Samuel anoints David king of Israel. Tempera on plaster, synagogue, Dura-Europos (3rd century).

On May 6, 2023, a global public will witness the first Christian coronation of a head of state in seven decades, as Charles III is anointed and crowned King of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realms in a Christian Eucharistic service. This event offers an opportunity to reflect on the connection between God and government, on the symbolic prominence of monarchy—both human and divine—in the received tradition of Christianity, and on contemporary debates over how best to interpret that tradition. The Wheel invites contributions on topics broadly related to monarchy and republicanism, good government, and the liturgical imagery of royalty, in dialogue with the historical and contemporary realities of the Orthodox Church. Completed manuscripts should be submitted by January 15, 2023, to editors@thewheeljournal.com. Proposals and queries may be submitted any time before the deadline.

I have many vivid memories from my first visit to Ukraine in 1993, taken with my brother and grandfather. During our stay in Tetiiv (approximately 80 kilometers west of Kyiv), our family hosts asked us to walk with them to the family cemetery. This visit occurred after a few days of conversation that were simultaneously tense and joyous, as we learned about our family’s perspectives on faith and politics along with their concerns about post-Soviet Ukraine. All of these concerns were put aside as we walked from grave to grave, with most of the family members unable to hold back tears for the departed loved ones who were murdered during the course of the Holodomor of 1932-33. This memory reminds me how long Ukrainians have been caught in the crossfire of wars and revolutions, as the imperial powers to their West and East have fought to expand their borders and increase their power. The memory of the Holodomor united us in spite of our differences because we all felt the sting of violent murder in the name of someone else’s gain, even if it was passed on to us.

Ukraine attained statehood in 1991 following 74 years of colonial occupation. When Ukraine initially sought to establish a sovereign republic after the fall of the Tsarist regime in 1917, the Orthodox Church in Ukraine began the natural process of re-organizing its life in rhythm with the aspiring nation.

Call for Articles: Monarchy

Nicholas Denysenko: An Orthodox Graveyard and the Tomos of Autocephaly for Ukraine