Content area
Full Text
This article focuses on the myth of the "ritual murder" of the last Russian Emperor and his family, which was first constructed in 1918, gained popularity during the Civil War, and was later disseminated by the Russian émigré media. The content of the myth is analyzed with respect to Christian eschatology and the belief that the Russian Czar was the "restrainer of evil" who attempts to rescue humanity from the arrival of the Antichrist. The anti-semitic nature of the myth is discussed as well as the reasons for accusations against Jews for the "ritual murder" of the Czar's family. The popularity of this myth in post-Soviet Russia is discussed with respect to Russian Orthodox monarchist activity, the growing popularity of prophecies about the "end of time," new studies of the remains of the royal victims by the Commission of the Russian Federation, as well as the canonization of the last Russian Emperor by the Russian Orthodox Church.
In twentieth century Russia eschatology was hardly attractive and seemed to be an obsolete branch of theology. Yet, quite unexpectedly, it has recently returned to Europe in a secularized version. Several scholars have pointed to the hybrid nature of post-secular religiosity, which is presented in postmodern colors, and they are alarmed at the spontaneous street violence1 and bellicose activity2 of its proponents. A new interest in eschatology is also found in Christian discourse, and certain authors see an "apocalyptic turn" having overtaken the contemporary world. They point mostly to ecological insecurity, the problem of migration and refugees, the growth of aggression and violence, mass impoverishment, the inability of the contemporary state to effectively solve vital social problems, digital control over people's lives, the moral vacuum, and the like.3 In the United States, eschatology attracts evangelicals who are tirelessly waiting for the Second Coming and want to anticipate it by all means.4 Finally, Apocalypticism has crept into mass culture and finds expression in fiction, films, TV shows, and new religious movements.5 For some people, the Apocalypse seems imminent and many thinkers discuss themes related to it.
The collapse of Soviet ideology and the disappearance of communist dogma in Russia left an empty space that was immediately occupied by other ideologies. In particular, religious views of the world and...