In 2024, a memorial museum dedicated to the Russian Imperial Family will open in the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, located in the city of Dno, in the Pskov region.

Pskov has a very close connection to Russia’s last Tsar. It was in Pskov, on 15th March 1917 (O.S. 2nd March) 1917, that Emperor Nicholas II was forced to sign his abdication during an illegal coup.

The Tsar noted in his diary that the Imperial Train was forced to stop at Dno, before proceeding to Pskov. It is near this station, that the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers is being constructed. The laying of the foundation stone of the Church took place in March 2017, on the day marking the 100th anniversary when the Tsar’s train was stopped here in March 1917.

The construction of the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers began six years ago. The Imperial Family memorial museum will will be on the ground floor of the building. Glass showcases are already being decorated with exhibits.

PHOTO: 10 bells were cast for the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers

On 14th July 2022, bells were raised to the bell tower of the church. They are dedicated to Emperor Nicholas II, his family and their four faithful retainers, all of whom were brutally murdered by the Ural Soviet (Bolsheviks) on the night of 16/17 July 1918.

A total of 10 bells for the Church were cast in the Urals. The largest of them weighs 1,140 kg and is dedicated to Tsar Nicholas II. On this bell there are iconographic images of the Sovereign and the Savior Almighty.

A second bell weighing 660 kg, is dedicated to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. In addition to the image of the Empress herself, there is an image of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God.

A third bell weighing 326 kg is dedicated to Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaevich and his four sisters: Grand . Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Nikolaevna. This bell is decorated with icons depicting the Tsesarevich and the Imperial Family.

The fourth bell weighing 156 kg, dedicated to the four faithful retainers of Imperial Family: the valet Aloysius Trupp (1856-1918); the maid Anna Demidova (1878-1918); the cook Ivan Kharitonov (1872-1918); and Dr. Eugene Botkin (1865-1918).The bell includes an icon of the Righteous Passion-Bearer, Dr. Eugene Botkin.

PHOTO: Work continues on the Church of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers

On 23rd November 2022, the consecration and installation of domes and crosses took place. With the blessing of Metropolitan Tikhon of Porkhov and Pskov, the rite of consecration was performed by Archpriest Serge Andreev, rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael in Dno. Work on the interiors of the Church continue.

The construction of the white-stone church in the city of Dno began in 2017 with the blessing of the Pskov Metropolitanate. It was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the death and martyrdom of the Imperial Family.

© Paul Gilbert. 17 November 2023