The Home of the Last Tsar - Romanov and Russian History

Moscow, May 4, Interfax - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II called on Russians to recall the historic lesson of the shooting of the family of Russian Emperor Nicholas II in connection with the 90th anniversary of this tragic event.

"I am sure that to all people that used to be part of the Russian Empire this date should remind them of the inadmissibility of illegal violence in making social transformations," Alexy II said at the reception organized by the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with Easter.

The main events commemorating the 90th anniversary of the shooting will be held in Yekaterinburg in July, he said.

Russia has already passed through "difficult years of godlessness," and currently religious principles are coming back to the society.

"Spiritual renaissance in this country continues to bring good fruit to the social life and serves to gather the Russian community," he said.

He said he was glad that in the year that passed since the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) the "brotherly ties" have consolidated on the level of dioceses, parishes and monasteries and between believers.

The elections of the first ROCOR hierarch will be held in May. "I am sure that the process of spiritual consolidation of the Russian community, consolidation of the ties of the Church outside of the motherland will continue," he said.

This country has acquired an ability "to support itself in its spiritual tradition in development of internal life and reveal its experience to the whole world," he said.