The Duty to Pray for the Head of State and for All Mankind

In the tradition of the Orthodox Church, the two preeminent holy Apostles are Saints Peter and Paul. The teaching of these apostles is that Christians should submit to the rule of the civil authorities and obey their laws; in addition, prayer should be offered for heads of state, regardless of their religion, and for all mankind.

St. Peter wrote, "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good" (2 Pet. 2:13-14). From this it is clear that Orthodox Christians should obey the civil laws -- except, obviously, when they conflict with the commandments or ethical teachings of Christ himself. Apart from that circumstance, for an Orthodox Christian to disobey law of the land, or to hold it in contempt, is unacceptable in view of the demands of our faith.

St. Peter's words are completely consistent with the command of our Lord Jesus to "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" (Matt. 22:21). This command of the Lord to fulfill one's civic duty applies in a special way to those living in a democracy or democratic republic, that is, any society in which the citizens are charged with the duty of electing their political leaders. Based on these words of Christ, Orthodox Christians living in societies that have that kind of political arrangement are obliged to fulfill those duties diligently and responsibly, so that good and righteous political leaders will be chosen.

The other preeminent holy apostle, Paul, urged submission to, and prayers on behalf of, kings and civil authorities, and he did not limit this instruction to the condition that the rulers are believers. St. Paul wrote, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior ..." (1 Tim 2:1-3).

Significantly, when St. Paul wrote those words, the Roman head of state, the Emperor, was not a Christian, and in fact the state religion of the time and place held that he was to be worshipped as a god. Despite this, St. Paul orders prayers on the emperor's behalf. From this, it is clear that the responsibility of Orthodox Christians to pray for the head of state is not conditional upon the ruler's being an Orthodox Christian or even a Christian of any kind. To the contrary, the holy Apostle clearly taught that regardless of the particular religion (if any) espoused by the head of state, prayers of every kind are to be made on his behalf.

The same passage also makes clear that it is proper, permissible, and obligatory for Orthodox Christians to pray not only for other Orthodox Christians, but for all mankind.