The Imperial Reception of the Freeholding Elders in the Courtyard of the Petrovsky Palace on 18 May 1896 (Ilya Repin, 1897)
Yekaterinburg, 19 May 2008 (Interfax):
Archbishop Vikenty of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye believes that it is imperative that we recognise and honour the merits of the last Russian emperor, Tsar Nikolai II. “Unfortunately, over many decades, his memory suffered from much slander and trivial criticism, and there was much mud thrown at his character. After some 90 years, it is necessary for us to cleanse his reputation, washing off all the mud, so that we can recognise the outstanding legacy of Tsar-Passionbearer St Nikolai II”, Archbishop Vikenty said at a conference in Yekaterinburg dedicated to the 140th anniversary of Tsar St Nikolai’s birth.
Vladyki remembered that, during the Soviet period, schoolchildren were told that 1913 was the most booming year in Russian history, but, students were never told who was responsible for that achievement. “We must give all tribute and honour to the wisdom of the man who led Russia to such a high level of development. To think that we were told that the reign of Tsar St Nikolai II was ineffectual”, he emphasised. He added that during the period of St Nikolai’s rule some 7,000 new churches and 200 new monasteries were built in Russia, and 19 churches were built abroad.
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=24529 (in Russian)
