In our previous article, when I told you about the close relationship that exists between the priesthood and the kingship, I also assured you that an initiated priest with the rank of bishop and patriarch is hierarchically above an initiate who is a king; to better understand this statement and to culminate the subject, let us analyze the reason why a legitimate king in the West must necessarily be consecrated and crowned by a Patriarch of the order of Melkizedek.
A royal coronation is an act of initiation and ordination in which the future monarch must first be anointed and ordained a priest or priestess in order to awaken in them the gifts of priest, prophet, and king. And as I have explained in previous articles, only a bishop of the Melkizedek order has this power.
Formerly, in the West, a king was considered illegitimate if, at the moment of his coronation, he had not previously received the royal consecration conferred by a bishop and patriarch, who, after the consecration, also proceeded to place on the head of the new monarch a crown which, more than a precious ornament, as we shall see later, was a symbol of the great commitment that the initiate had acquired by becoming the ruler of a Kristian people.
Over time and according to the customs of each monarchy or country, various objects symbolizing hierarchy, power or sovereignty have been added to the act of coronation. Today, in addition to the crown, we will analyze three other symbolically very important elements in every coronation and legitimization of a king in the West: the alb, the scepter, and the orb.
The Alb
The alb (from Latin: albus = white) is a very simple white linen garment, sleeveless when it is the consecration of a king, and with sleeves when it is the consecration of a priest. In the case of the consecration of a king or queen, its simplicity and color symbolize the will of the future monarch to divest himself of all worldly vanity and the purity of his intentions as he participates in the act of his consecration as a priest or priestess of Melkizedek.
The Crown
Originally, the crown was a very simple gold ring, usually decorated with precious stones, among which rubies and emeralds stood out, its roundness representing the infinite or that which has no beginning and no end; in other words, God or the Divinity. The gems symbolized the two cosmic energies that move and balance the universe.
The monarch wore the crown only on special occasions: when he administered justice, when he presided over a meeting of his councils, or when he led his army into battle. In all these instances he wore it as a sign that his actions and decisions were balanced because they were inspired by the divine will.
In the Melkizedek priesthood, the equivalent of the royal crown is the skullcap or kippah; and its use - when consecrated - serves to align the outer vision (mind) with the inner vision (heart) of the wearer.
The Scepter
The scepter is a cylindrical or slightly conical object of various sizes, usually made of gold and decorated with precious stones; it is usually topped at the ends with some carved symbols. Today it is associated with the word authority, but in ancient times it was associated with the word auctoritas. The difference is that authority is a power inherent in an office and is therefore temporary, while auctoritas is the power a person possesses by nature, so that the person is respected and admired for who he really is, not for the office he holds.
In the Melkizedek Priesthood, the scepter is the equivalent of the bishop's staff, a kind of rod similar to the staff used by the shepherds of old to guide their flocks. This is why the bishop is also called the shepherd of souls. In both cases, the flock or the faithful rely on the wise guidance of their shepherds when they possess auctoritas.
The Cruciferous Orb
The Cruciferous Orb is a sphere with an equal-armed cross at the top, usually made of gold. This sphere symbolizes the cosmos or universe, and the cross at the top represents the idea that everything that exists is governed by a universal order of a dual nature that is constantly in perfect balance.
At the same time, on the surface of the sphere, one horizontal and the other vertical, dividing it into four equal parts, symbolizing that the Khristic Consciousness (vertical line) and the Cosmic Consciousness (horizontal line) are united in the work of awakening the consciousness of the four races that make up humanity. A task that is entrusted under the direction and responsibility of the bearer of the Orb.
It is then understood that the so-called divine right to govern and direct human beings, in its true origin and reason for being, is in reality an obligation of love and service to them, and never a privilege, much less a right of rulers to demand to be served and praised by their subjects.
In the bishop, the symbolism of the orb is eliminated and only the cross is given to him, because the orb represents the earthly power, while the cross symbolizes the superior and invisible power of the Khrist, and this is the clearest demonstration that the episcopal power is above the royal power. But it is also an indication that the bishop's sphere of influence corresponds to the invisible or spiritual, and the king's to the visible or earthly. History has shown how detrimental it can be for a spiritual leader to interfere in earthly affairs, or for an earthly leader to interfere in spiritual affairs.
In the next article I will tell you about: What is the order of Melkizedek, and what is the true name of the Eternal God?
Prof. Publio S. Colmenares B.