Attraction Guide: Church on the Blood, Yekaterinburg, Russia

Church on the Blood Guide

A Place of Remembrance: Reflect on History at the Church on the Blood in Yekaterinburg Guide

The Church on the Blood, officially known as the Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land, is a Russian Orthodox church built on the site of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg, where Tsar Nicholas II, the last Emperor of Russia, and his family were executed in 1918. This poignant landmark serves as a memorial to the Romanov family and a place of reflection on the tragic events that unfolded here. It is a significant site for those interested in Russian history and the Romanov dynasty. The Ipatiev House, a private residence, was requisitioned by the Bolsheviks in 1918 to house the Romanov family under house arrest. On the night of July 16-17, 1918, Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their five children, and several loyal attendants were executed in the basement of the house. The house was demolished in 1977 by order of Boris Yeltsin, then the First Secretary of the Sverdlovsk Oblast Communist Party, to prevent it from becoming a site of pilgrimage. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox Church began advocating for the construction of a church on the site. Construction began in 2000, and the church was consecrated in 2003. Visitors can explore the church's stunning architecture, which incorporates elements of traditional Russian Orthodox design. Inside, you can view the main altar, chapels dedicated to the Romanov family, and a museum that details the events leading up to their execution. The basement, where the execution took place, has been preserved as a somber memorial. The church offers guided tours and opportunities for prayer and reflection. It is a place of pilgrimage for many Orthodox Christians and a powerful reminder of a pivotal moment in Russian history.