240. Речь в Высочайшем присутствии при молебном пении, в Георгиевской зале Императорского Кремлевского дворца

(Said on April 9; printed in the Works of the Holy Father, 1849 and in the collection of 1861) By now calling upon the intercession of Saint George, and offering prayers to the Lord of Hosts, we fulfill the pious thought of our Most Pious Autocrat. What is this thought? This is a branch of a comprehensive thought, according to which the Sovereign hand created, and at this very hour is still building Its palaces. Like ordinary people, Kings also build houses for themselves in order to have a peaceful, pleasant dwelling, corresponding to their dignity and the needs of social life. But this was not enough for our Tsar. Loving to live not a separate personal life, but one common life with His people and kingdom, He was pleased that His house should be royal and royal, that both the King and the kingdom would be marked in it, that it would be a tablet, or a stone book, in which one can read the greatness of the present, and the honored memory of the past, and edification for the future. Among other royal palaces, this palace of St. George the Victorious, by its very name, does not already make it clear who the Sovereign was thinking about when he gave it this name? – He thought about His faithful ascetics of war, and not only thought, but also wanted to solemnly manifest and perpetuate His thought about them here 689. Just as His Royal spirit lives in His army with constant care for its improvement and perfection: so He wants the memory and honor of His army to live in His Royal house. The palace of St. George the Victorious should be a church of the glory of the victorious Russian army, or, what is equally true, a church of the Tsar’s love for the faithful army. The names of the regiments, bright with proven loyalty, courage, victories - the names of the members of the honorable host of St. George's warriors will shine here forever and be illuminated by the Tsar's glory. And this Royal monument is now being laid down by the Most Pious Sovereign; and for this undertaking we invoke blessings from above, through the intercession of St. George the Victorious. What do you think, what do you feel, Christ-loving warriors, at this new manifestation of the Royal favor towards your service and your merits? - Without a doubt, your heart is telling you what I would like to say: however, I will say. To devote oneself to exploits for the Tsar and the Fatherland for life and death - what a wonderful, sublime calling! If a feat at the will of the father is pleasant, and all the more pleasant the more it gives exercises of filial devotion in overcoming difficulties: how joyful a feat must be at the will of the Father of millions of people! And isn’t he more joyful the more connected with self-sacrifice? If it is pleasant to stay awake and work for the good and tranquility of the family: how desirable it must be to stand on guard and in heroism, for the tranquility and security of the Fatherland! Earthly life is given to people for a while; and for many, time takes it back for nothing. What an advantage it is to turn your life into talent, to acquire peace, victory, and glory for the Tsar and the Kingdom, to make your life a sacred sacrifice of loyalty and love for the Tsar and the Fatherland, to approach through self-sacrifice the highest degree of holy love, according to the judgment of the heavenly Judge Himself: “Greater love than anyone can have, but whoever lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) ). If the soul tends to receive the strongest movement towards goodness when the commanding voice of duty is joined by the affectionately persuasive voice of heartfelt feeling, then isn’t this voice especially rising in you now? Do not the noble movements of your hearts receive new strength? – The more solemn the favor of the King appears to you: the more ardent should be your zeal to serve Him, and your readiness to sacrifice yourself for Him. The more majesticly He honors your rank, even in His Royal Palace: the more vigilantly you must preserve the honor of your rank everywhere - in battle, on a campaign, in a peaceful city, in military life, and in moral life. The honor of a warrior lies not only in ardent courage, but also in strict obedience to the Commander, in unanimity with his comrades, in unshakable fortitude, in vigilant caution against those attacking with weapons and against those sneaking up with a deadly word, in meekness towards the unarmed, in respect for property, even that of the enemy, in moderation, “contented”, as John the Baptist taught, “their dues” (Luke 3:14). The highest strength of a warrior is faith and trust in the Lord of Hosts. May God help the Sovereign wisdom to keep the Russian army in the same position as it is now, so that its formidable appearance alone is sufficient to repel the war, and so that there is no need to defeat enemies. But if when the insolence of your enemies and Divine Justice call you to battle, you will then especially remember this palace, and each regiment and each warrior will say with one heart: let us strive so that the Tsar in His St. George’s palace will look with a cheerful eye on the names of our regiments! God of the armies of heaven and earth, fighting righteously for the kingdom of earth and heaven! With your help, the Prophet, who defeated his enemies, not without your call, erected a monument to victory, and called it “the stone of help” (1 Samuel 7:12). Bless the Royal Monument being built here, too, a monument not only to the courage and victories of the Christ-loving Russian soldiers, but also to Your help, by which they are victorious and invincible. And grant our Most Pious King the consolation to see the names written here always shining with honor and virtue. Amen. In Creation St. Ot. there is no such word. You might be interested in: