174. Слово в день торжества о рождении Великого Князя Николая Александровича

(Spoken in the Assumption Cathedral, September 11; printed separately and in collections of 1844 and 1848) You know the custom of the Holy Church that at the onset of the holiday, even in the beginning of the evening Divine service, it opens the Holy Scriptures, and in it shows a mirror and an image of what constitutes the subject of the holiday. For example, celebrating the memory of the Righteous One, she proclaims from the holy book: “the memory of the righteous is with praise” (Prov. 10:7). Thus, the spiritual legitimacy of the holiday is confirmed by the word of God; the essence or mystery of the holiday is explained, and the joy of the holiday receives new light. On this holiday, we could not fulfill this until the present moment: because this triumph, although previously called upon by our desires, embraced by hopes, nevertheless, due to the nature of the subject, suddenly visited us. Let us now fulfill at least partly the church custom: we will show you a mirror and an image of a real triumph in the sacred books. “The word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and say to my servant David: “I will raise up your seed after you, whoever is from your womb, and I will prepare his kingdom, and I will rule his throne forever.” - According to all these words, and according to all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. And King David came down and sat before the Lord, and said: You have loved me even to this day. And this is small before You, O Lord, my Lord, and You spoke about the house of Your servant far away. - And what else will David add to You? And now You weigh Your servant, O Lord my Lord. And for the sake of Thy servant Thou hast created this, and according to Thy heart Thou hast created all this majesty, to tell Thy servant, for Thy majesty, O my Lord, Lord. There is no one like You, and there is no God like You in all that our ears hear. And who are thy people Israel, the tongue of the earth, like thy people? For God instruct them to deliver a people for themselves, to give you a name, to create greatness and enlightenment” (2 Samuel 7:3–4, 12–13, 17–23). Let us note in this sacred legend, firstly, that the inheritance of the descendants of David on the throne of the Kingdom of Israel was a matter of the special direct Providence of God; secondly, that David recognized and accepted this dispensation of God with humble reverence; thirdly, that he first of all brought the joy of giving him royal offspring to the church of God as a sacrifice to God, in a prayer of gratitude; fourthly, that David attributed God’s blessing of hereditary inheritance to the throne not only to himself and his family, but also to the entire people of Israel. What a bright mirror this is of a real royal celebration! What a wonderful image of a wonderful event in the royal All-Russian House! If a wise, strong-willed and pious king is a strong foundation of national prosperity in the race in which He reigns; if a worthy heir to the throne ensures this prosperity for the next generation: then the blessed birth of the Heir to the Heir to the Throne extends the joyful hopes of the Tsar and the Kingdom to the third and fourth generation. And who gave this coveted gift to our Tsar, Russians? Who else but the One to whom “I open every hand, they are filled with goodness” (Ps. 103:29), and especially, through whom “kings reign” (Prov. 8:15)? Although no Nathan appeared to say to our King: Behold the Son of Thy Son: nevertheless, this is God’s work, God’s gift. What mother could ever say: I will bear fruit? What father could say: I will have a son? – For this reason, the Word of God recognizes children not so much as the property of their parents, but rather as the property of God: “behold, the heritage of the Lord is the sons, the wages of the fruit of the womb” (Ps. 127:3). So, although not audibly, but nevertheless really, the Lord said to the blessed Tsarevich: “You will have a son.” The Lord said to the most pious King: “Behold the son of Your Son.” And He sees; and Russia rejoices with Him. The Church also rejoices in the joy common to the Kingdom; because the hopes of the pious House of the Tsar are the hopes of the Church. And she especially rejoices that the Royal joy, like David’s joy, first of all goes to the church, appears before God, and makes a prayer sacrifice. And since the Most Pious Sovereign is drawn at this time by His high responsibilities from His capital to one of the borders of the vast Kingdom: then, unanimous with Him both in everything and in piety, the Queen with her immediate word called her loyal subjects to grateful prayer, and with special favor, especially in this calling, she remembered you, the “Church”, and the children of the “first throne” capitals! I have no need to arouse joy anymore. It is complete and perfect, without a doubt, in all of us. I must remind you of one thing: let us be attentive, so that we may be worthy of the joy with which God’s Providence rewards us. By deeds and life of faith in God and loyalty to the King, let us carefully guard on our part the prosperity that the goodness of God strengthens for us with His blessings over the Royal House. Amen. You might be interested in: