Coronation of Giakoumis II

The coronation of Giakoumis II as Basileus of the Imperial State of Constancia was a significant ceremonial event that took place in Petropolis in early 1744 AN. The ceremony, held at the Great Basilica of the Theotokos, featured traditional rituals including anointing with sacred chrism and the conferring of imperial regalia. As Basileus, Giakoumis II assumed the roles of Evergétis (benefactor), Philanthrōpía (lover of mankind), and Sōtēr (savior) of the Constancian people, continuing the nation's traditions established following the Magna Carta of 1667.

Guests and dignitaries

•  Natopia
  • Empress Vadoma I
  • Emperor Edgard III
  • Chancellor Isabella Betancourt
•  Nouvelle Alexandrie
  • King Sinchi Roca II
  • Queen Adelaide
  • Premier Juan Pablo Jimenez
•  Oportia
  • Federal Representative Marcel Vermeuil
  • Chancellor Julien Moreau
  • Secretary of State Alexandre Lefebvre
•  Order of the Holy Lakes
  • Utas Enrique Naian, Chancellor of the Order of the Holy Lakes
  • Marcus Avon-El Myksos, Commander of the Order of the Holy Lakes
•  Shireroth
  • Kaiser Ayreon V and Imperial Consort Anastasia
•  Zeed
  • President of the State, Supreme Leader of Zeed Gennady Lakshmann
•  Benacian Union
  • Salbnan Stephan Johann Bakker-Vaaksteik, legate of the Euran Mission of the External Service of the Benacian Union

Narrative

On a radiant spring morning in the year of 1744 AN, the imperial city of Petropolis awoke to the solemn tolling of bells, their echoes reverberating through the marble-clad streets and gilded domes of the Imperial State of Constancia. The air was thick with anticipation, for this was no ordinary day—it was the day of the coronation of Giakoumis II, chosen by divine providence to ascend as Basileus, the sole administrator and lawgiver of the holy Basileia and Oikoumene, the commonwealth of the faithful. The streets thronged with citizens, their faces alight with hope, clad in vibrant silks and linens, as they gathered to witness the sacred moment when God’s anointed would take his throne as Evergétis, Philanthrōpía, and Sōtēr—benefactor, lover of mankind, and savior of the people.

The Great Basilica of the Theotokos, its golden dome gleaming under the sun, stood as the heart of the ceremony, its vast interior adorned with intricate mosaics depicting the divine order of creation. Incense curled upward in fragrant spirals, mingling with the chants of the patriarch and his clergy, their voices rising in harmonious supplication to the Almighty. The nave was a sea of dignitaries: senators in their purple-trimmed togas, strategoi clad in ceremonial armor, and emissaries from subject lands bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and rare jewels. Yet all eyes were drawn to the center, where the imperial throne—a towering edifice of porphyry and ivory, carved with scenes of divine triumph—awaited its occupant. As the ninth hour approached, a hush fell over the assembly. The great bronze doors of the basilica swung open, and Giakoumis II entered, his presence commanding reverence. Tall and regal, his countenance bore the weight of divine purpose, his eyes reflecting a quiet strength tempered by piety. He wore a dalmatic of shimmering white silk, embroidered with golden crosses and the double-headed eagle of Constancia, symbolizing his dominion over the eastern and western realms of Eura. Over his shoulders draped the imperial chlamys, its deep purple hue signifying his sole power over the state, the land, and his subjects, a mantle bestowed by God’s appointment. A crown of laurel and gold rested lightly upon his brow, a temporary adornment until the moment of anointing.

The patriarch, vested in resplendent robes, stood before the altar, holding the sacred chrism, its vessel gleaming in the light of a thousand candles. Giakoumis knelt, his head bowed in humility, as the patriarch intoned the ancient prayer: “O Lord, King of Kings, who hast chosen Thy servant Giakoumis to be Basileus, anoint him with the oil of gladness, that he may emulate Thy divine attributes and rule as Thy earthly presence.” The chrism was poured, tracing a glistening cross upon his forehead, and the basilica erupted in a thunderous acclamation: “Áxios! Áxios! Áxios!”—He is worthy! Rising, Giakoumis was clothed in the full imperial regalia: the scepter of justice in his right hand, the orb of dominion in his left, and the crown of Constancia, encrusted with sapphires and pearls, placed upon his head by the patriarch. The crown’s weight was both physical and spiritual, a reminder of his duty to uphold the divine laws as deousomimetes, the emulator of God, embodying the orthodox virtues of piety, love, and justice. The choir sang the Polychronion, beseeching long life for the Basileus, as the congregation fell to their knees, acknowledging their king as the ultimate caretaker of the Oikoumene.

Seated upon the throne, Giakoumis II addressed his people, his voice resonant yet imbued with warmth. “By God’s grace, I am called to serve as your Basileus, to be Evergétis, bestowing blessings upon this holy Basileia; Philanthrōpía, loving all mankind as brethren; and Sōtēr, guarding you from harm. I pledge to rule with justice, to uphold the divine laws, and to be the earthly reflection of the Heavenly King.” His words, steeped in the rhetoric of divine mission, stirred the hearts of all present, from the lowliest citizen to the highest noble.

The ceremony concluded with a grand procession through Petropolis. Giakoumis, now fully anointed, rode in a golden chariot drawn by four white stallions, his path strewn with rose petals and myrtle. The people lining the streets waved olive branches and sang hymns, their voices a chorus of devotion. Alms were distributed to the poor, and decrees of amnesty proclaimed, embodying the Basileus’s role as benefactor. The day culminated in a lavish banquet in the Imperial Palace, where Giakoumis hosted his court and foreign guests, toasting to the prosperity of the Basileus under his divinely ordained rule.

As night fell, the city glowed with fireworks and neon light shows, a beacon of the new era under Giakoumis II. In the hearts of the Constancians, he was no mere man but the living icon of God’s will, anointed with all power to guide the Oikoumene in righteousness. His reign, they believed, would be a golden age, a testament to the divine harmony between heaven and earth, with their Basileus as the steward of the realms of the Highest Divinity on Micras.