Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen!

One of the key moments in the Coronation of King Charles III, or any British sovereign for that matter, is the action of anointing with holy oil or “chrism.” This anointing, which mirrors the biblical anointing of the Hebrew kings of old (Saul, Solomon, David, etc.), has been continued and practiced by the majority of Christian governments and Lands that have monarchs and hold to regal family lineage.

One of my favorite pieces of music is “Zadok the Priest,” which is a British anthem composed in 1727 by George Frideric Handle, for the coronation of King George II. It’s text of this composition is distilled from 1st Kings 1:34-45 describing the anointing of King Solomon:

“Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king. And all the people rejoiced and said: God save the King! Long live the King! God save the King! May the King live forever. Amen. Alleluia!”

Fr. John