#emperor licinius of rome

[greekmythcomix]

Greek Myth / Roman History Chickens master post

Iliad chickens 1:

Iliad chickens 2:

Cassandra / Cassand-BAWK:

Roman History Chickens:

Late Republic

Augustus, Marc Antony and Cleopatra chickens :

First Triumvirate chickens:

Julio Claw-dians:

The succession of Augustus (with Livia and Tiberius)

[intriguingpeoplebyangelafloyd]

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

c.272 - 22 May 337 CE

ROMAN EMPEROR WHO CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY

            Constantine was born in Naissus, Moesia (Serbia) and campaigned against the Persians and was with his father in Britannia. Constantine was declared Emperor of Rome by his father’s soldiers in York, England after his father died in 306. Constantine had to deal with civil wars, and had to overcome rivals such as the Eastern Emperor Licinius who he eventually defeated.

            Constantine became Christian in 312 and was the first Christian Empeor of Rome. He allowed freedom through the empire, which put the end of persection for Christians. He was also the one who established the unity of church and state. He had the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built in Jerusalem on the apparent site of Jesus’ tomb.  

            Constantine became ill and knew he was near death and had a final resting-place prepared for himself and spent his last days praying. He died aged 65. Constantine was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles, his tomb and body was destroyed not long after the Fourth Crusade in 1204.

#constantine #constantinethegreat #ancientrome

[zanmor]

top 5 roman deaths that could have changed the world

5. quintus fabius maximus verrucosus

hannibal is rampaging across italy, destroying every army the romans raise against him in humiliating defeats. fabian becomes dictator and proceeds to do... nothing. but it works and just keeping a roman army in the field without leading them all to their deaths is important. other commanders adopt his strategy of not engaging unless victory is certain. probably he's why rome survives the second punic war and eventually is able to go on to win it. what if instead he had been assassinated for his 'cowardice' or 'treason' in refusing to confront hannibal head on. what if instead the roman empire had died in the cradle and the carthaginian empire had been born, having conquered its greatest rival.

4. marcus licinius crassus

imagine the dude kicks the bucket on the eve of his debacle in parthia. instead of leading these men and his son to their deaths in the desert sands, the army is mustered and ready to march off but he dies and his son takes over instead. would he have made the same disastrous mistakes as his father or would he have returned to rome a conquering hero greater than gaius julius?

3. constantine the great

diocletian had all his ducks in a row with the previous emperors retiring and their caesars rising to the rank of co-augusti. but constantine (and others who felt their right to inherit the empire was being unduly ignored, but constantine was most successful) is here to fuck all that up. suppose instead he gets trounced at the milvian bridge and even dies or is captured (and then executed). maybe diocletian's succession sticks and becomes a precedent where every 10 years the augusti step down and their caesars step up. and more importantly, maybe the empire never becomes christian.

2. irene of athens

what if instead of blinding her own son and damning her line she had instead kicked the bucket and let the seemingly capable emperor take full control? this period is so wild and so scant for sources that it's even harder to imagine how this counterfactual might play out than any of the others but certainly blinding and killing your only heir isn't a strong play.

antoninus pius

he was supposed to keep the seat warm after hadrian died until marcus aurelis could take over as a capable and long-reigning man. but the 54-year-old kept on kicking for another 23 years, keeping marcus bottled up in the capital with him. even assuming shit still hits the fan upon his death and rome is attacked by those who had been peaceful under the capable emperors hadrian and antoninus pius, rome might have been better able to fend it off a decade earlier. because a decade later a plague was making fighting a war and keeping the army supplied and manned a debilitating task, especially for a man who spend 23 years essentially bookkeeping alongside the emperor.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Saturday, May 4, 2024

april 21_may 4

Holy and Great Saturday: Descend into Hades

MARTYR ALAXANDRA THE EMPRESS, WIFE OF DIOCLETIAN (303)

Diocletian's wife (284-305). Her supposed death iThe Holy Empress Alexandra was Diocletian's wife (284-305). Her supposed death is described in the Martyrdom of Saint George, written immediately after his death. The empress, however, received the crown of martyrdom several years later, in 314.

Many events occurred during these years. In 305 the emperor Diocletian resigned the throne and power passed to his co-ruler Maximian Galerius (305-311), a fanatic pagan, as well as a coarse and fierce soldier. His wife was Saint Valeria, the daughter of the holy Empress Alexandra, whom Diocletian had given in marriage against her will.

Saint Alexandra raised her daughter in Christian piety. When Galerius died, the emperor Maximinus sought her hand in marriage. When he was refused, he banished Saint Valeria to Syria, where she lived with her mother.

After the death of Maximinus in 311 the mother and daughter arrived in Nicomedia, trusting in the mercy of the emperor Licinius (311-324). Together with Saint Constantine, he had subscribed to the Edict of Milan, which gave Christians the freedom of religion, but secretly he remained an enemy of Christianity. Licinius gave orders to execute the holy Empress Alexandra and her daughter Valeria. They were beheaded, and their bodies thrown into the sea.

SAINT MAXIMIAN, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE (434)

Saint Maximian (or Maximus) was born in Rome to wealthy and pious parents. He was a guileless man who preferred to live far from worldly vanity. He was also learned, intelligent, and was known for his many virtues, the integrity of his life, and his incomparable character. Because of his pure and holy life, Patriarch Sisinίos of Constantinople ordained him as a priest. At his own expense, Saint Maximian would pay for the burial of persons who were conspicuous for the holiness of their lives.

After the heresiarch Nestorios was deposed and exiled, Saint Maximian became Patriarch on October 25, 431, with the fervent support of both the reigning Emperor Theodosios the Younger (408-450), and the faithful people.

Saint Maximian reposed peacefully on April 21, 434 (Great and Holy Thursday).

ROMANS 6:3-11

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 If we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

MATTHEW 28:1-20

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you. 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." 11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure.

[thesynaxarium]

Today we also celebrate the Holy Virgin Martyr Viviana of Rome. Saint Viviana was the daughter of zealous Christian parents who resided in Rome during the fourth century. In 363, her family was made to suffer as a result of the persecutions ordered by Emperor Julian. Her father, Vlavia, a Roman knight, was tortured and sent into exile, where he died from his wounds. Her mother, Dafros, was beheaded. St. Viviana and her sister, Demetria, were stripped of their possessions and left to suffer in poverty. However, they continued to reside in their family home, spending their time in fasting and prayer. Realizing that these women had not died from hunger or want, the Roman Governor, Apronianus, ordered that they be brought before him. Demetria confessed her faith in front of him and fell dead at his feet. Viviana was placed in the home of a pagan woman named Rufina. Despite her many attempts, Rufina was unable to make Viviana renounce Christ. Viviana was beaten, then tiled to a pillar and whipped with scourges laden with lead plummets. After repeatedly refusing to renounce her Faith, she entered into a martyr’s death. Her body was left in the open air to be eaten by wild dogs, but they would not touch it. After having lain exposed for two days, her body was secretly taken by a priest and buried in the night near the palace of Licinius. She is the patron saint of Los Angeles where her relics are found. May she intercede for us always + Source: https://www.uncutmountainsupply.com/icons/of-saints/by-name/v-z/icon-of-st-viviana-of-rome-1vi12/ (at Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClqIBC3rr0j/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[autodidactprofessor]

Valerian: The Life and Reign of a Roman Emperor in Crisis

Early Life and Rise to Power Valerian’s early life is shrouded in mystery, with few details about his background available in the historical record. He was born around 193 AD, likely into a senatorial family of considerable standing. His full name, Publius Licinius Valerianus, suggests a connection to the Licinii family, one of Rome’s prominent aristocratic clans. His upbringing would have been…

[martinwilliammichael]

How Constantinople, the“New Rome”, was dedicated to the Mother of God

On learning of the tyrannical measures taken by the Roman emperor Maximinus II Daza in the East against the Christians, Constantine raised a powerful army, guided by the sign of the victorious Cross, and, during a campaign against the barbarians in Pannonia (1), penetrated Licinius' territory (2) in 322. 

After an initial defeat at Andrinople, the tyrant retreated to Byzantium, before being definitively defeated at the battle of Chrysopolis on September 18, 324. The victorious Constantine, in the name of Christ and Truth, set about offering the reunited Roman Empire to the King of kings, and, like a new Apostle, proclaimed faith in the one God and in His Son incarnate for our salvation to the farthest reaches of East and West, from Mesopotamia to Great Britain. In an edict proclaimed throughout the Empire, he declared that God alone was to be considered the cause of his victories, and that he had been chosen by Providence to place himself at the service of good and truth. He urged all his subjects to follow his example, but without coercing anyone. 

To this new Christian empire, which was to last a thousand years, Constantine decided to give a new capital, and inspired by a divine sign, the pious emperor fixed his choice on the small city of Byzantium, which occupied a pivotal position between East and West. He himself marked the boundaries of the new city, and instructed the master builder, Euphrata, to spare no expense in endowing it with monuments and public thoroughfares surpassing all other cities in the world in glory and magnificence. 

When the city was founded on November 8, 324, Byzantium was named Constantinople and New Rome, and was subsequently dedicated to the Mother of God. Work was carried out with great haste, and on August 11, 330, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the emperor's reign, the inauguration of the new capital was celebrated with great pomp.

Source: Adapted from www.orthodoxie.com 

Pannonia is an ancient region of Central Europe, straddling present-day Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, north-western Serbia and northern Bosnia-Herzegovina. Licinius was Roman emperor from 308 to 324. For most of his reign, he was the colleague and rival of Constantine I

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

[alsadeekalsadouk]

These reverse of Roman coins belong to different emperors, and in many cases, these reverse it were common revers with different emperors(Elagabalus, Gordian , nero, Titus, domitian, Aulus Gabinius or Marcus Licinius Crassus Lucius Verus, hadrian .. etc) . Because it issued in Decapolis area (syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan ) were a group of ten Hellenistic cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire in the Southern Levant in the first centuries BC and AD. They formed a group because of their language, culture, religion, location, and political status, with each functioning as an autonomous city-state dependent on Rome. #archaeology #history #ancient #art #Caesar #ancienthistory #archaeological #rome #italy #roman_empire #roma #heritage #roman_republic #archaeologylife #Orichalcum #Roman_mythology #Decapolis #medallion #romancoin #romanarcheology #romanancientcoins#aureus #denarius #dupondius #follis #antoninianus #sestertius #fils #alsadeekalsadouk #الصديق_الصدوق

[fmpnalogirlypop]

Ancient Roman Mythology part 3

Empire – The Tetrarchy

Diocletian

In 284 AD, Diocletian was hailed as Imperator by the eastern army. Diocletian healed the empire from the crisis, by political and economic shifts. A new form of government was established: the Tetrarchy. The Empire was divided among four emperors, two in the West and two in the East. The first tetrarchs were Diocletian (in the East), Maximian (in the West), and two junior emperors, Galerius (in the East) and Flavius Constantius (in the West). To adjust the economy, Diocletian made several tax reforms.

Between 290 and 330, half a dozen new capitals had been established by the members of the Tetrarchy, officially or not: Antioch, Nicomedia, Thessalonike, Sirmium, Milan, and Trier. Diocletian was also responsible for a significant Christian persecution. In 303 he and Galerius started the persecution and ordered the destruction of all the Christian churches and scripts and forbade Christian worship. Diocletian abdicated in 305 AD together with Maximian, thus, he was the first Roman emperor to resign. His reign ended the traditional form of imperial rule, the Principate (from princeps) and started the Tetrarchy.

Constantine and Christianity

Constantine assumed the empire as a tetrarch in 306. He conducted many wars against the other tetrarchs. Firstly he defeated Maxentius in 312. In 313, he issued the Edict of Milan, which granted liberty for Christians to profess their religion. Constantine was converted to Christianity, enforcing the Christian faith. He began the Christianization of the Empire and of Europe—a process concluded by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. He was defeated by the Franks and the Alamanni during 306–308. In 324 he defeated another tetrarch, Licinius, and controlled all the empire, as it was before Diocletian. To celebrate his victories and Christianity's relevance, he rebuilt Byzantium and renamed it Nova Roma ("New Rome"); but the city soon gained the informal name of Constantinople ("City of Constantine").

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

In the late 4th and 5th centuries the Western Empire entered a critical stage which terminated with the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Under the last emperors of the Constantinian dynasty and the Valentinianic dynasty, Rome lost decisive battles against the Sasanian Empire and Germanicbarbarians: in 363, emperor Julian the Apostate was killed in the Battle of Samarra, against the Persians and the Battle of Adrianople cost the life of emperor Valens (364–378); the victorious Goths were never expelled from the Empire nor assimilated. The next emperor, Theodosius I (379–395), gave even more force to the Christian faith, and after his death, the Empire was divided into the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled by Arcadius and the Western Roman Empire, commanded by Honorius, both of which were Theodosius' sons.

During the 5th century, the Western Empire experienced a significant reduction of its territory. The Vandals conquered North Africa, the Visigoths claimed the southern part of Gaul, Gallaecia was taken by the Suebi, Britannia was abandoned by the central government, and the Empire suffered further from the invasions of Attila, chief of the Huns.

After 1200 years of independence and nearly 700 years as a great power, the rule of Rome in the West ended. Various reasons for Rome's fall have been proposed ever since, including loss of Republicanism, moral decay, military tyranny, class war, slavery, economic stagnation, environmental change, disease, the decline of the Roman race, as well as the inevitable ebb and flow that all civilisations experience. The Eastern Empire survived for almost 1000 years after the fall of its Western counterpart and became the most stable Christian realm during the Middle Ages. During the 6th century, Justinian reconquered the Italian peninsula from the Ostrogoths, North Africa from the Vandals, and southern Hispania from the Visigoths. But within a few years of Justinian's death, Eastern Roman (Byzantine) possessions in Italy were greatly reduced by the Lombards who settled in the peninsula.

Society

The imperial city of Rome was the largest urban center in the empire, with a population variously estimated from 450,000 to close to one million. Around 20 per cent of the population under jurisdiction of ancient Rome (25–40%, depending on the standards used, in Roman Italy) lived in innumerable urban centers, with population of 10,000 and more and several military settlements, a very high rate of urbanisation by pre-industrial standards. Most of those centers had a forum, temples, and other buildings similar to Rome's. The average life expectancy in the Middle Empire was about 26–28 years.

Law

The roots of the legal principles and practices of the ancient Romans may be traced to the Law of the Twelve Tables promulgated in 449 BC and to the codification of law issued by order of Emperor Justinian I around 530 AD (see Corpus Juris Civilis). Roman law as preserved in Justinian's codes continued into the Byzantine Roman Empire, and formed the basis of similar codifications in continental Western Europe. Roman law continued, in a broader sense, to be applied throughout most of Europe until the end of the 17th century.

Culture

Life in ancient Rome revolved around the city of Rome, located on seven hills. The city had a vast number of monumental structures like the Colosseum, the Trajan's Forum and the Pantheon. It had theatres, gymnasiums, marketplaces, functional sewers, bath complexes complete with libraries and shops, and fountains with fresh drinking water supplied by hundreds of miles of aqueducts. Throughout the territory under the control of ancient Rome, residential architecture ranged from modest houses to country villas.

Religion

Archaic Roman religion, at least concerning the gods, was made up not of written narratives, but rather of complex interrelations between gods and humans. Unlike in Greek mythology, the gods were not personified, but were vaguely defined sacred spirits called numina. Romans also believed that every person, place or thing had its own genius, or divine soul.

[thetldrplace]

SPQR- Mary Beard; Ch 7

7 From Empire to Emperors

Cicero versus Verres In 70 BC Cicero took on a high profile case against Gaius Verres, governor of Sicily. He was trying to get compensation for the systematic theft and depredations of the defendant in his official role. The notorious case ended with Verres' self-imposed exile to Marseille, having seen how badly he was losing the case. This was just one of the controversies about Roman rule overseas. The nature of Roman power and Roman's assumptions about their relationship to the world they now dominated had moved from an empire of obedience to an empire of annexation.

Gaius Gracchus had passed wide ranging legislation to root out corruption and abuses of the system, and it clearly showed that there were those in Rome who were concerned about the abuses. The senate's incompetence and greed in overseeing the provinces came up with Sallust asking hard questions about their incompetence in governing. The senate was seen as an old boys network not up to the challenge of the new realities.  

One of the "new men" that so many saw as an answer, was Gaius Marius. Marius was sent to Africa to deal with some upstarts, but he enrolled anyone he could find in the army, rather than those from landed families. These new legions were promised land after their service. But where would that land come from? It turned the soldiers into loyal followers of their commanders, or whoever was promising them the best package, rather than loyal servants of Rome. But this change in attitude saw popular assemblies regularly voting vast resources to those they thought would best defend them, or expand the empire. They began to vote autocrats into power.

Pompey the Great In 66 BC, Cicero addressed the public pushing for Pompey to be given vast powers to subdue Mithradates. He pointed to Pompey's success the year prior clearing the pirates from Italy's waters. He was essentially arguing that new problems called for new solutions. As the empire had expanded, Rome's government had not kept up. It's style was still to limit power and control through checks and balances- which hindered officials from getting stuff done. What Rome needed now was the best general, with lengthy command, over the whole of the affected area, and with the resources needed to accomplish the job.

The first emperor Pompey could lay claim to being the first emperor. The honors he accepted and claimed were on a completely different and greater scale than before... at least in Rome. The only thing that stopped Pompey was a rival- Julius Caesar.

The Gang of Three In 60 BC, Pompey was frustrated the Senate was dragging his eastern settlement out. Marcus Licinius Crassus, the recently returned general who had defeated Spartacus, was annoyed his case was being slow-walked through. Julius Caesar was hoping to get elected consul and secure a lucrative military command. Mutual support seemed the best way for them to get what they wanted, so they teamed up to pool their resources. Caesar was elected and he pushed through programs of the other two. Crassus was defeated and lost his life fighting the Parthians in modern Iran.  

But there were increasing breakdowns in public life, with more political violence occurring. In 52 BC, Pompey was elected sole consul. He was also granted the power to settle the uncertainty in the streets, which he did within a few months.  

In 58 BC, Caesar had left for a military campaign in Gaul. He had military ambitions beyond what had been seen to date, and he conquered more land for Rome than Pompey had in the east. It was a particularly brutal and bloodthirsty campaign and shocked even Roman sensibilities. Some suggested he even be prosecuted back home. There was also a question of what he would do with the power and wealth he accumulated while in Gaul. Caesar was in charge of 40,000 troops. Would he invade Italy as Sulla and Pompey had done?

IN 50 BC, the Senate voted in an overwhelming majority that both Pompey and Caesar should give up their posts and Caesar should return home. He crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC and 4 years of civil war ensued. Between battles fought in Africa and Spain, Caesar was rarely in Rome. He fought against Pompey, his old ally, but now rival, for control of Italy. Pompey was eventually beheaded as he tried to land ashore by a local leader who thought he could earn some points with Caesar. It backfired and Caesar supported the leader's rival- Queen Cleopatra. Cleopatra's interests were with Caesar at this point and they had an open affair, and, if Cleopatra is to be believed, a son.  

The Ides of March Julius Caesar was killed on 15 March 44 BC. This has been framed as the template of principled assassination in order to preserve liberty ever since. But looking back, it was just the latest in a series of murders of powerful politicians. Julius Caesar had initiated a vast series of reforms. He updated the Calendar. He launched a large number of overseas colonies to resettle Rome's poor elsewhere. He extended Roman citizenship to the north of Italy, and at least Latin status to Sicily. He instituted vast reforms in Roman government. These reforms became a takeover of Rome's democratic processes, and it smacked of him trying to become king. He seemed to not be taking the elected offices of the Roman republic seriously. Even his most famous virtue, mercy, was the virtue of a king. Only those with the power to do otherwise can exercise mercy.

So the assassins saw themselves as guarding liberty and Republican values. They told everyone the Roman people had been liberated. But getting rid of a tyrant turned out not to be the same thing as getting rid of tyranny.

[silvestromedia]

SAINTS FOR MARCH 10

ST. JOHN OGILVIE, JESUIT AND MARTYR. Born in 1569, John Ogilvie belonged to Scottish nobility. Raised a Calvinist, he was educated on the continent. Exposed to the religious controversies of his day and impressed with the faith of the martyrs, he decided to become a Catholic. In 1596, at age seventeen he was received into the Church at Louvain. Later John attended a variety of Catholic educational institutions, and eventually he sought admission into the Jesuits. He was ordained at Paris in 1610 and asked to be sent to Scotland, hoping some Catholic nobles there would aid him given his lineage. Finding none, he went to London, then back to Paris, and finally returned to Scotland. John's work was quite successful in bring back many people to the Faith. Some time later he was betrayed by one posing as a Catholic. After his arrest he was tortured in prison in an effort to get him to reveal the names of other Catholics, but he refused. After three trials, John was convicted of high treason because he converted Protestants to the Catholic Faith as well as denied the king's spiritual jurisdiction by upholding the Pope's spiritual primacy and condemning the oaths of supremacy and allegiance. Sentenced to death, the courageous priest was hanged at Glasgow in 1615 at the age of thirty-six

St. Attalas, 627 A.D. Abbot and companion of St. Columban. Born in Burgundy, France, he studied under Bishop Aregius of Gap. He became a monk at Lérins but then went to Luxeuil, where St. Columban taught him a strict rule of religious life. Attalas served as Columbian’s companion when the Irish saint went to Bobbio, in Italy, and founded a monastery there on lands donated by King Agilulf of the Lombards. In 615 St. Columban died, and Attalas succeeded him as abbot. Attalas was a foe of the heretical Arians. lie was also noted for performing miracles. His tomb is in Bobbio, beside the shrine of St. Columban.

St. Sedna, 570 A.D. Bishop of Ossory, in Ireland. Sedna was also the abbot of Seir-Kieran Abbey, founded by St. Kieran with the aid of St. Patrick’s miraculous bell. Ossory was governed by abbot-bishops until circa 1184.

St. Emilian, 675 A.D. Irish-born abbot of Lagny, France, also called Eminian or Imelin.

St. Himelin, 750 A.D. Irish or Scottish priest who went on a pilgrimage to Rome. A maid of the parish of Vissemaeken, Belgium, gave him water from a pitcher and it turned to wine. He died at Vissemaeken, where he is venerated.

St. Kessag, 560 A.D. Prince of Cashel, Ireland, and bishop of Scotland. Sometimes called Mackessag. Kessag went to Scotland as a missionary bishop, using Monk’s Island in Loch Lomond as his center. He was martyred at Bantry or at some unknown site. Kessag is credited with some extraordinary miracles. He is patron of Lennox, England.

ST. SIMPLICIUS, POPE

Martyrs (Forty) of Armenia, Roman Catholic soldiers martyred by Emperor Licinius Licinianus at Sebaste, in modern Armenia. They are also called the Martyrs of Sebaste. The martyrs were forced to march naked upon the ice of a frozen lake after they refused to abjure the faith. Feastday March 10

[thedcdunce]

Vandal Savage

“I am not a caveman. I am a visionary. A veteran and orchestrator of every significant war mankind has ever had. And I will continue to shape the world for the war of tomorrow. My tomorrow.” - Vandal Savage

Real Name: Vandar Adg II

Aliases:

Cain

Blackbeard

Emperor Licinius of Rome

Mister Dekker

Gender: Male

Height: 5′ 10″

Weight: 176 lbs (80 kg)

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Powers:

Unique Physiology

Dimensional Travel

Abilities:

Genius Level Intellect

Leadership

Martial Arts

Seamanship

Swordsmanship

Tactical Analysis

Weaponry

Firearms

Multilingualism

Equestrianism

Weaknesses:

Blood Sacrifice

Universe:

Earth-Two

New Earth

Parents: Vandar Adg; father

Marital Status: Single

First Appearance: Green Lantern #10 (December, 1943)

Last Appearance: Action Comics #900 (June, 2011)

Powers

Unique Physiology

Immortality

Enhanced Intellect

Superhuman Durability

Superhuman Strength

Superhuman Speed

Dimensional Travel

Abilities

Genius Level Intellect

Leadership

Martial Arts

Seamanship

Swordsmanship

Tactical Analysis

Weaponry

Firearms

Multilingualism: He knows English, Egyptian, Frankish, French, Greek, Russian, German, Latin, Spanish, Romanian, Atlantean, and possibly various others.

Equestrianism

Weaknesses

Blood Sacrifice: Savage renews these powers through the consumption of his enemies' blood. Savage must also harvest the organs of his blood descendants to sustain his immortal life.

Origins

Vandar Adg was a caveman and leader of the Blood Tribe who was born 50,000 years ago. When he was a teenager, a mysterious man killed his father, who was named Vandar Adg. When Adg grew to the manhood, a mysterious meteor crashed to the ground, bathing him in radiation, and granting him incredible intellect and immortality. An observer from the Bear Tribe would later approach that same meteorite and become Savage's eternal nemesis, the Immortal Man, possessing the power to resurrect as a new persona every time he is killed.

He took the name Vandal Savage but he was banned from the Blood Tribe after losing a fight to Bruce Wayne, who was lost in time. His first mark on history came when he and a select group of people successfully undermined and destroyed the lost city of Atlantis. That group of people became known as the Illuminati, with Savage serving as its leader, then and ever since.

In 2578 BC, Nabu, a Lord of Order, created the Scarab with the help of a time traveler from the 20th Century. This was an attempt to overthrow Savage, who was at that time the pharaoh called Khafre; an impostor instead was killed in his place.

Around 1000 AD, a prophecy by a soothsayer told him he one day meet "The Hanged Man" who will meddle with the pair of Black Lantern he discovered. He decided to create the city of Sapristi in Bohemia along with a fortress to trap to "Hanged Man."

In 1358 AD, Savage returned on hunt for the hanged man. Every time he returned he used the spheres in his possession to emit an emotional aura which pleasantly enrages him, and causes the city of Sapristi to erupt into rage and chaos. He toured the city over the centuries in hunt for his future rival.

In 1718 AD, Savage adopted the name of Edward Thatch, also known as the pirate Blackbeard and became a prominent figure in the criminal world. Using this name, Savage started looking for the treasure of the Miagani and defeated "The Black Pirate" in his quest. However, he came across Bruce Wayne once again and Savage was tricked after reaching the mysterious cave. After losing most of his crew, Savage was forced to retreat from Gotham and months later, rumors about Blackbeard's death began to spread across the land. However, the man who was killed was one of Savage's own crew. Savage survived and let everyone believe that Blackbeard was dead.

Once again in the 19th century, Savage adopted a new identity under the name of Monsieur Savage. He settled in Gotham City after he stole gold from Napoleon Bonaparte and learned of a secret box that held the secret to eternal life. As he had been diagnosed with a cancer, he sought the box to extend his already long-lived existence with help from bounty hunter Jonah Hex and a man called Thomas Wayne. However, his efforts were once again thwarted by Bruce Wayne, who retrieved the box from him and left him unconscious after another confrontation.

Over the centuries, Savage's name appeared over and over again in Western history, as adviser to kings and pharaohs in Sumer, Egypt, and Europe. He claimed to have ruled hundreds of civilizations under hundreds of names: Khafre, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and Vlad the Impaler, to name a few. He had also worked as close friends and advisers to the likes of Erik the Red, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ra's al Ghul, Otto von Bismarck and Adolf Hitler. He was the court physician in France, and even used the royal family for syphilis experiments.

Modern Age

Beginning in the 1940s, Savage frequently battled the Justice Society of America. One attempt to capture the members of the Justice Society out of revenge was thwarted by two Flashes, Jay Garrick and Barry Allen.

Ultimately, Savage's enemy, the Immortal Man, erased himself from existence to save the world during the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and Mitch Shelley, the Resurrection Man, an amnesiac with similar powers, took over as Savage's nemesis. However, Savage's list of foes is not limited to those two individuals. Having lived so long, Savage has butted heads with possibly every single hero in past, present, and future, most notably the Justice Society of America and the Justice League of America. At present, Savage is about 52,000 years old.

Over time, Savage forgot many of his special powers, and never exhibited them to Barry Allen. However, he later began a quest to recharge them by killing. His first intended victim was Wally West, who by then had taken over the mantle of the Flash. During this time, he operated the Villers Gallery, an antique salon on Fifth Avenue in New York City. A private investigator by the name of Harold Halston from Thermopolis, Wyoming had been investigating one Varney Sack at the request of a local realtor. Sack turned out to be Savage, and the immortal man killed Halston once he figured the the private eye knew too much. In a showdown at the Club Neon, Wally, with the help of Frances Kane, fought Savage. He fell out of a window, but he disappeared before he hit the ground.

Savage surfaced again later, this time selling Velocity 9, a highly addictive super-speed drug of his own creation, which interfered with much of the existing drug trade in New York. He put an ad in the paper that attracted successful yuppies, who he used to do his bidding by giving them Velocity 9 so they could perform high speed crimes. However, these junkies aged at magnificent rates and suffered strokes easily.

Savage wished to use the heroin distribution network headed by mob boss Nick Bassaglia to distribute Velocity 9 to lawyers and stockbrokers, hoping to gain financial control of New York. However, Flash, who had gone looking for Bassaglia after he was kidnapped by Savage, was injected with Velocity 9.  After giving him a short spurt of incredible speed, it took away his powers. Hoping that a second dose would make him another one of his junkies, Savage told Dr. Conrad Bortz to inject the Flash, who instead injected Savage, who ran away.

He reappeared later, wanting money to leave the country. This money he attempted to acquire by kidnapping Rosie, the daughter of Wally's landlord, Mr. Gilchrist, with a ransom of five million dollars. He set many traps for the Flash, who was looking for Rosie, which led him to Barry Allen's grave, where Rosie was being kept. However, throughout all of this, Savage never showed his face.

Originally Savage was a member of Alexander Luthor's Secret Society of Super-Villains, but he quit and told Lex not to contact him for any reason. This was likely because his daughter Scandal was working against the Society as part of the Secret Six. When the Society lodged a final ambush against the Six, Vandal threatened to kill Luthor if he did not call off the attack, saying that he could not allow anyone to harm his daughter. Whether this was a case of fatherly concern or Vandal has ulterior motives for his daughter remains to be seen.

One Year Later

During the wake of the Infinite Crisis, Savage took a drastic turn his own ways on taking over the world in which he decided to restart human civilization by destroying Earth by pulling an asteroid into the planet. While leading a doomsday cult to help his plan accomplish, Savage's plot was foiled by the Flash and the asteroid was sent back into space, along with Savage. Eventually the asteroid fell back to Earth with Savage, who then discovered his immortality was declining and would therefore lead to his own demise. Savage chose to preserve his life by stealing the DNA of Green Lantern Alan Scott. Using a deformed clone of the original Sandman, Wesley Dodds, Vandal Savage's plans of capturing Scott failed. However, Savage found himself surviving by inhumane means when consuming a clone of himself, preserving his life a year longer.

Savage would later form a group of super-powered Neo-Nazis called the Fourth Reich to murder the heirs of several Golden Age superhero bloodlines, in the belief that eliminating the bloodlines will eliminate the heroes' legacies and allow him to continue his goal of reshaping the world according to his own desires. His victims include Minute-Man, Mister America, and General Glory, along with their families. Savage took the liberty of personally eliminating Wildcat and his son Tom Bronson himself, but only to be underestimated by Bronson's transformation into a cat-like creature who was able to overcome Savage. Ultimately, Savage's slaughter ended with his temporary defeat by Wildcat and his son, and the Fourth Reich defeated by the Justice Society.

Salvation Run

Savage was captured by American government authorities and was among of many villains that were secretly deported to the hell planet called "Salvation," which unknown to the deportees and their handlers that the planet was a training ground for the Parademons of Apokolips. Surviving the planet's deadly flora and fauna, Savage used his knowledge to locate a "safe zone" freed from any predators. He lead a group of all-female villains to this safe zone with intentions of mating them and to build his own civilization. However, the women turned against him once they learned that he had been manipulating them to turn against each other. Ultimately, Savage escaped back to Earth along with the villains following an attack by Parademons sent by Desaad.

Final Crisis

After returning to Earth, Savage became a member of the Society's second incarnation underneath Libra, serving as one of his inner cabinet members, during the Final Crisis. He also became involved with the Religion of Crime and was revealed to be actually the man the Religion of Crime worships as "Cain", the original murderer and sinner. Savage was reborn as Cain after cultists of the Religion of Crime plunged the Spear of Destiny into him. As Cain, he went on a path of revenge against the Spectre for punishing Cain in the past.

Managing to defeat the Spectre, Cain used the Spear of Destiny to separate the Spirit of Vengeance from his human host, Crispus Allen, and made him his slave. Though he almost has his revenge Cain's plan went undone by The Question, who managed to steal the Spear and reunite the Spectre with Crispus Allen. The Spectre spared from killing Cain as forbidden by God and instead had him branded by the Mark of Cain, being forever reviled and persecuted by the world until God feels that this punishment was justified.

Savage walked the Earth after his devastating defeat before coming across and assisting his colleague Ra's al Ghul and the Outsiders on defeating Savage's former tribesmen called the Insiders, who were exposed to the same meteor that granted Savage immortality. Savage would later on encounter the Huntress and The Question, managing through threats against the both of their lives to get The Question to take the Mark of Cain from him and carry it herself.

Fun Facts

Savage will possibly meet his end in the year 85,271 A.D., when he is sent back in time to 20th century Montevideo, Uruguay, seconds before it is decimated by a nuclear weapon, an action that was, ironically, ordered by Savage himself. This is, however, only one possible future for Savage.

Archaeological evidence has suggested that Vandal Savage is actually the inventor of Cannibalism.

Vandal Savage has been alive for centuries. As such he has influenced a few notable people in history, he was influenced by a few others and he actually was a few people in history. These people include Licinius, Varney Sack, Burt Villers, Khafre, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler and Jack the Ripper.

According to Savage, 34,000 years ago he invented the carving knife, 3,200 years ago he fought alongside Moses to lead the Isrealites out of Egypt from the Pharoah's rule, and 1,600 years he survived the destruction of the library of Alexandria.

[lionofchaeronea]

Denarius of the Roman emperor Augustus (r. 27 BCE-14 CE), commemorating the return of the legionary standards lost in the Parthian victory over M. Licinius Crassus at Carrhae (53 BCE).  On the obverse, the crowned head of the goddess Feronia; on the reverse, a kneeling Parthian hands over one of the standards.  Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Friday, March 3, 2023

march 3_february 18

SAINT LEO I THE GREAT, POPE OF ROME (461)

Saint Leo I the Great, Pope of Rome (440-461), received a fine and diverse education, which opened the possibility of an excellent worldly career for him. He yearned for the spiritual life, however, and so he chose to become an archdeacon under holy Pope Sixtus III (432-440), after whose death Saint Leo was chosen as Bishop of Rome in September 440.

These were difficult times for the Church when heretics assaulted Orthodoxy with their false teachings. Saint Leo combined pastoral solicitude and goodness with an unshakable firmness in the confession of the Faith. He was in particular one of the basic defenders of Orthodoxy against the heresies of Eutyches and Dioscorus, who taught that there was only one nature in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was also a defender against the heresy of Nestorius.

He exerted all his influence to put an end to the unrest by the heretics in the Church, and by his letters to the holy emperors Theodosius II (408-450) and Marcian (450-457), he actively promoted the convening of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, at Chalcedon in 451, to condemn the heresy of the Monophysites.

At the Council at Chalcedon, at which 630 bishops were present, a letter of Saint Leo to the deceased Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople (447-449) was read. Saint Flavian suffered for Orthodoxy under the “Robber Council” of Ephesus in 449. In the letter of Saint Leo the Orthodox teaching about the two natures [the divine and the human] in the Lord Jesus Christ was set forth. All the bishops at the Council agreed with this teaching, so the heretics Eutyches and Dioscorus were excommunicated from the Church.

Saint Leo was also a defender of his country against the incursions of barbarians. In 452, by the persuasive power of his words, he stopped Attila the Hun from pillaging Italy. Again in the year 455, when the leader of the Vandals [a Germanic tribe], Henzerich, turned towards Rome, he persuaded him not to pillage the city, burn buildings, nor to spill blood.

He knew the time of his death beforehand, and he prepared himself to pass from this world into eternity with forty days of fasting and prayer.

He died in the year 461 and was buried at Rome. His literary and theological legacy comprises 96 sermons and 143 letters, of which the best known is his Epistle to Saint Flavian.

SAINT AGAPITUS THE CONFESSOR, BISHOP OF SYNADA (4th c.)

Saint Agapitus came from Cappadocia and was the son of pious and God-loving parents. He lived during the time of the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (285-305). At a young age he departed for a monastery near Synnada in Phrygia, where he became a monk. He was loved by the Igumen because of his virtuous life and so he was taught how to read and write. He also received from God the gift of working miracles, performing over a hundred of them. By his prayers he killed a great dragon, which had appeared near the monastery, carrying off both people and animals. This was a great benefit for those who had turned to him for help.

Later on, during the reign of Licinius (308-323) Saint Agapitos was recruited into the army against his will. There he saw the victorious Martyrs Victor, Dorotheos, Theodoulos, Agrippa and many others, being tortured for their faith in Christ. Right away he wanted to join them in their martyrdom. Though they were perfected in Christ by the sword, he was preserved and, by God's providence, he suffered no harm, even though they wounded him with a spear. His life was spared so that he might lead many to salvation.

The holy Emperor Constantine the Great (May 21) heard that Saint Agapitos could heal people by his prayers. The emperor sent him a sick servant, and he was cured. Saint Constantine wished to reward Saint Agapitos, but he asked only that he be discharged from military service and be permitted to return to his monastery. His request was granted, and so he went back to the monastery.

Saint Agapitos devoted himself to the study of the Holy Gospel, and the Bishop of Synnada ordained him to the holy priesthood. After the bishop reposed, Saint Agapitos was chosen to succeed him in this position by the common consent of the clergy and the people.

After governing his flock in a God-pleasing manner, instructing them in the Orthodox Faith and in virtuous living, Saint Agapitos reposed in peace

ISAIAH 3:1-14 

1For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah The stock and the store, The whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water; 2 The mighty man and the man of war, The judge and the prophet, And the diviner and the elder; 3The captain of fifty and the honorable man, The counselor and the skillful artisan, And the expert enchanter.4“I will give children to be their princes, And babes shall rule over them.5The people will be oppressed, Every one by another and every one by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, And the base toward the honorable.”6 When a man takes hold of his brother In the house of his father, saying, “You have clothing; You be our ruler, And let these ruins be under your power,” 7 In that day he will protest, saying, “I cannot cure your ills, For in my house is neither food nor clothing; Do not make me a ruler of the people.” 8 For Jerusalem stumbled, And Judah is fallen, Because their tongue and their doings Are against the Lord, To provoke the eyes of His glory. 9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them, And they declare their sin as Sodom; They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves. 10 “Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their doings. 11 Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for his hands' reward shall be given him. 12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” 13The Lord stands up to plead, And stands to judge the people.14 The Lord will enter into judgment With the elders of His people And His princes: “For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses.

PROVERBS 3:19-34 

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion; 22 So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. 23 Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble.24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. 29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. 30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; 32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. 34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

[imperium-romanum]

On this Day | 19 December

In 324 CE, Licinius abdicated his position as Roman Emperor. He had reigned for a period of 16 years from 308 CE, and was succeeded by his rival, Constantine I.

AV Solidus of Licinius struck at the Nicomedia mint between 317 and 318 CE.

[exceptionally-minded]

Hey Tech, why does Gregor say "plebe" all the time?

*adjusts goggles* While I cannot opine upon the colloquial uses of the term "plebe" in modern vernacular, the etymological source of the word originates from "plebeian." The plebeian class in Ancient Roman society referred to the "common people," who were a distinct group from the "proletariat" or working class, and the "patrician" or ruling class. Plebians and patricians were families who were respectively not traceable and traceable back to the beginning of the Republic.

One reason this is still associated with military service has to do with the reforms made by Emperor Gaius Marius, a plebeian himself. He abolished the property requirement for becoming a soldier during the Jugurthine War, instituting military reforms including the granting of property rights to common people in exchange for 25 years of military service. While these reforms were laudable due to their egalitarian nature, they were ultimately a contributing factor to the destabilization of the Roman Republic by strengthening the influence of the military over the political sphere.

Historians believe the fall of the Roman Republic started in 59 BCE when Julius Caesar, Pompeii the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus formed an alliance to rule Rome. Crassus died in battle, leaving Caesar and Pompeii to turn against each other in civil war. After his victory in the wars with Pompeii, Caesar declared himself Imperator of the new Roman Empire...