Coronation of Alexander II and Catarina

The coronation of Alexander II and Catarina of Nikolia as King and Queen of Great Nortend occured on September 12th, 2004, at Sulthey Cathedral. Alexander II acceded to the throne on April 30th, 2003, after the death of Queen Catherine II. According to Erbonian law, however, a coronation within two years is necessary to formalise acceptance of the crown. The Lord Archbishop of Sulthey, Cardinal Dr. Sebastian Williams, pontificated in the Coronation Rite according to the Cardican Rite.

Coronation Rite

The Coronation Rite, according to the Book of Rites, comprises of an office, the Coronation Office, which is interpolated within a mass, and Coronation Mass.

After their wedding, Alexander and Catarine began their journey to Whiteham Castle in Southannering, the seat of the Duke of Maindy, where monarchs had stayed before their coronation for centuries. After Mattins of the third Sunday of Austin early in the morning at the castle chapel, Alexander and Catarina rode by coach along with guests and dignitaries in a state, heraldic and military procession out of Whiteham, over the Sovereign's Bridge, and to the Church. Along the 5 mile route, more than a million spectators were accomodated in specially built stands.

Alexander wore state plate armour specially manufactured for the coronation, with a feathered helmet. Catarina wore a gown of purple silk brocade.

Entrance

Before the coronation proper, the choir, clergy, peers and dignitaries entered the cathedral in procession before Terce was chaunted. Immediately afterwards, preceded by Crown regalia borne by peers, Alexander and Catarina entered the cathedral along with the Lord High Officers of State, clergy, the Lord Archbishops of Sulthey, Rhise and Limmes, the Lord Abbot of Sulthey, and the Royal Heraulds of Arms. During the entrance procession, the Introit antiphon for the Coronation Mass, Protector noster, was chaunted.

Behold, O God our Protector, and look upon the face of thine Anointed. For one day in thy courts is better than a thousand. Ps. 84. O how amiable. &c.

As Alexander entered the cathedral, he removed his helmet and gave it to the Baron of Lorry.

Oaths

The Lord Archbishop of Sulthey then administered the Coronation Oath in the following form:

Sire, will you grant and keep and by your oath confirm to your people the laws and lawful customs which your just glorious and righteous kingly forebears have granted kept and confirmed?

I will so grant and keep them.

Sire, will you keep and maintain full peace and concord before God to the Holy Catholic church, the clergy and the people so far as in you lieth?

I will so keep and maintain.

Sire, will you render in all your judgments equal and right justice and discretion impartially and wisely in mercy and truth so far as in you lieth?

I will so render.

The things which I have here before promised and declared in the presence of God and my people, I will so do. So help me God.

Alexander then swore the oath to abide by the Charter of Liberties, which is an ostensibly voluntary renunciation of various rights appurtenent to the sovereign in the presence of the Lord High Steuard.

I swear that I for ever renounce certain rights powers privileges and prerogatives appurtenant unto me by ancient law to the extent which I have set out and thus declared in my charter given and dated the second of May in the year of Our Lord two thousand and three. So help me God.

Recognition

The Archbishop presented Alexander to his people, asking whether they accepted him to be their king, to which the people replied “Yea, yea, God save King Alexander. Amen”.

Kyrie

The Kyrie eleison was then chaunted, with the trope Kyrie Rex genitor.

Gloria

The Gloria in excelsis Deo was chaunted.

Prophecy

The Prophecy was taken from Isaiah 49·23.

And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

The Gradual Dirigatur was then chaunted.

Let my prayer come up into thy presence as the incense: and let the lifting up of my hands be as an evening sacrifice.

Epistle

The Epistle was taken from 1 Saint Peter 2·13–17.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

The Alleluya followed.

Gospel

The Gospel was taken from Saint Matthew 22·15–22.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute-money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's: and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Creed

The Nicene Creed was then chaunted.

Hymn and Prayers

The Hymn, Veni Creator spiritus was then chaunted, followed by the prayer Te invocamus Domine, the Litany, and the prayers Omnipotens sempiterne, Bonedio Domine, Deus ineffabilis and Deus qui populis.

Anointment

The Anointment Preface, beginning with Sursum corda was said, followed by the Anointment as the antiphon Sadoc sacerdos was chaunted.

Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon king, and all the people rejoiced and said, God save the King for ever.

Alexander's armour was then removed, except for his greaves and sabatons before, leaving him in a white linen shirt. Whilst prostrating, Alexander's hands were first anointed followed by the prayer Prospice Omnipotens. The shoulders, elbows and crown were then anointed, before the prayers Deus Dei filius and Deus qui es justorum were said.

Vesting and Deliverance

After this, Alexander rose and sat. He was vested in the Tunic with the prayer Deus Rex regum, followed by the Supertunic and Stole. This was followed by the Mantle. The Ring was then taken with the prayer Deus cælestium, blessed and then placed on Alexander's ring finger, followed by the prayer Deus cuius est. The Sceptre was then given, followed by the prayer Omnium Domine fons, and then the Rod, before the Archbishop then blessed Alexander. He was then presented with the Sword.

Crowning, Enthronement and Homage

Immediately after the Gospel, Alexander was crowned. The Great Acclamation, “GOD SAVE THE KING”, resounded, followed by the antiphon Deus in virtute tua. He was then lifted up and guided to the throne by the clergy, followed by the prayer Sta et retine.

The clergy and peers then paid their homage to the enthroned Alexander, beginning with the Lord Archbishop of Sulthey.

I, Sebastian, Archbishop of Sulthey, shall be faithful and true and faith and troth bear unto you our Sovereign Lord, King of this Realm, and I shall do and truly acknowledge the service of the lands I claim to hold of you as in the right of your church. So help me God.

Coronation of the Queen

Catarina was then anointed, vested and crowned, the latter with the antiphon Eructavit.

My heart is inditing of a good matter; I speak of the things which I have made unto the King. Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women upon thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold, wrought about with divers colours. So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty for he is thy Lord God, and worship thou him.

Thereafter, the hymn Te Deum laudamus was sung.

Offertory

Alexander came down from his throne to offer bread, wine and gold, whilst the Offertory antiphon Intende was chaunted. The prayer Omnipotens Deus was then said, followed by a blessing.

O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God, for unto thee will I make my prayer.

Communion

The Communion Preface then followed, with the Hagios and Agnus Dei chaunted. The Pax was given with the Pacitorium. The Communion antiphon Gustate was chaunted as Alexander and Catarina took communion.

O taste, and see, how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in him.