Jesus Christ King of the Universe
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, is a feast in the liturgical year which emphasises the true kingship of Christ. The Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian, Methodist, Nazarene, Reformed and United Protestant churches celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.
The feast emphasizes the true kingship of Christ after the upheavals resulting from the First World War and the end of all four major monarchies in mainland Europe. It was meant to respond to the rise of atheism and secularization. For the Roman Rite, it was instituted by Pope Pius XI. In 1970, its observance was moved from end of October to the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and thus to the end of the liturgical year.
The earliest date on which the Feast of Christ the King can occur is 20 November and the latest is 26 November. It heralds the end of Ordinary Time, which continues up until the First Sunday of Advent. Depending on the year, Saint Andrew's Day, significant in some cultures, may fall prior to the First Sunday of Advent.
An image of Christ the King at the Antipolo Cathedral, Philippines. It is contained in the Revised Common Lectionary. It is also observed on the same computed date as the last Sunday of the Liturgical year, the Sunday before the First Sunday of Advent, by Western Rite parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Roman Catholics adhering to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite use the General Roman Calendar of 1960 and continue to observe the Solemnity on the date established in 1925, the last Sunday in October.
According to Cyril of Alexandria, Christ "has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped, but by his essence and by nature. His kingship is founded upon the hypostatic union. From this it follows not only that Christ is to be adored by angels and men, but that to him as man angels and men are subject, and must recognize his empire; by reason of the hypostatic union Christ has power over all creatures."
The Feast of Christ the King has an eschatological dimension, pointing to the end of time when the kingdom of Jesus will be established in all its fullness to the ends of the earth.
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