PHOTO: Eugene Sergeevich Botkin (1865-1918)

On this day – 9th June (O.S. 27th May) 1865 – Eugene Sergeevich Botkin, the chief physician of Emperor Nicholas II and his family, was born at Tsarskoye Selo.

Eugene was the fourth child born into the family of the famous Russian physician-therapist (who had served as the personal physician to Emperors Alexander II and Alexander III), professor of the Medical-Surgical Academy Sergei Petrovich Botkin (1832-1889) and Anastasia Alexandrovna Krylova (1835-1875).

As a child, he was known for his generosity, modesty and aversion to violence. His brother Pyotr (Peter) Sergeevich recalled: “He was infinitely kind. One could say that he came into this world for the sake of helping people.”

In 1878, on the basis of the education he received at home, he was admitted to the 5th grade of the 2nd Petersburg classical gymnasium (school). After graduating from high school in 1882, he entered the Physics and Mathematics Faculty of St. Petersburg University, however, having passed the exams for the first year of the university, he left for the junior department of the opened preparatory course of the Military Medical Academy. In 1889, Botkin graduated from the academy being awarded the title of doctor with honours.

In 1891, Eurgene married Olga Vladimirovna Manuilova (1872-1946), whom he divorced in 1910. The couple had 5 children: Sergei (who died at the age of 6 months); Dmitri (1894-1914); Yuri (1896-1941): Tatiana (1899-1986) and Gleb (1900-1969) – the defender of Anna Anderson, who claimed that she was the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna.

PHOTO: Dr. Eugene Sergeevich Botkin (left) with Eperor Nicholas II (right)

In 1904, the Russian-Japanese war began, and Eugene volunteered for the Far East, where he was by decree of the Main Directorate of the Russian Red Cross Society, appointed assistant to the Chief Commissioner for the acting armies for the medical division. Occupying this rather high administrative position, Dr. Botkin was often at the forefront. During the war, Eugene not only showed himself to be an excellent doctor, but also showed great personal courage.

He wrote many letters from the front, of which a whole book was composed – “The Light and Shadows of the Russian-Japanese War of 1904-1905“. This book was soon published, and many, after reading it, discovered new sides of the St. Petersburg doctor: “his Christian, loving, infinitely compassionate heart and unshakable faith in God”.

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, having read Botkin’s book, wished that Eugene become the personal doctor of the Imperial Family. On 13th April 1908 – Easter Sunday – Emperor Nicholas II signed a decree appointing Doctor Eugene Sergeevich Botkin as a physician of the Imperial Court.

Dr. Botkin was among the few confidants who voluntarily followed the Tsar and his family into exile to Tobolsk in Siberia. His letters from Tobolsk are striking in their truly Christian spirit: not a word of condemnation, discontent or resentment, but complacency and even joy.

In August 1917, Dr. Botkin voluntarily followed the Imperial Family into exile to Tobolsk in Siberia, where they lived under house arrest for 8 months. In April 1918, he again volunteered to accompany the Imperial couple to Ekaterinburg. On the night of 16/17 July 1918, the Imperial Family, their four faithful retainers, which included Dr. Botkin, were shot by members of the Ural Soviet in the basement of the Ipatiev House.

PHOTO: icon depicting the Righteous Passion-Bearer Yevgeny the Physician

In 1981, Botkin along with the Imperial Family, was canonized as a New Martyr by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

On 16th October 2009, the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation decided to rehabilitate 52 persons of the Imperial family and their retainers who had been subjected to repression, including Dr. Botkin.

On 3rd February 2016, the Bishop’s Council of the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Botkin as Righteous Passion-Bearer Yevgeny the Physician.

© Paul Gilbert. 9 June 2024