Modły w Królestwie Polskim za króla i cara

Abstract

In the nineteenth century people still prayed in churches for the King and his family. The number of services, called “court” or “gala”, was growing according to the number of family members in the monarch family. Among the numerous services the most solemnly celebrated were the ones on birthday and nameday of the king, his wife, and the heir of the throne as well as the anniversary of accession to the throne. Those mentioned in the calendar during the year were supplemented by those connected with births, marriages, deaths and assassinations and for the life of the tsar. Clerks and officers, who were mostly Orthodox, were obliged to take part in those services, especially in the most important ones. The government paid attention to the fact that such a service should be celebrated by the parish priest of that place while the others should stand by him at the altar. The hymn Thy, the God we glorify was sung, the names of the monarch family were mentioned, prayers for the tsar were said at the same time, mentioning the Pope and the bishop. Respect towards the ruler was shown during his tour through the country. The parish-priest with a procession met him on the route of the tour and then he and his congregation prayed at the church. All this was to strengthen attachm ent of the subjects to the ruler and bring him closer to the citizens of the Congress Kingdom of Poland.