40                                  NOTES  UPON  KTJSSIA.
the grand dukes, our ancestors the grand dukes have, by the
grace of God, consigned the grand duchy to their eldest sons;
and after their example the Grand Duke, my father, blessed
me with the Grand Duchy in his own presence, so also I, in
like manner, blessed my first-born son Ivan with the Grand
Duchy in the presence of all. Since however it has hap-
pened by the Divine pleasure that my son is dead, but that
his only son Dimitry, whom God gave me in the place of
my son, survives, I likewise, in conformity with the same
custom, bless him in the presence of all, both now and after
my death, with the Grand Duchies of Vladimir, Novogorod,
and all else with which I should have blessed his father."
Upon this, the Metropolitan desired the grandson to go to
the seat which was assigned to him, and blessing him with the
cross, ordered the deacon to repeat the Diaconal prayers;
he himself meanwhile sitting near him with his head bowed,
pronounced the following prayer: " O Lord our God, King
of kings, Lord of lords, who by thy servant Samuel the
prophet, didst choose David and anointed him to be King over
thy people Israel, hear now the prayers of Thine unworthy
servant, and look down from Thy sanctuary upon Thy faith-
ful servant whom Thou hast chosen to exalt him to be King
over Thy holy nations, and whom Thou hast redeemed with
the most precious blood of Thy only-begotten Son; anoint
him with the oil of gladness, protect him with the virtue of
the highest, place upon his head a crown of precious stones,
give him length of days and a royal sceptre in his right hand,
place him on a righteous throne, surround him with all the
arms of justice, strengthen his arm and subdue unto him all
barbarian tongues ; let his whole heart be in Thy fear, that
he may humbly obey Thee, keep him from the false path
and point out to him the true preserver of the commands of
Thy holy universal Church, that he may judge the people in
justice, and administer justice to the poor and preserve the
children of the poor, and finally that he may attain the king-