www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Tsar Nicholas Icon in a Florida Parish

Bless, Father Moderator,

You have impeccable style, Father!

If I ever wanted to become Orthodox, I would definitely see you about it . . .

By the way, do you speak some Ukrainian?

Alex

Dear Zenovia,

Through the Jablonowskie family, I am distantly related to the Romanovs.

Other quite distant relations include: St Volodymyr, St Olha, Sts. Boris and Hlib and St Alexander Nevsky.

I hope no one has a problem with any of those too . . .

Not that it has made an impact on me in any noticeable way . . .

I am ill-mannered and tend to act childishly.

But don't take my word for this assessment of my personality - you can contact the Administrator for the whole story!

Alexander R

So Alex, what did you think of the Icon?

Dear Ray,

Exquisite, sir, simply exquisite!

Alex

some how there is a connection between the martyred Tsar Nicholas ll, and Icons, so let me proceed. many years ago, the late Tsar donated an Icon to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in lower Manhattan. the church was destroyed by debris falling from the Towers on that dreadful day. It was reported then that the Icon was missing. does anyone know anything else? as a Russian Catholic, I am very interested in matters concerning Icons and the Tsar.
Much Love,
Jonn

Dear John Nightwatchman,

I suggest you contact the Greek Archdiocese in New York. They might know something about it. Or for all you know they might have it.

Hopefully they do, and that it was not stolen for profit.

Zenovia

Unfortunately I don't think that icon was recovered. St. Nicholas bore the brunt of the debris falling from building two, and I think there was very little left to be recovered.

Kyrie eleison!

Andrew

Dear John,

In Nice there is a Russian Orthodox Church at whose consecration (for the vacationing Russian aristocrats there) Tsar St Nicholas was present.

I visited that Church and stood near the spot where the Royal Martyrs were during that ceremony . . .

Alex

Thanks Alex; that helps. Like someone once said, we can go to hell imitating the vices of the saints!
-Daniel

Dear Daniel,

In having as many children as you have, you embrace the children of the world in a heart that must be filled to overflowing with love.

You are an example for all of us to imitate!

Ciao,

Alex

Dear Alex,

Unfortunately, Ukranian is not one of my languages. Sorry!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

But I only have five, a rather small family by the standards of most of my friends, some of whom have 10 or 11!
-Daniel

A sentence I typed earlier was: "Someday we're going to have to content with churches named after both Josemaria and Nikola." I ment to type "be content" if it was misinterpreted as "contend" it was not my intention.

I was asked if I would like to encourage devotion to Blessed Emperor Charles. My answer is no. For myself, I avoid devotion of recently canonized blessed people and saints who were actively politicians or aristocrats, even if they were born into the role. I don't say politics or nationalism are in themselves evil when properly interpreted however I have seen much harm come from them when corrupted. "Satan�s successes are the greatest when he appears with the name of God on his lips." I have an excess of fear of religious devotion becoming exclusively politicized or nationalised to the point where it destroys brotherly love. I come from a family that has done very devious things through politics and aristocratic influence. Read about Tammany Hall the irish political machine if you can. Talk to Mayor Daley of Chicago, he may be the best mayor in the world but look at all the bribes that keep him in office. I am biased, yes. Do I mistrust many of those with political authority? yes I do. Forgive me please, I am a sinner. I agree with the passing of time biases are usually removed and truth is revealed to all. In my opinion not enough time has passed. I have not the time to differentiate between the truth of every persons life and propaganda promoted by their enemies. Do I obey the churches decisions and accept them? yes I do always. But you must understand as an individual I have painful feelings associated with politics, it is my weakness. I am sorry if I discourage those of you with sincere devotion to Tsar Nikola II, I respect you all. To not be biased in the way I am is both your strength and weakness. Weakness is humility, humility is strength. Temperance is wisdom.


"But as for nationalism being some kind of limitation or even vice - that is quite the crock of nonsense, sir!"

from dictionary.com
Nationalism:
1. Devotion to the interests or culture of one's nation.
2. The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals.
3. Aspirations for national independence in a country under foreign domination.

Tsar Nicholas II may not have been a nationalist but I assure you some who are nationalists adopt him as a hero.

"In May 1999 nineteen members of the extreme antisemitic organization Pamyat were arrested for an illegal demonstration to celebrate Tsar Nicholas II's birthday. Pamyat National-Patriotic Front, led by Dmitri Vasiliev, is perhaps the most notorious of all the extremist groups in post-Soviet Russia. Created in the 1980s, allegedly with support from security forces, it was one of the most active, antisemitic and nationalist groups of the glasnost period, attracting support from notable intellectuals with a programme to 'defend cultural monuments'. Vasiliev's Pamyat, while far less influential today, is still active and, in 1998, for example, published a Russian translation of Robert Wilton's Last Days of the Romanovs, which blames the Jews for the Bolshevik Revolution and the murder of the royal family. The book is currently on sale in mainstream bookshops."

Skinheads in Moscow might celebrate passion-bearer Nikola II while murdering an immigrant.
If this does not make extreme nationalism a vice what does?

"Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei"

Keep Nationalism moderate, as long as it is not arrogant it is likely good. Pope John Paul the Great made the world his nation. He canonzied as many lebanese saints as polish saints.

"Veneration of certain saints helps give a role model for us to follow. Certain saints appeal to us in our veneration. If a saint is not to your liking for some reason, it does not mean they are not saints, it just means that our temporal eyes can not see the sanctity. I guess that is why we have so many saints. So that with our clouded eyes we may still find a role model to help us in our Christian walk towards salvation."

So Criostoir there is no need to apologise to anyone if a particular saint does not click with you. The quote above is from a previous post by Fr Anthony and I think it sums it all up very nicely. It would help however to see the good in a person's life that has caught the attention of the whole Church, regardless of their walk in life. Be they peasant or king. It's their example and witness to the message of the Gospel that has caused the Church to investigate these peoples lives and only after the Pope is satisfied that all has been done correctly and there are signs of God's favour that the Pope elevates them as examples the Christian life to the faithful.

As for nationalism we know their is good nationalism and bad examples of it everywhere.
all kinds of saint have been highjacked by extremists over time. It is unfortunate as it does reflect badly when this happens on all of us as well.

As for the Royal Martyrs of Russia Pope John Paul II sent a delegation to represent him at their canonisation in Russia. As HH is almost a declared saint himself just maybe he knew something that we dont.

No one expects a carpenter to get much out of the life of a saint who was a soldier but St Josesph might inspire him and slot nicely into his spirituality. Personaly I would not have suggested Blessed Carl to you as an American unless I suspected you might have some familial ties to central Europe.

Have a good Great Lent.

ICXC
NIKA

DEar Criostoir,

Actually, do you know how many Polish saints the late great Pontiff canonized and beatified?

Your statement that he canonized as many Lebanese saints is simply not true - perhaps that wasn't your intention.

The definitions of nationalism from a dictionary are hardly representative of that complex ideology in the past two hundred years.

Irish Catholics too, in history, have identified their religion with their ethnicity to the point where, as with many other countries, one did not know where one ended and the other began.

Catholics throughout history have killed others in the name of their faith and church - and so?

Benevolent and saintly kings and sovereigns, when these are to be had, were hardly "political" but often exemplary national leaders who lived the Christian gospel in their daily lives as we are all called to do. That they did so under circumstances of greater difficulty is all the more credit to them.

Republican presidents tend not to be candidates for canonization, and for some very good reasons.

Again, the issue with Tsar Nicholas is that the West has been saturated with Bolshevik and left-wing propaganda surrounding his life for very long.

The same is true about King Charles I of England and King Louis XVIII of France.

Alex