On the last Sunday of October, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, a reminder to all of us that governments – emperors, monarchs, premiers, presidents – come and go but that our true ruler is Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.
At the end of Mass on this day, we sing an ancient chant which asks for God, through the intercessions of various saints, to grant help and strength to our Patriarch, our Metropolitan, our Bishops, our nation, and all Orthodox people. A refrain repeated throughout declares: Christ conquers (Christus vincit), Christ reigns (Christus regnat), Christ commands (Christus imperat).
Christus vincit probably has its origins in ancient Rome, when emperors and generals were met with acclamations from the people as they entered the city following victory in battle. This sort of acclamation was taken up by Christian Rome and sung on important occasions such as coronations of secular rulers and popes as a reminder that Christ is the true ruler.
When Charlemagne had himself crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800, he adopted the refrain of this chant as his motto and the chant was sung at coronations thereafter. The Normans took this tradition to England at the time of the Conquest in 1066 and it was sung at coronations of English monarchs until the Reformation.
As we prepare for what may be yet more contentious elections in our country, we sing this chant and remember that it is Christ to whom we owe our true allegiance as ruler, conqueror and commander.
Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat!
Read the full October newsletter here.