65. Речь Благочестивейшему Государю Императору Николаю Павловичу, пред вступлением Его Величества в Успенский Собор для священного коронования и миропомазания

(Said on August 22nd, printed separately and in collections of 1835, 1844 and 1848). Most pious Sovereign! Finally, Russia's wait is fulfilled. You are already before the gates of the Sanctuary, in which Your hereditary sanctification has been kept for You for centuries. The impatience of loyal desires would dare to ask: why did You delay? if we did not know that just as Your present solemn coming is a joy to us, so Your previous delay was a blessing to us. You were in no hurry to show us Your glory, because You were in a hurry to establish our security. You are coming at last, as the King, not only of the kingdom inherited by You, but also of the Kingdom preserved by You. Don't these sad reminders disturb Your spirit? - Yes, it won’t! And meek David had Joab and Shimei (1 Kings 2:5–8): it is not surprising that Alexander the Blessed also had them. During the reign of David these tares grew; and his successor had the task of clearing the land of Israel from them: what if this lot of Solomon fell to Alexander’s successor? – The difficult beginning of the reign all the more quickly shows the people what God gave them in Solomon. Let nothing, nothing hinder the sacred joy of Yours and ours! “The king will rejoice in God” (Ps. 62:12). “The sons of Zion will rejoice in their King” (Ps. 149:2). Let “the whole multitude begin to praise God” (Luke 19:37): Blessed is the coming King in the name of the Lord!” (Ps. 117:26) Let universal joy, igniting hearts, make one censer out of them before God, to carry up the incense of Your heart, so that the blessed overshadowing of the King of those who reign may descend upon You and Your kingdom. Come, God-chosen and God-inherited Sovereign Emperor! The signs of Majesty clothe the properties of true Majesty. “Anointing from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20) may it seal all this with internal and obvious sanctification, long-lasting and eternal. You might be interested in: