On July 17, 1918 at the Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg, Russia, the Imperial Royal Martyrs Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, Tsarevich Alexis, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Marie, and Anastasia were martyred, along with those with them: Dr. Eugene Botkin, Anna Demindova, Alexei Trupp, and Ivan Karinotov.

On July 18, 1918, the day after the holy Martyrdom of the Passion-bearers Tsar Nicholas II and Family, the holy Martyrdom of the loving Grand Duchess Elizabeth, Abbess of Saints Martha and Mary Convent, the Nun Barbara, as well as those with them: Prince Constantine Konstantinovich, the Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich-Theodore Semyonovich Remez, and the Count Vladimir Palovich Paely, were all also martyred in a forest in Alapaevsk, Russia.

Little did the Royal Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth and those who where with her know that her loving sister, the Royal Martyr Tsarina Alexandra, and all of her family were martyred, but the question did she. Spiritually she might have known. All those who suffered their martyrdom found the Crown of Holy Martyrdom and were ever blessed in Paradise.

These loving Imperial martyrs and Passion-bearers stand together united as one family, asking prayers for all us poor sinners.

Now we are commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Royal Martyrs and those with them. As pious Orthodox Christians, let us take time to pray to the Royal Martyrs and those with them. Let us do the Akathist to the Royal Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, as well as the Akathist and the Canon to the Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II. We will be in the end be ever comforted and blessed from these spiritually rewarding prayers.

At this time let us follow our Christian path towards the Kingdom of our Lord God and seek to acquire the same great humility, piety, and faith. We should also offer constant forgiveness, throughout our lives as did these great Martyrs during their life time.

The following are the prayers indicated:

Canon: "The Cry Of The Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II"

Akathist To The Tsar Great Martyr Nicholas Emperor Of All Russia

Akathist Hymn To The Holy Martyred Nun Elizabeth & The Other New Martyrs Of Alapayevsk