ago -- now the church within Russia are facing the same decision.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"We feel such happiness that finally the Orthodox church here in Russia, and not just the Russian church abroad, has begun the process of canonizing the Czar. The people need to remember him as a holy man, as a saint."
SUPER CAPTION: Stepana Gracheva, Nun

The canonization of Russia's last Czar has deep meaning for a country struggling with its past.

For seventy years the Soviet regime portrayed Nicholas II as cruel dictator deserving of execution - Now he very well become a saint.

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