54. Речь при всенародном открытии, хранящагося в Московском Успенском Соборе, завещательного акта в Бозе почившаго Государя Императора Александра Павловича, о назначении на наследственный Всероссийский Престол Его Императорского Величества Благочестивейшаго Государя Николая Павловича Императора и Са

(Said on December 18th; printed separately, both in the Moscow Gazette of 1825 and in the collections of 1835, 1844 and 1848). After the meeting in the great Dormition Cathedral of the Governing Senate, the Military and Civil Officials and the people, the Archbishop of Moscow, in full vestments, preceded by other clergy, came out of the Holy Altar, carrying a silver ark over his head, stopped at the table prepared on the pre-Altar Ambon, and, having the ark in front of him, said: The third year, as in this Holy and King-sanctifying Church, in this ark that you see, the great will of the Blessed Alexander, destined to be His last will, is kept. He was pleased to cover it with a veil of secrecy: and the guardians did not dare to touch this veil ahead of time. Alexander's last minute passed; the time has come to seek His last will: but for a long time we did not know that this time had come. Suddenly we learn that Nicholas, with the meekness and humility inherited from Alexander, is elevating the eldest Brother; and at the same time orders a new veil of secrecy to be placed on the Charter of Alexander. What were we supposed to do? It was possible to predict what kind of secret the Charter, annexed to the previous Charters on the succession to the Throne, contained. But it was impossible not to notice that to reveal this secret at that time would have meant tearing the heart of every Russian in two. What were we supposed to do? You see, Blessed Soul, that we were not unfaithful to You: but our loyalty had no other thing to do than to guard the treasure that was not the time to bring into the light - how to protect in silence that which was not allowed to be proclaimed. It was necessary to leave the Royal Secret buried in this ark, as if in a tomb, and leave the moment of resurrection to Heaven. The King of Kings has sent this minute. Now nothing prevents us from crushing this seal, opening this coffin that hides the life of the state. The great will of Alexander will be resurrected. Russians! For twenty-five years we have found our happiness in fulfilling the Sovereign will of Alexander the Blessed. Once again you will hear it, perform it, and find your happiness in it. После сего снята с ковчега печать, вынут из него пакет, и по освидетельствовании на нем печати и собственноручной надписи в Бозе почившаго Государя Императора Александра Павловича, открыт и прочитан Архиепископом Высочайший Манифест в Бозе почившаго Государя Императора Александра Павловича с приложенным при нем оригинальным Его Императорского Высочества Государя Цесаревича and Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich by renouncing the right to inherit the Throne. For this, the oath of allegiance to His Imperial Majesty the Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich was started, with the established solemnity. You might be interested in: