I myself consider the blessed royal family as saints. One day Russia may have her monarchy back and her dignity with it. - Michelle E.

All my life he has been my most beloved saint and martyr. I have always felt a special feeling of veneration towards him. Really, it is so sad that his tragedy has been so misrepresented during this century. - Daniel S.

The Bolsheviks and today's communists paint the Royal Family as having been corrupt and evil. Hardly. You are right in that, despite whatever human flaws they (and all of us) have, they were so devoted to Orthodoxy. Ella in particular. She has also been made a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church. If people in Russia today would exhibit the service and compassion of some of yesterday's aristocracy, it would improve the living standards there dramatically. - Scott M.

I, too, share your feelings. I've been fascinated with the Romanovs for over twenty years. Someday I will make a visit to Saint Petersburg and pay my respects to them. God save the Tsar! - Reginald B.

I commend you on your hard work and dedication toward keeping the memory of the Romanovs alive. Apart from their station, I have always thought they sounded like a kind and caring family. Nicholas, in particular, is someone whom I would have liked to have met. - C.P.

I think they should be buried and canonized as saints so they can finally rest in peace. - R.S.M.

Even now, I believe that the last Romanov mystery, of the whereabouts of the Tsarevitch´s body and one of his sisters (Maria or Anastasia) will be solved, even if it takes time. But at least they and the rest of their family will be always remembered as martyrs and saints of the Russian Orthodox Church forever. - Pedro M.

I hope others will come to appreciate them for what they were. - Theresa D.

I, too, feel the same as you about this Nicholas II. If I could write the best traits of a man I would have Nicky. - Steve P.

There are those who say that the Romanovs were not the only ones who died and suffered at the end of the old Regime and in the years since, but they were among the first, and being most prominent, they provided the opportunity for we ordinary souls to "look up" to their example. It is encumbent upon our leaders to provide the moral example -- so few truly do; but they did. That is why we bless and honor them now. - Judith H.

Shortly after finishing the Massie book, I bought the beautiful photography album put together by Peter Kurth called "Tsar: The Lost World of Nicholas and Alexandra." I consider this book to be one of my household's prized possessions. Everytime I carefully flip through it, I feel as if I have been granted a special privilege. It's as if this lovely family is not dead after all and I am a guest of theirs, allowed to look in on their personal lives. In truth, like you, I wish I could have met the Romanovs (especially Grand Duchess Olga, to whom I feel a particular attraction). Who knows, perhaps in the next world... - John G.T.

I pray for them, too. - Anonymous Student

I have been given the opportunity and the gladness to access to your article on the Romanovs, and I am very satisfied for your opinion and feelings about such beloved family. I express so sincerely that when on reading your beautiful words I feel completely identified with them, like it was flowing out of my heart. - Martin S. (formerly written in beautiful Spanish)

The Holy Royal Martyrs... I,too, love them very much. Their love of God, humility, and devotion to Russia is an inspiration to us all. I am hoping that the world will know more of the truth about them. - Valerie S.

The Holy Royal Martyrs have been beholding the Face of the Saviour these 80 years now, and rest assurred in the realisation of the promise in God's Word that "the Lord knoweth them that are His." 2 Timothy 2:19 So you see, it doesn't matter if the Russian Orthodox Church glorifies them or not. GOD has already glorified them. And given the choice of being glorified by man or by God, I'll take GOD every time. - Charlie F.

Hi there again! So your a Catholic too. Why should we not be enthusiastic about a holy family like the royal Russian Martyrs? - John F.

I was wondering what you think of the new animated movie that is coming out about Anastasia. I was horrified when I went to their web site and read the "history" that they propose. It was not that it was completely off-the-wall, but that's the problem. It was believeable, yet biased, and too many people are going to read it as fact. I hope that you will look at the site and perhaps post some message about it on your page (which is one of my favorites) to help people spread the word of the problems with this animated picture. Thank you so much! - University of Tulsa Student

I'm only a 10/m but today I saw the animated movie. And it really touched my heart. But when I heard from my mother that it was based on a true story. And it broke my heart. So I tried to find out as much about her and her family. And I was wondering how the Romanovs were killed. And I was wondering if Anastasia had survived? And why they killed their family? - Matthew

I am so happy to finally find another person who share the same passion for this beloved family. I totally agree with everything you said. Anyone would have to be crazy not to think that the Romanov family does not deserve that title of saint. Thank you for such a wonderful web page. I hope you keep writing as you find any new information. - H.

I think that Nicholas Romanov was a wonderful father figure and that people can take a lesson from him. I also think that the family are already Saints and that they are entitled to a proper burial! I was watching a show about them Sunday night and when it was said the bones of the family are in a bag it made me angry they deserve better than that, they were humans who loves one another and had feelings, who did not deserve to die the they did! I like to read anything about the Romanovs and enjoy seeing pictures of them being happy for their last months were torture for them, but at leased they had each other. - Lisa

Amazing that there are people out there "in love with the Romanovs" as I am. I have two books on their lives -- something about them is so poignant and heartbreaking that I feel compelled to read and look at their pictures again and again. I have nothing whatsoever in common with them; I am a native of the southeastern U.S, grew up in poor circumstancess, and even I don't understand what draws me to them. The thing that is the most touching to me about the Romanovs is Nicholas's writings -- his diaries and the almost innocence he projected. How lucky his family was to have him! Would like to hear more about how your fascination with them manifests itself. - Glenda P.

Romanov family knew Christ and is in Heaven. - Gwen B.

BEING OF RUSSIAN HERITAGE I HAVE READ AS MUCH AS I CAN ON THE LAST CZAR AND HIS CRUEL AND UNTIMELY DEATH. PEOPLE NEVER STOP TO CONTEMPLATE HOW THIS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED MASSACRE EFFECTED WORLD POLITICS/HISTORY TO THE PRESENT DAY! HAD RUSSIA GONE THE WAY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS ....A TOTALLY DIFFERNT WORLD HISTORY WOULD BE EVOLVING TODAY!! THE WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS, POLITICALLY STABLE, ETC., HAD THE FATE OF RUSSIAN NOT BEEN SO CRUELLY LED DOWN A PATH OF TOTAL DESTRUCTION FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THAT NATION. SO MUCH NEEDLESS SUFFERING....AND FOR WHAT REASON. THE GREED, EGO AND LUST FOR POWER OF EVIL MEN MANY IN RUSSIAN AND MANY WHO WERE NOT RUSSIAN !! - Bob G.

Nicholas, Alexandra, the Grand Duchesses and the Tsarevitch were a very special family that should be remembered not for how they died, but for how they loved and supported each other. - Nova

It is true that many people do not understand having a love for saints, they only see them as dead people, I'm afraid. But there are those who understand, and truly love God and his Saints, and there will be up until the end! - Alexis W.

I'm tired of reading about the weakness of NicholasIl--he was not weak, but human. He made decisions based on, not only the needs of his beloved Russia, but those of his beloved family. The very things we claim so dear now: character, family loyalty and moralty are the very things he is criticized for now. I applaud your message because it appeals to the REAL Nicholas- the REAL Alix--and all the Romanovs killed for the German dream. Post Script--I too think that Robert K. Massie is the definitive authority on the last Russian family. - Katarina G.