m. Evfrosinia wrote:There is certainly nothing derogatory in the term "Passion-bearers", and they are in no way "lesser" saints than holy martyrs. I remember that Met. Philaret would often refer to the Royal Martyrs as "Passion-bearers" in explaining their podvig, back in the years before the ROCOR glorified them, and when many within ROCOR still questioned the glorification. It is true, however, that the MP uses this term to underline what they see as a difference between them and "real" New-martyrs, who, they say, died directly because of their faith and not because of "politics", and therefore most True Orthodox in Russia now make a point of referring to the Royal Martyrs specifically as martyrs, rather than Passion-bearers.
Is this Met. Philaret that you mention the Saint Philaret?
There is a beautiful prayer giving great hope written by Met. Philaret in one of my prayerbook.