Christian rulers

The Duke of Berry on a Journey

The Book of Deuteronomy is the book of the law for civil authorities since it was first given to Moses. The Christian Church in Europe under the patronage of Christian Emperors began and completed the task of devising a society based on the rule of law with the Book of Deuteronomy and the Roman Res Publica as guidelines. To the East, later, when Muhammad had been given the Qur'an to spread the teachings of God from, Islamic civilization was built on what were essentially the same foundational kind of principles. Right and wrong are universal in the eyes of God. They should have become and remained fast friends. The later example of St. Francis of Assisi and the Caliph of Egypt should have been the kind of relationship they should have had and maintained from the beginning. It bore fruit, only the Franciscans were allowed to remain in the Holy Land when the rest of the Europeans were expelled, and the Franciscans were even given charge over Christian sites there.

Real Christian rulers should embody these ideals.

FOR THE SUNDAY OF PENTECOST

The Work of His Hands. Alleluia.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands.
By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established.
And all the might of them by the Spirit of His mouth.
For he hath looked out from His holy height. The Lord looked down from heaven, He beheld all the sons of men.
Fire shall go before Him.
And round about Him shall there be a mighty tempest.
Coals were kindled therefrom.
And he bowed the heavens and came down.
from the Far-shining radiance that was before Him there passed by clouds.
The wings of a dove covered with silver.
And her pinions of sparkling gold.
Out of Sion is the magnificence of His comeliness.
When He that is in the heavens ordaineth kings over her.
They shall be made snow-white in Selmon.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and shall turn unto the Lord.
And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him.
For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He Himself is sovereign of the nations.
The law of the Lord is blameless, converting souls.
The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, bringing wisdom to infants.
The statutes of the Lord are upright, gladdening the heart.
The commandment of the Lord is far-shining, enlightening the eyes.
The earth was shaken and the heavens dropped dew, at the presence of
The God of Sinai, at the presence of the God of Israel.
A rain freely given shalt Thou ordain, O God, for Thine inheritance; yea it became weak.
But Thou shalt restore it.
In the stead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee.
Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth.
And their words unto the ends of the world.
Thou wilt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
And renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.
And with Thy governing Spirit establish me. The Lord shall give speech with great power to them that bring good tidings.
The Lord will give strength unto His people.
The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Glory; both now. Alleluia.

Lesson

1 Timothy 2:1 I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men: 2 For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus:

V. But do Thou O Lord have mercy on us

R. Thanks be to God

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord

R. Who hath made the heavens and the earth

Evening hymn

Give to us, O Lord Christ Jesus, the peace of the evening and save us from the snares of the enemy in the strength of your Holy and victorious
Cross.
Lord of my salvation,
I implore you day and night,
may my prayers come unto you,
bend your ear to my pleading.
May there come to us, a Lord,
a guardian sent by you
to protect us always.
Implant in us, a Lord,
the power of your Holy Cross
which will protect us always.
Make us worthy, O Lord,
to spend this evening
in peace and without temptation.
Deign, a Lord,
during this night,
to keep us in peace and without sin.
The Lord God is with us;
know this, you nations, and be bewildered;
for God is with us.
In him will we hope
and he will be our salvation;
because God is with us. . .
And the people that dwelt in darkness
see the great light;
for God is with us.
And you who live in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
light will shine upon you;
because God is with us.

And we have been given a Son; for God is with us.
And the dominion
will be on his shoulders;
because God is with us.
And his name will be
“Messenger of the great mystery”; for God is with us.
And “Wonderful Counsellor”;
because God is with us.
And “God the strong prince”; because God is with us.
And the “Prince of peace”,
“Father of the world to come”;
the “Lord God with us”.

Armenian liturgy