Christian teaching about royal power and the duties of loyal subjects

Work of St. Philaret of Moscow (Drozdov) “The Christian doctrine of royal power and the duties of loyal subjects” is dedicated to understanding the Divine establishment and the spiritual foundations of monarchical power. The essay consists of 2 parts. In the 1st part, the doctrine of the origin of power is revealed in detail. Based on Holy Scripture and historical examples, its divine nature is shown. The power of the king was established by God Himself in the image of Heavenly unity of command. The saint emphasizes the importance of autocracy and heredity to the throne as a guarantee of the stability of the state. Particular attention is paid to the sacrament of Confirmation and Crowning, which sanctifies the monarch and endows him with special grace to rule the country. The author insists on the inviolability of God's anointed, referring to the Old Testament commandments, and describes the royal service as a high feat aimed at the good of the people and strengthening the faith. The 2nd part of the treatise examines the relationship of subjects to the sovereign and power. Saint Philaret calls for reverent veneration of the king, expressed in prayer for him, celebration of royal days and unquestioning obedience to established authorities. The importance of loyalty to the oath, fulfillment of civic duties and conscious assistance to the monarch in his work for the benefit of the Fatherland is emphasized. The final sections are devoted to understanding the Providence of God in the destinies of kings and kingdoms, as well as a call for unity and fidelity to traditional values ​​as opposed to the “spirit of the times” that denies the Divine foundations of power. The work serves not only as a theological justification for the monarchy, but also as a spiritual instruction for believers, recalling the inextricable connection between the earthly kingdom and the Kingdom of Heaven and the responsibility of everyone before God and the sovereign. Part 1 On the origin of power The divine establishment of royal power The reality and properties of God's direct management of human kingdoms on earth Historical evidence of God's direct management of human kingdoms Monocracy - Autocracy of the Tsar Heredity of royal power Sacred anointing and the crowning of the Tsar The inviolability of royal power Royal exploits, or the work of the king Part 2 On the reverent veneration of the Tsar Prayer for the Tsar Celebration of royal days Sample of private prayer on royal holidays Obedience, or obedience, to the Tsar and the authorities or authorities appointed by him Fidelity of service to the Tsar Loyal oath Civil duties of loyal subjects The fate of Kings and kingdoms How we could and should correspond to, or contribute to, the difficult, high royal service Conclusion of the Christian teaching about royal power and the duties of loyal subjects You might be interested in: