2 Chronicles 17:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To illustrate how a devout king can authentically foster the growth and foundation of genuine faith among his subjects, I will focus on one particular instance from the history of Christian kingdoms. There was a period when Arianism was so prevalent in Constantinople that St. Gregory the Theologian, summoned by the Orthodox to defend the faith, struggled to find a church for his ministry and was compelled to establish a place of worship in a private home. However, through the prayers of the Orthodox Church and by the divine Providence of God, the righteous Emperor Theodosius emerged, committing to the support and protection of Orthodoxy. St. Gregory recounts how he ‘walked among the army and the Emperor’ to gain access to the cathedral in the capital, highlighting the need for caution against the many disruptive Arians. From that moment on, the proclamation of orthodoxy began to resonate more freely with the citizens of Constantinople; soon after, with the pious Emperor’s backing, an orthodox cathedral was erected. The very city that once sought to become the epicenter of heresy was restored as the heart of orthodoxy.

The reflections derived from the Apostolic teachings concerning prayer and gratitude to God for the righteous King—an invaluable blessing to the Church and its people—will converge with your own insights and emotions, manifesting in your actions. Do we not witness the fatherly care of our Pious Sovereign in his prompt action to bring an end to the brutal conflict waged against us, extending peace by appeasing our adversaries with favorable agreements, and refraining from vengeance for the discord that unfolded? Is it not a testament to his devoutness that he seeks to bestow upon his already sanctified royal authority an even greater holiness through receiving the crown in a Church ceremony, accompanied by divine blessing and sacred anointing?

Let us, faithful children of Russia, fervently amplify our prayers for our righteous Emperor Alexander Nikolayevich, that the King of kings may invisibly ‘place ... on His head a crown of honest stone’ (Ps. 20:4), and ‘crown Him with mercy and bounty’ (Ps. 102:4); may He ‘anoint’ Him with ‘the holy oil’ (Ps. 88:21), with the oil of grace, and with the spirit of wisdom and might, may He ‘bless Him with the blessing of goodness’ (Ps. 20:3), and may He also bless His consort, the virtuous Empress Maria Alexandrovna, for our utmost joy and the complete well-being of our homeland.

The true God regained His rightful place and was revered in the temple, the city, on the mountains, and in the fields. He visibly reigned as their sovereign once more.

A parallel transformation is taking place within us. Each individual represents a small kingdom, where the ruler is our consciousness and will. The subjects consist of the various aspects of our being—body, soul, and spirit. Within us, the sanctuary of God resides in our hearts. When our ruler—our consciousness and freedom—turns away from God towards selfish pursuits and worldly matters, our hearts become filled with passions and sinful desires that act as idols. In such cases, we often serve the flesh through excesses like lust, sloth, indulgence in entertainment, and revelry, akin to the ways pagans worshipped their deities. Meanwhile, our souls may bow to vanity, the desire for approval, jealousy, and ambition, thus forming a plethora of selfish idols, leaving us in a state of reverence towards false gods rather than the true Lord.

Yet when God's mercy intervenes and He imparts upon us a spirit of humility and reverence, our ruler awakens—our consciousness and free will. Refocusing on God, we ardently strive to cleanse our kingdom of all idols, casting aside destructive passions and replacing them with virtues that are pleasing to Him. In this transformative process, our inner sanctuary becomes characterized by self-denial and devotion to God, and our hearts and bodies are filled with the sacred fruits of the Spirit: humility, kindness, moderation, purity, love, peace, patience, diligence, and more—all directed toward glorifying God and acknowledging our complete dependence on Him.

Through this renewal, we restore our orientation towards God—His love, devotion, and worship. He reestablishes His throne within us, and everything that opposes Him, whether great or small, both within our hearts and in our lives, is cast out and destroyed. This marks the true enthronement of God within us.