The Prayer of Russians

The Prayer of Russians () is the first official russian national anthem, it was adopted in 1816 and replaced in 1833 with "God Save the Tsar!". The lyrics were writen in 1815 by Vasiliy Zhukovsky.

The anthem was first played in Warsaw in 1816, by the order of the Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich, This song made a great impression on his brother, Alexander I, after that he ordered to perform it on all ceremonial occasions. The tune was the same as in british national anthem "God Save the King", it was the symbol of friendship between United Kingdom and Russia and european peace after the Napoleonic Wars. The final version of the lyrics was finished in 1818.

 Original Lyrics (1815) 
Russian lyrics:
Боже, Царя храни!
Славному долги дни
Дай на земли!
Гордых смирителю,
Слабых хранителю,
Всех утешителю —
Всё ниспошли!

Перводержавную
Русь православную
Боже, храни!
Царство ей стройное,
В силе спокойное!
Всё ж недостойное
Прочь отжени!

О, Провидение!
Благословение
Нам ниспошли!
К благу стремление,
В счастье смирение,
В скорби терпение
Дай на земли!Romanization:

Bozhe, Tsarja hrani!
Slavnomu dolgi dni
Daj na zemli!
Gordyh smiritjelju,
Slabyh hranitjelju,
Vseh uteshitjelju –
Vsjo nisposhli!

Pervoderzhavnuju,
Rus’ Pravoslavnuju,
Bozhe, hrani!
Trarstvo jej strojnoje,
V silje spokojnoje!
Vsjozh nedostojnoje
Proch otzheni!

O, Providenije!
Blagoslovenije
Nam nisposhli!
K blagu stremljenije,
V schast’je smirenije,
V skorbi terpenije
Daj na zemli!English Translation:
God, save the Tsar!
To the glorious one, long days
Give on this earth!
To the subduer of the proud,
To the keeper of the weak
To the comforter of everyone,
Grant everything!

The land of the first throne,
Orthodox Russia,
God, do save!
A harmonious reign for her,
Calm in strength;
And everything unworthy
Drive away!

O, Providence!
Blessing
Grant to us!
Aspiration to good,
Humility in happiness,
Patience in sorrow
Give on this earth!
 The final version from 1818 
Боже, Царя храни!
Славному долгие дни
Дай на земли.
Гордых смирителю
Слабых хранителю
Всех утешителю
Всё ниспошли!

Праводержавную
Русь Православную
Боже, храни!
Царство ей стройное
В силе спокойное
В скорби достойное
Дай на земли!

 Related pages 
 National Song to the King's Well-being

 References 

Category:Historical anthems
Category:1810s songs