420. Речь по окончании напутственного молебна, при выступлении в поход 16-й пехотной дивизии

(Spoken in Ekzertsirgauz on January 16th; published in the Moscow and Gubernsk. Vedom. and in the magazine: Reading for Soldiers 1854). Children of the Tsar and Father and Mother of Russia, warrior brothers! The Tsar, the Fatherland and Christianity call you to feat, and the prayer of the Church and the Fatherland accompanies you. The enemy, defeated under Catherine the Second, defeated under Alexander the First, defeated under Nicholas the First, is again calling Russia to battle, and your brethren have already resumed the habit of winning over him on land and sea. If, by the destinies of God, you should stand against the face of the enemy, you will think that you are fighting for the Most Pious Tsar, for the dear Fatherland, for the Holy Church against non-Christians, against the persecutors of Christianity, against those oppressing peoples of the same faith and partly of our fellow tribes, against the insulters of the shrine of the worshiped places of the Nativity, Passion and Resurrection of Christ. If ever, then especially under these conditions, blessing and glory to those who overcome, blessing and bliss to those who sacrifice their lives with faith in God, with love for the Tsar and the Fatherland! It is said in scripture about the ancient ascetics for the fatherland: “by faith you conquered the kingdom” (Heb. 11:33). By faith you too will be victorious. For this reason, we guide you with prayer and signs of faith. The ancient strong man of prayer for Russia, our Reverend Father Sergius, blessed the once victorious war against the oppressors of Russia. His image walked among our regiments under Tsar Alexy, under Peter the Great, and finally under Alexander the First during the great battle against twelve nations. May the image of St. Sergius accompany you as a sign of his promoting, protecting, and strong prayers before God for you. Take also and have with you the military and victorious word of the King and Prophet David: “In God is salvation... and glory” (Ps. 62:8). You might be interested in: