From the Publisher

«The fundamental, unshakable foundation of the Russian land is the power of the Tsar—one, autocratic, having its source in the will of God. On this power rests the whole structure of our state and national life, the unbroken order and good governance of the Russian State, its strength and its might».

This profound truth, so significant in the history of the Russian people, was chosen as the subject of his instruction by the pastor of the Church venerated throughout Russia, Fr. John of Kronstadt, in a sermon delivered in Kronstadt on the second anniversary of the accession to the throne of Sovereign Emperor Nicholas Alexandrovich.

In publishing this highly instructive word of the people’s preacher, the publisher considers it his duty to explain that the late appearance of this edition came about solely because of the Preacher’s excessive modesty.

The publisher is fully convinced that this edition, now going out into circulation among the people, will meet with the most heartfelt response everywhere in Russia; he is glad to delight his usual readers among the people with the addition, to the sermon, of a portrait of the Tsar, in which the Russian people will see embodied in their Crowned Tsar youthful, fresh strength, flourishing health, and untiring zeal to labor for the good of the Russia so dear to him, for the joy of the people he loves».