THEOSISPhilaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
After God bestowed His blessing upon kings for the unyielding unity of their people, figures like David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah exemplify the potential and responsibility of a ruler to inspire their subjects to lead “a quiet and tranquil life...in all godliness and purity.” Can it be asserted that there were no such monarchs or that their reign did not yield significant effects? This is accurate, particularly within the realm of Israel, where both rulers and nations failed to seek the true God, opting instead to worship idols; consequently, their ineffective prayers bore no good fruit.
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From the chronicles of Christian kingdoms, I will focus on a singular example illustrating how a devout king can encourage the growth and foundation of authentic faith among his subjects. There was a period in Constantinople when Arianism flourished to such an extent that St. Gregory the Theologian, summoned by the faithful to defend Orthodoxy, was unable to locate a church for his ministry and was compelled to establish a place for worship within a home. However, through the intercession of the Orthodox Church and the divine Providence of God, the righteous Emperor Theodosius emerged, determined to offer protection and support to Orthodoxy. St. Gregory recounts that he “walked among the army and the Emperor” to gain entry into the capital’s cathedral, as a precaution against the many disruptive Arians was essential. Following this, the message of Orthodoxy began to spread more openly among the citizens of Constantinople; soon, under the auspices of the devout Emperor, an orthodox cathedral was established, restoring the Empire’s capital, which had been threatened by heresy, to its rightful status as the heart of orthodoxy.
The reflections drawn from the Apostolic teachings regarding prayer and gratitude to God for the righteous King, regarded as a precious gift to the people and the Church, will resonate within your own thoughts and sentiments, shaped by what you perceive and how you act. Do we not witness the paternal care of our Righteous Sovereign toward our “quiet and tranquil life” in His swift efforts to terminate the devastating war waged against us, granting us peace by appeasing our foes with favorable assurances, and refraining from retaliation for the discord that had occurred? Can we not recognize a noble example of His piety in His desire to sanctify His royal authority, already blessed by the established line of succession, through the reception of the royal crown accompanied by the Church's prayers and God's blessings, as well as through the sacred anointing?
Let us, faithful children of Russia, amplify our sincere prayers for our pious Emperor Alexander Nikolayevich, that the King of kings Himself may invisibly “place ... on His head a crown of precious stone” (Ps. 20:4) and “crown Him with mercy and bounty” (Ps. 102:4); that He may “anoint” Him with “the holy oil” (Ps. 88:21), the oil of grace, with the spirit of wisdom and strength, that He may “bless Him with the blessing of goodness” (Ps. 20:3), and may He likewise bless the partner of His glory, the beloved Empress Maria Alexandrovna, for our complete joy and the flourishing of our Fatherland.