The purpose of the system was to supposedly benefit the entire country of Russia.[3] A metaphor existed likening the tsar to a father, and all of the subjects of the Empire, to his children; this metaphor even appeared in Orthodox primers.[4] This metaphor is present in the common Russian expression "царь-батюшка", literally "tsar-dear father". Furthermore, unlike the theoretical separation of church and state in West European monarchies, the Russian Empire combined monarchy with the supreme authority on religious issues (see Church reform of Peter I and caesaropapism for details). Another key feature related to patrimonialism.