There is still no information on the completion of the examinations of the remains of Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchess Maria and it is therefore not expected that these will be recognised in time for the centenary of their deaths on 17 July. Earlier DNA-testing had already confirmed that the remains are those of the Tsarevich and the Grand Duchess. The head of the Romanovs House of Representatives said, “The most important thing is that no one has a desire to again adjust to a certain round date to a certain predetermined result.”
He added, “If this (the announcement of the results of the examination) does not happen this year – it’s okay, we will honour the royal martyrs, regardless of the presence or absence of their relics. They, we believe, stand for Russia, before God.”
Currently, the remains of Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchess Maria are kept in storage at the Nobospassky Monastery, while the rest of the family are interred in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. The Russian Orthodox Church has insisted on carrying more detailed examinations as the bones would be considered to be holy relics.
Patriarch Kirill will visit Yekaterinburg in the days of the centenary where a meeting of the Holy Synod will also take place. However, the press secretary said, “the agenda of the meetings of the Holy Synod is closed.” Patriarch Kirill will perform divine services in Yekaterinburg and he will Alapaevsk where the consecration of a temple of the Holy Royal Passion-bears will take at the mine where Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna was murdered.
How sad that a family who lived so close together have now been parted. I really hope its not for financial reasons and future monetary gains.