[darieBarexish]

Let us not forget that the glorification of Tsar Nicholas and the imperial family was as "Royal martyrs and passionbearers", which is significant. They have been recognised as such by both the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which first glorified them, and, more recently, by the Moscow Patriarchate, as having met their internal exile and their deaths with equanimity, and espousing and maintaining their faith despite the establishment of an avowedly atheist regime. Pious, yes, perfect people, no (though who is?), and few would argue that their sanctity is of the same order as the great martyrs, confessors or theologians we are more familiar with as worthy of sainthood.