Orthodox Christianity has always been friendly towards hierarchy. Monarchy in particular is seen as a reflection of the divine rule of God over His creation. Even during the Roman persecutions, Christians did not call for overthrowing the heathen emperors:
Tertullian (+ c. 240) employed a similar
argument. “Anticipating Eusebius, he insisted that Christians rendered ‘such
reverential homage as is lawful for us and good for him; regarding him as the
human being next to God who from God has received all his power, and is less
than God alone.’ Christians, Tertullian argued, were even perfectly willing to
offer sacrifice on behalf of the emperor, though it had to be a Christian
sacrifice: ‘We therefore sacrifice for the emperor’s safety, but to our God and
his, and after the manner God has enjoined, in simple prayer.’ Pagan sacrifices
are useless, the ‘food of devils’. Christians appeal to God, praying ‘for the
imperial well-being, as those who seek it at the hands of Him who is able to
bestow it.’.. Christians do just what the imperial cult demands, though in his
own way.” In other words, the only legitimate sacrifice a Christian can make to
the emperor is the sacrifice of prayer on his behalf; for he rules, not as a
god, but “by the will of God”. So the Christians by no means refused to give to
Caesar what was his. Indeed, the emperor was, in Tertullian’s words, “more
truly ours (than yours) because he was put into power by our God”, which is why
the Christians prayed that he should have “a long life, a safe empire, a quiet
home, strong armies, a faithful senate, honest subjects, a world at peace”.
--Dr Vladimir Moss, http://orthodoxchristianbooks.com/articles/1019/-foundation-christian-political-theology/
It
is true that some Christian writers did view some of the Roman emperors as
tyrants, as types or foreshadowings of Antichrist and the Beast.
. . . Nevertheless, it was the more optimistic
view of Rome as the true kingdom that prevailed. And the loyal attitude of the
Christians to Rome is demonstrated by the fact that even during the persecution
of Diocletian, when the Church was threatened with extinction, the Christians
never rebelled against the empire, but only against the unlawful demands of the
emperors. And in reward for this patience, the Lord finally broke the crust of
ancient pagan despotism, bringing to birth a new creature designed specifically
for the spreading of the Faith throughout the world – the Roman Christian Autocracy,
or New Rome…
--Ibid.
Dr
Moss continues with words that are relevant here in the States, where most are
quite proud of having cast off what they consider the ‘tyranny’ of a king:
Since that time [i.e., the conversion of
the Roman Empire under St Constantine the Great], as St. Seraphim of Sarov
taught, the first duty of all Orthodox Christians, after faithfulness to
Orthodoxy, is loyalty to the Orthodox Christian Autocrat – in his time, the
Russian Tsar [Moscow inherited the Imperial Throne after the fall of
Constantinople/New Rome in 1453 to the Turks.].
“In explaining how good it was to serve the Tsar,” wrote the saint’s
friend, Nicholas Motovilov, “and how much his life should be held dear, he gave
as an example Abishai, David’s war-commander.
“’Once,’ said Batyushka Seraphim, ‘to satisfy the thirst of David, he
stole in to a spring in view of the enemy camp and got water, and, in spite of
a cloud of arrows released at him from the enemy camp, returned to him
completely unharmed, bringing the water in his helmet. He had been saved from
the cloud of arrows only because of his zeal towards the King. But when David
gave an order, Abishai replied: “Only command, O King, and everything will be
done in accordance with your will.” But when the King expressed the desire to
take part himself in some bloody deed to encourage his warriors, Abishai
besought him to preserve his health and, stopping him from participating in the
battle, said: “There are many of us, your Majesty, but you are one among us.
Even if all of us were killed, as long as you were alive, Israel would be whole
and unconquered. But if you are gone, then what will become of Israel?”…’
“Batyushka Fr. Seraphim loved to explain himself at length, praising the
zeal and ardour of faithful subjects to the Tsar, and desiring to explain more
clearly how these two Christian virtues are pleasing to God, he said:
“’After Orthodoxy, these are our first Russian duty and the chief
foundation of true Christian piety.’
“Often from David he changed the subject to our great Emperor [Nicholas
I] and for hours at a time talked to me about him and about the Russian
kingdom, bewailing those who plotted evil against his August Person. Clearly
revealing to me what they wanted to do, he led me into a state of horror; while
speaking about the punishment prepared for them from the Lord, and in
confirmation of his words, he added:
“’This will happen without fail: the Lord, seeing the impenitent spite
of their hearts, will permit their undertakings to come to pass for a short
period, but their illness will turn upon their heads, and the unrighteousness
of their destructive plots will descend upon them. The Russian land will be
reddened with streams of blood, and many noblemen will be killed for his great
Majesty and the integrity of his Autocracy: but the Lord will not be wroth to
the end, and will not allow the Russian land to be destroyed to the end,
because in it alone will Orthodoxy and the remnants of Christian piety be
especially preserved.
--Ibid.
For
throwing off our legitimate ruler, King George III of England; for undermining
Christian hierarchy in general; and being quite prideful and unrepentant about all
of this, a mass of demonic energy has been building in the States. The violent Marxist riots in many of them are
the natural outcome, just as they were in Russia and France. Monarchy is not a cure-all for our societal
woes, but its restoration is a necessary part of the repentance the peoples of
the States must undergo if they wish to reestablish anything resembling a
Christian society within their respective boundaries.
--
Holy
Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!
Anathema
to the Union!
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