Ganina Yama Monastery – Russia’s last royal family.
One of the most visited places during Ekaterinburg tours is the Ganina Yama Monastery, built in memory of the Romanovs, Russia’s last royal family. Where today stands the tsar’s Monastery Of The Holy Imperial Passion-Bearers, years ago, was the place where the bodies of the Romanov family were buried. The holy landmark, located 9.5 miles from Ekaterinburg, is among the most significant pilgrimage sights in entire Russia.
The story begins in 1917 during the Russian Civil War when the royal family was exiled to this part of the country by Bolsheviks. They spent over a year in Tobolsk but, tragically, on the night of July 17, 1918, Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their five children, and four servants were shot in the Ipatiev House basement, in the city of Ekaterinburg. Their bodies were buried and haven’t been found until 1991 in Ganina Yama, all except the youngest daughter Anastasia and son Alexei. This was actually one of the main reasons why, for decades, there existed rumors that some of the Romanovs had survived.
This is a very beautiful, and functioning Russian Orthodox church, very impressed with the size and detailed beauty of the interior. Church services were taking place during our visit. It is the most beautiful and graceful fully functioning Russian Orthodox cathedral in Ekaterinburg. The cathedral houses the relics of a few very honored and great Russian Orthodox Christians.As evident the church has extremely beautiful gold gilded domes.
