Passion-bearer is a concept from the Russian Orthodox Church. It refers to all Christian martyrs.
Definition of concept
A passion-bearer is a person who endures suffering, trials of passions in the name of Jesus Christ. Moreover, in most cases this definition does not refer to those who died as martyrs for the Christian faith. Such people are usually called martyrs and great martyrs. Passion-bearers are those who have mortally suffered from their loved ones and even co-religionists. Most often because of their malice, envy, deceit, intrigues and conspiracies.
Therefore, the passion-bearer is a concept that especially emphasizes the nature and features of the accomplished feat. So they call only a person who died without malice in his heart, in accordance with the commandments of Jesus Christ.
In the literal sense, the passion-bearer and the martyr are synonymous concepts. But at the same time, the first one dies of suffering for the fulfillment of Christian commandments. But the martyr dies because of suffering for his faith in Jesus Christ, because he does not agree to renounce this faith, even being tortured and persecuted.
Prayer to the Passion-Bearers
In Orthodoxy, a special prayer is addressed to the martyrs. ATIn its most common version, the believer specifically refers to the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his family. They were canonized in 2000 precisely in the rank of martyrs.
In a prayer it is necessary to list all the canonized members of the royal family who died that night. This is not only Emperor Nicholas and his wife Alexandra, but also their children: Alexei, Maria, Olga, Tatiana and Anastasia.
Turning to them, believers ask for help, protection and fortitude, which they lack. After all, this is a strong family that has endured unprecedented suffering. They say that they carried out their "Ipatiev" cross (they shot the royal family in the Ipatiev House).
Turning to them, it is customary to pray for family well-being, mutual love and respect between spouses, well-bred children, purity and chastity in the family. They also ask for assistance in illness, persecution and grief.
Why is Nicholas II a martyr?
Nicholas II is a martyr. He was recognized by him first by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and then by the Moscow Patriarchate. In 1981 and 2000 respectively. Today, in Orthodoxy, the emperor and his family are revered as royal martyrs.
They were shot by the Bolsheviks in the Ipatiev House on the night of July 16-17, 1918. The power of this party in the country at that time was fragile, so the top leadership sought to gain a foothold at the head of state by any means. One of the ways was the total destruction of the royal family. This was done in order toneither the emperor himself, nor his wife or children, even theoretically, could claim the throne. It is worth recognizing that, despite the victory of the October Revolution, Nicholas II could still gather a certain part of Russian society behind him in order to try to turn history back again. The Bolsheviks played ahead of the curve.
Other martyrs
There are a lot of martyrs in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. These are people who, even before the face of death, did not betray the Christian faith and the commandments of Jesus Christ.
Besides Nicholas II, the most famous martyrs are the brothers Boris and Gleb, as well as the Monk Dula.
Dula lived in the 5th century in one of the Egyptian monasteries. Because of his meek disposition, he was often attacked and ridiculed by the brethren. Once he was accused of stealing church vessels and committing other crimes. Dula denied everything, but there were monks who gave false testimony against him. Then he admitted his guilt. But at the same time, he could not tell where he hid the stolen, because he did not do it. He was tortured, and then the court sentenced him to cut off his hands. Only after that was the real thief found, who confessed to everything.
At the same time, Dula was only grateful that he got the opportunity to suffer innocently. Three days after his release, he died in his cell.
Boris and Gleb were killed by their brother Svyatopolk. He sought to get rid of all the next of kin in order to monopolize power. They were martyred while prayingbefore death. At the same time, according to various versions, they knew that Svyatopolk had sent assassins after them, but they did practically nothing and did not try to protect themselves. The brothers accepted death as real Christian martyrs, passion-bearers.
