133. Речь Его Императорскому Высочеству Всероссийского престола Наследнику, Государю Цесаревичу, Великому Князю, Александру Николаевичу, пред вступлением в Московский Успенский Собор

(Spoken July 24; printed separately and in collections of 1844 and 1848) Your coming is always bright for us, like the dawn from the Sun of Russia, but this time there are new views, new feelings and thoughts. With special joy we welcome You after Your journey even to another part of the World, although all in the same Fatherland; for our heart tremblingly followed Your early, distant and swift flight. But what does this journey mean? Isn’t that what the ancient sage said: “travel around countries, wisdom will increase”? You must inherit the wisdom that embraces the vastest of the kingdoms of the earth: and the far-sighted guardianship of Your August Parent, in addition to the home guidance for this wisdom, appointed Russia as a training church for You. So what? “Bypassing the countries” of Russia, You have already reached further than any of its Kings. Your own eye collects or verifies and multiplies information about her strengths, means and needs. What longed-for fruits Russia should hope for from this! Behold, you extend your observant gaze to the ancient throne city. A deep thought leads You to honor here the shrine that sanctifies the Kings and preserves the ever-memorable peace of Your ancestors sanctified by it. Here You most especially touch the heart of Russia, and its vital force, which is hereditary love for hereditary Sovereigns, which reflected so many hostile forces in previous and present centuries, you see in its free play - in these waves of people striving for You, in these enthusiastic glances, in these solemn exclamations. May the love of Russians make your work easy, inspired by love for Russia. When you return to Your Beloved and Your Parent to us: tell Him that Russia feels His far-sighted care for it; that we bless Him both for ourselves and for posterity; that we pray that the race and line of descendants will grow and mature before His and Your eyes, so that for ourselves and for us they may bless Him and You. You might be interested in: