outdated wording in liturgy/ a conflict of east and west

I'm curious if others liturgies include the wording for prayer for "right believing emperors and empresses"? This seems very wrong to me. One because there are none, and isn't this also close to the promotion of a sort of nationalism which isn't suppose to be practiced by Christians.

Prayers are already said for "governments" and ruling authorities. Which in my opinion includes such a class as mentioned above, though they are nonexistent.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like this represents the actual clash of east and west. Both historically motivated by an emperor mindset. After all it was a tool used by the Roman's to gain their independence of Constantinople in crowing Charlemagne who did not need such approval. But was done to appeal their submission to the "new Rome" of Constantinople.

It is my understanding that true Orthodoxy doesn't depend on patriarchs much less emperors.

It took centuries for the papacy to achieve their goal of political independence, in fact presently being their own nation with the pope as supreme ruler. To me this just badly represents St Augustin's written work "City of God" which influenced so many, both positively and negatively in the west (especially in the confusion of the 'middle ages' when so many pagans converted).

I think such misunderstanding is really where an east and west schism in all reality began. And is reason for me to ask any Orthodox who uses the term "western scholasticism", what exactly do you mean by that. It is a confusing generalization that should be corrected by now.

Sorry for the rambling of thought...but such thoughts come.

Depending on what country the Liturgy is being served, the wording for prayers for the Government can be slightly different. For example, in the US we pray for the President. In Great Britain they pray for the Queen.

The specific prayer is this:

Priest: For the President of the United States and all civil authorities, and for our Armed Forces, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord have mercy.

Priest: That he will aid them and grant them victory over every enemy and adversary, let us pray to the Lord.

Choir: Lord have mercy.

So really it's just asking God to have mercy on them, which is basically saying "God, take care of them as you see fit."

That's all. Nothing really political about it.

As far as "right believing Emprorers" I have seen some language to that extent in some old Russian prayerbooks, but I think that's left over from before the Revolution.

Emporer's are so passe.

You won't see that in modern prayer books.

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