400. Речь Благочестивейшему Государю Императору Николаю Павловичу пред вступлением Его Величества в Московский Успенский Собор

(Spoken on April 30th; printed in Russian Invalid, 1835) 942 Most pious Sovereign! The sacred parable teaches us to always be awake: “you don’t know,” he says, “when the Lord will come to the house; lest he come suddenly and find you while you sleep” (Mark 13:35–36). Oh that Your coming, for the most part as sudden as in the parable, would always find us as ready as the parable teaches! But if Your penetrating gaze sees between us something discontentedly awake and prepared: then may Your faithful city be allowed to accept another parable: “I sleep, but my heart watches” (Song. 5:2). We rest in carelessness, trusting in Your care, protection, truth and mercy. But our heart is awake with loyal love and compassion to fulfill Your sacred will. And now, when our great sun with its bright morning star rises in our sky, who, if not the always awake love, awakens all souls, all feelings, directs so many thirsty glances, raises so many joyful cries. Come, and with the gaze of Your favor and the wave of Your power, awaken us more and more to everything worthy of Your beneficial intentions, while we pray to the Father of Lights, that the light of Your life, Your throne and Your Family, always rises, not knowing evening and night, just as our heart before You does not want to know sleep and slumber. Printed according to the list from the Russian Invalid, which was necessarily delivered to us by N.P. Syreyshchikov. You might be interested in: