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The Final Chapter / Re: Why does the Russian Orthodox Church chooses not to believe....
« on: March 11, 2025, 10:19:23 PM »
Ekaterinburg diocese posted this on their VK account a few months ago:
'Opponents of the authenticity of the Tsar's remains sometimes speak on behalf of all Orthodox Christians and predict a new church schism if they are recognized as relics. What can be said in response to this? ? The fact that some of these people make such loud statements "on behalf of the Orthodox," emphasizing the "possible schism" is truly a terrible statement for them. By doing so, they already separate themselves in advance from the Holy Mother Church. Recently, some people have been holding their own conferences, where they express their opinions and evidence "about the falsity of the Tsar's remains," and at the same time they report in the media that they are doing this allegedly "in pursuance of the resolution of the Bishops' Council." I doubt that they received a blessing for these conferences from the ruling bishop of the city of Moscow ? His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. I can say for myself that the Holy Church has experienced numerous schisms and disorders over the course of two thousand years, but one thing remains unshakable - these are the words of Christ the Savior, spoken to the Apostle Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Saint Cyprian of Carthage said very simple words accessible to the human mind and heart: "For whom the Church is not a Mother, God is not a Father." If the Bishops' Council recognizes the "Ekaterinburg remains" as the relics of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, and it is written "It was the will of the Holy Spirit and us...", then the entire Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church must accept this holy news with reverence and joy. When the holy relics of the Royal Passion-Bearers are placed in reliquaries, and due honors are rendered to them, and numerous worshipers and pilgrims come to them, then, by the ineffable mercy of God, they will show us, sinners, their help, miracles and healings. And then Great Russia will shine in even greater glory and grandeur. Archimandrite Tikhon (Zatekin)'
So here's my take. The point the Archimandrite makes at the end is key: if & when the remains are officially recognized, they'll be prepared in reliquaries and pieces will be sent to multiple churches. The Orthodox Church operates today the same as it did in the 4th century, and decisions are made on a timeline that might not fit into our understanding. That the remains will be treated as relics is part of the delay; just the reality of things taking time rather than a matter of disrespect.
It's going to be a "Catch-22" for people who don't want further disturbance of the bones: when officially confirmed, there will be pieces of the bodies sent to churches. So either way, there's not going to be the simple matter of just putting the remains back in the tombs. That they haven't been reburied yet is probably a realistic indication that they ARE going to be officially recognized soon, since they wouldn't want to go through the whole rigamarole of exhuming them all over again when that time comes. So it could actually be a good sign of a nearing conclusion.
'Opponents of the authenticity of the Tsar's remains sometimes speak on behalf of all Orthodox Christians and predict a new church schism if they are recognized as relics. What can be said in response to this? ? The fact that some of these people make such loud statements "on behalf of the Orthodox," emphasizing the "possible schism" is truly a terrible statement for them. By doing so, they already separate themselves in advance from the Holy Mother Church. Recently, some people have been holding their own conferences, where they express their opinions and evidence "about the falsity of the Tsar's remains," and at the same time they report in the media that they are doing this allegedly "in pursuance of the resolution of the Bishops' Council." I doubt that they received a blessing for these conferences from the ruling bishop of the city of Moscow ? His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. I can say for myself that the Holy Church has experienced numerous schisms and disorders over the course of two thousand years, but one thing remains unshakable - these are the words of Christ the Savior, spoken to the Apostle Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18). Saint Cyprian of Carthage said very simple words accessible to the human mind and heart: "For whom the Church is not a Mother, God is not a Father." If the Bishops' Council recognizes the "Ekaterinburg remains" as the relics of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, and it is written "It was the will of the Holy Spirit and us...", then the entire Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church must accept this holy news with reverence and joy. When the holy relics of the Royal Passion-Bearers are placed in reliquaries, and due honors are rendered to them, and numerous worshipers and pilgrims come to them, then, by the ineffable mercy of God, they will show us, sinners, their help, miracles and healings. And then Great Russia will shine in even greater glory and grandeur. Archimandrite Tikhon (Zatekin)'
So here's my take. The point the Archimandrite makes at the end is key: if & when the remains are officially recognized, they'll be prepared in reliquaries and pieces will be sent to multiple churches. The Orthodox Church operates today the same as it did in the 4th century, and decisions are made on a timeline that might not fit into our understanding. That the remains will be treated as relics is part of the delay; just the reality of things taking time rather than a matter of disrespect.
It's going to be a "Catch-22" for people who don't want further disturbance of the bones: when officially confirmed, there will be pieces of the bodies sent to churches. So either way, there's not going to be the simple matter of just putting the remains back in the tombs. That they haven't been reburied yet is probably a realistic indication that they ARE going to be officially recognized soon, since they wouldn't want to go through the whole rigamarole of exhuming them all over again when that time comes. So it could actually be a good sign of a nearing conclusion.
