425. Речь к стрелковому полку Императорской фамилии по совершении молебствия

(Spoken September 9th; printed separately) 943 . Brothers, warriors of the Royal army! It is with consolation that we see you going to defend the Fatherland. You are fulfilling a sacred duty: and you are doing it all the better because your good will and love for the Tsar and the Fatherland freely called you to this feat. Moreover, God, who loves voluntary sacrifices, will bless you; the Fatherland will be even more grateful to you if you continue and complete the feat so zealously begun. If a house were attacked by robbers, who of the family, having the strength and opportunity, would not rise up to defend themselves, their own, and the common property? Shouldn’t we rebel with great self-sacrifice against the enemies who attacked the great house of our Tsar, Russia, without truth, and, violating the laws of a fair war, allow themselves to commit robbery and devastation? Once upon a time, during an attack by foreigners on the land of the people of God, Jesse sent his three eldest sons to fight for the Fatherland; and then he sent the younger David to deliver food to them on the campaign: and this food bearer became a sudden warrior and conqueror of enemies. So the righteous sacrifice to the Fatherland what they have most dearly: so the righteous God gives wondrous help and strength to noble self-sacrifice. Brethren! By faith you too are the people of God: continue to demonstrate the people of God within yourself through your deeds. For such a people, God’s wondrous help will never fail. Here is the holy image of Christ the Savior, with which the Empress Maria Alexandrovna blesses you, with the prayer of Her most pious heart, may you fight in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and may your grace always be strong, unshakable in courage and victorious. Here is another holy image from the monastery of our Reverend Father Sergius, with which is connected the memory of his strong prayers for Russia and her army, and of God’s help through them, as well as the memory of the faith of our ancestors, who carried an image similar to this in their regiments, as a sign of patronage and help from above. May he be present to you to console your faith, to strengthen your hope for God’s help; and may it be a sign of the Divine blessing on feat and victory. According to instructions in readings General. Loves. Spirit. Enlightenment and according to Syreyshchikov’s list (from newspapers and magazines) “a speech on Red Square before the Rifle Regiment departed on a campaign.” You might be interested in: