#emperor phocas

[didoofcarthage]

View of the Roman Forum with the Column of Phocas and the Temple of Saturn and The Tiber at the Outskirts of Rome by Victor-Jean Nicolle

French, late 18th or early 19th century

pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash over red chalk

Metropolitan Museum of Art x x 

[forgottenroderick]

What would be Roderick's last words be if they died right now?

ok so, the short answer is...i don't know, but i have ideas! lkasjdflkjdsf

ok soooooo it would def depend on circumstances like i can def see him tryna say smth but he can't quite get it out and forever after ppl are tryna figure it out and like its causing wars somehow like...that feels v on brand! other options, to steal from louis xv and alexander the great, are 'after me, the flood/disaster' or -- when asked who his empire should go to -- 'the strongest' all also feel suuuuuper on brand too lakjdsfkldsjf but i can also see him whispering smth like 'my love' at the end and ppl being like was it one of his wives??? his empire?????

if assassinated, caligula's last words, 'i am still alive!' just after being fatally stabbed by an assassin feel pr on point, or tius': "My life is taken from me, though I have done nothing to deserve it; for there is no action of mine of which I should repent, but one." or, if betrayed, smth ironic like wat tyler's "Because they are all under my command, they are sworn to do what I bid them," (bc like ~roderick'd ever die! he's got this all under control! *drops dead*) or just straight up pulling a richard iii and screaming 'treason! treason!' when his troops abandon him to be slaughtered by the enemy

tbh i do think he's the sort of person who, even if he had a terminal disease or whatever, would deny the possibility that he might die right up to the bitter end so i lowkey think you might just get smth like 'no, no, not yet' or 'it can't be' or even 'stop' bc its like a shock and he cant w this!!!!!! he can't die!!!!!! he's roderick the gods own champion!!!!! etc!!!!! or even pull a phocas and shockedly remark 'who will govern it any better?' re: the empire or even him resigning himself (but in his case def in a dismissive kinda way bc ~he's way more important!) like henry ii's "Now let the world go as it will; I care for nothing more."

but also i can see like some sort of delusion taking over and him playing out a scene in his head and like acting out his part in it so like basically him muttering nonsense information like 'the yellow one' or smth bc in his brain his mother is asking him which vase to use for the wildflower bouquet he just brought her or whatever but no one knows that they just ~think they heard him say 'the yellow one' but that couldn't have been right???? klajsfkljsdf idk!!!!

if he knew and accepted that he was dying tho he'd deffff want it to be smth prfound and epic!!!!!!!! some examples of the sort of last words he'd like to utter:

"Death twitches my ear. 'Live,' he says. 'I am coming.'" - virgil

"Woe, I think I'm turning into a god... An emperor should die on his feet." - vespasian

"Fortune favors the bold." - pliny the elder

"Go to the rising sun, for I am setting." (without the ending which is 'think more of death than of me' -- roderick would ~never say that lakjdsfklsjdf) - marcus aurelius

"How am I advanced, despising you that are upon the earth!" - marcus of arethusa

"Carry my bones before you on your march, for the rebels will not be able to endure the sight of me, alive or dead." - edward i of england

[charlesoberonn]

List of Roman Emperors and how many future emperors were born during their reign

"?" is for emperors whose birthdate is unclear, they'd be listed under every possible option

Emperors with no known birthdate won't be counted towards any reign

A lot of the reigns overlap (especially after the Empire is divided between east and west) so some emperors are born during the reign of several previous emperors

Republican Era: 2. Augustus, Tiberius

Agustus (40 years): 5. Caligula, Claudius, Galba, Vitellius, Vespasian

Tiberius (22 years): 2. Otho, Nerva

Caligula (4 years): 2. Nero, Titus

Claudius (14 years): 2. Domitian, Trajan

Nero (14 years): 0.

Galba (7 months): 0.

Otho (3 months): 0.

Vitellius (8 months): 0.

Vespasian (10 years): 1. Hadrian

Titus (2 years): 0.

Domitian (15 years): 1. Antoninus Pius

Nerva (1 year): 0.

Trajan (20 years): 0.

Hadrian (21 years): 4. Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, Pertinax, Didius Julianus

Antoninus Pius (23 years): 2. Septimius Severus, Gordian I

Marcus Aurelius (19 years): 3-4. Commodus, Macrinus, Maximunus Thrax?, Pupienus

Lucius Verus (8 years): 2. Commodus, Macrinus

Commodus (13 years): 4-6. Caracalla, Geta, Maximinus Thrax?, Gordian II, Balbinus, Decius?

Pertinax (3 months): 0.

Didius Julianus (2 months): 0.

Septimius Severus (18 years): 6-8. Elagabalus, Severus Alexander, Philip the Arab, Decius?, Trebonianus Gallus, Aemilianus, Valerian, Tacitus?

Caracalla (6 years): 2. Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian

Geta (1 year): 0.

Macrinus (1 year): 0-1. Gallienus?

Elagabalus (4 years): 0-1. Gallienus?

Severus Alexander (13 years): 2-3. Gordian III, Probus, Carus?

Maximinus Thrax (3 years): 0.

Gordian I (1 month): 0.

Gordian II (1 month): 0.

Pupienus (3 months): 0.

Balbinus (3 months): 0.

Gordian III (5 years): 1. Diocletian

Philip the Arab (6 years): 0.

Decius (2 years): 0-3. Carinus?, Maximian?, Constantius I?

Trebonian Gallus (2 years): 0.

Aemilianus (2 months): 0.

Valerian (7 years): 2. Numerian, Galerius

Gallienus (15 years): 1. Licinius

Claudius Gothicus (2 years): 0.

Aurelian (5 years): 2. Maximinus II, Constantine I

Tacitus (7 months): 0.

Florianus (3 months): 0.

Probus (6 years): 0.

Carus (10 months): 0-1. Maxentius?

Carinus (2 years): 0-1. Maxentius?

Numerian (1 year): 0-1. Maxentius?

Diocletian (20 years): 0.

Maximian (21 years): 0.

Galerius (6 years): 0.

Constantius I (1 year): 0.

Severus II (8 months): 0.

Maxentius (6 years): 0.

Licinius (15 years): 4. Constantine II, Constans I, Constantius II, Valentinian I

Maximinus II (3 years): 0.

Constantine I (31 years): 7. Constantine II, Constans I, Constantius II, Julian, Jovian, Valentinian I, Valens

Constantine II (3 years): 0.

Constans I (12 years): 1. Theodosius I

Constantius II (24 years): 2. Gratian, Theodosius I

Julian (2 years): 0.

Jovian (8 months): 0.

Valentinian I (12 years): 1. Valentinian II

Valens (14 years): 2. Valentinian II, Arcadius

Gratian (8 years): 1. Arcadius

Valentinian II (4 years): 0.

Theodosius I (16 year): 2. Honorius, Marcian

Arcadius (13 years): 2. Theodosius II, Leo I

Honorius (29 years): 2. Theodosius II, Leo I

Theodosius II (42 years): 3-4. Valentinian III, Zeno, Anastasius I, Justin?

Constantius III (7 months): 0.

Valentinian III (29 years): 1-2. Zeno?, Anastasius I

Marcian (6 years): 0-1. Justin I?

Petronius Maximus (2 months): 0.

Avitus (1 year): 0.

Majorian (4 years): 0.

Leo I (17 years): 1. Leo II

Libius Severus (4 years): 0-1. Romulus Augustulus?

Anthemius (5 years): 1. Leo II

Olybrius (7 months): 0.

Glycerius (1 year): 0.

Leo II (10 months): 0.

Julius Nepos (6 years): 0.

Zeno (16 years): 1. Justinian I 

Basiliscus (2 years): 0.

Romulus Augustulus (10 months): 0.

Anastasius I (27 years): 0.

Justin I (9 years): 0.

Justinian I (39 years): 3. Tiberius II, Maurice, Phocas

Justin II (13 years): 1. Heraclius

Tiberius II (4 years): 0.

Maurice (20 years): 0.

Phocas (8 years): 0.

Heraclius (30 years): 3. Constantine III, Heraclonas, Constans II

Constantine III (3 months): 0.

Heraclonas (9 months): 0.

Constans II (27 years): 1. Constatine IV

Constantine IV (17 years): 1-2. Justinian II, Leo III?

Justinian II (16 years, non-consecutive): 0-1. Leo III?

Leontius (3 years): 0.

Tiberius III (7 years): 0.

Philippicus (2 years): 0.

Anastasius II (2 years): 0.

Theodosius III (2 years): 0.

Leo III (24 years): 1. Constantine V

Constantine V (34 years): 6-7. Leo IV, Constantine VI, Irene, Nikephoros I, Michael I, Leo V?, Michael II

Leo IV (5 years): 0-1. Leo V?

Constantine VI (17 years): 0-1. Staurakios?

Irene (5 years): 0-1. Staurakios?

Nikephoros I (9 years): 0-1. Basil I?

Staurakios (2 months): 0-1. Basil I?

Michael I (2 years): 0-2. Theophilos?, Basil I?

Leo V (7 years): 0-1. Theophilos?

Michael II (9 years): 0.

Theophilos (12 years): 1-2. Michael II, Basil I?

Michael III (26 years): 1. Leo VI

Basil I (19 years): 2. Alexander, Romanos I

Leo VI (26 years): 1-2. Constantine VII, Nikephoros II?

Alexander (1 year): 0-1. Nikephoros II?

Constantine VII (46 years): 3. Romanos II, John I, Basil II

Romanos I (24 years): 2. Romanos II, John I

Romanos II (3 years): 1. Constantine VIII

Nikephoros II (6 years): 1. Romanos III

John I (6 years): 0.

Basil II (50 years): 9. Michael IV, Michael V, Zeo, Theodora, Constantine IX, Michael VI, Isaac I, Constantine X, Nikephoros III

Constantine VIII (3 years): 0.

Romanos III (5 years): 1. Romanos IV

Michael IV (8 years): 0.

Michael V (4 months): 0.

Zoe (2 months): 0.

Theodora (2 years): 0.

Constantine IX (13 years): 1. Michael VII

Michael VI (1 year): 0-1. Alexios I?

Isaac I (2 years): 0-1. Alexios I?

Constantine X (7 years): 0.

Romanos IV (4 years): 0.

Michael VII (6 years): 0.

Nikephoros III (8 years): 0.

Alexios I (37 years): 1-2. John II, Andronikos I?

John II (25 years): 4-5. Manuel I, Andronikos I?, Isaac II, Alexios III, Alexios V

Manuel I (37 years): 2. Alexios II, Theodore I,

Alexios II (3 years): 1. Alexios IV

Andronikos I (2 years): 0.

Isaac II (10 years): 1. John III

Alexios III (8 years): 0.

Alexios IV (6 months): 0.

Alexios V (2 months): 0.

Theodore I (16 years): 0-1. Theodore II?

John III (33 years): 2-3. Theodore II?, John IV, Michael VIII

Theodore II (4 years): 0.

John IV (3 years): 0.

Michael VIII (24 years): 2. Andronikos II, Michael IX

Andronikos II (45 years): 2. Andronikos III, John VI

Michael IX (26 years): 1. Andronikos III

Andronikos III (13 years): 1. John V

John V (50 years): 3. Andronikos IV, John VII, Manuel II

John VI (8 years): 2. Andronikos IV, Manuel II

Andronikos IV (3 years): 0.

John VII (5 years): 0.

Manuel II (34 years): 2. John VIII, Constantine XI

John VIII (23 years): 0.

Constantine XI (4 years): 0.

[blueiscoool]

10 Dazzling Gold and Silver Treasures Discovered in 2022

Over the centuries, humans have crafted gold and silver into jewelry, coins and other stunning items. Some of these shiny objects were interred in burials or lost from loose pockets, only to be found hundreds of years to millennia later by archaeologists digging into our past or even unearthed unintentionally by members of the public. Here are 10 extraordinary discoveries that came to light in 2022.

1. 'Cheap Jewelry' is Really Gold Viking Ring

When a woman in Norway bought a bundle of cheap jewelry at an online auction, she was expecting to find some fun costume pieces to wear. Instead, she discovered something else entirely: a large gold Viking ring designed from twisted metal strands. The woman showed the ring to archaeologists, who dated it based on its style. According to the archaeologists, a powerful Viking chief may have owned this ring more than 1,000 years ago.

2. Kitchen Renovation Uncovers Gold Coin Stash

A routine kitchen renovation led to the discovery of a lifetime: a hoard of gold coins hidden beneath the wooden floorboards of an 18th-century house in the U.K. The stash includes more than 260 gold coins dating from 1610 to 1727 and is estimated to be worth around $290,000 (250,000 pounds).

3. Byzantine Gold Coins in Israel

Archaeologists on a nature reserve in northern Israel dug up a trove of 44 gold coins dating to the Byzantine Empire (circa A.D. 330 to 1453). These gorgeous coins date to the reigns of Emperor Phocas (A.D. 602 to 610) and Emperor Heraclius (A.D. 610 to 641). The hoard's owner may have buried the stash before fleeing from Muslim soldiers, who invaded the region in A.D. 635.

4. Gold and Silver Coins near an Egyptian Temple

For the last millennium, a cache of gold and silver coins sat buried underground near an Egyptian temple. These coins date to the Islamic era, which lasted from A.D. 610 until the 13th century. The coins are varied, including 286 silver coins of kings and kingdoms from that time, gold coins, a coin from what is now Armenia that was minted during King Leo II's reign in the 13th century, and bronze and brass coins from the Ottoman Empire.

5. 3,000-Year-Old Gold Funeral Mask from China

The 3,000-year-old tomb of a noble in what is now central China contained a rich treasure: a gold funeral mask, one of the oldest gold objects ever found in the region. The mask is large enough to cover an adult's face and may have symbolized that the deceased had an "imperishable gold body," researchers said.

6. "Abbess" Buried with Gold-and-Garnet Necklace

An elite woman buried in seventh-century England was laid to rest with a stunning necklace made of gold, garnets and Roman coin pendants. The burial included two impressive crosses, indicating that this medieval woman may have been an early female Christian leader such as an abbess, or possibly even royalty.

7. Gold Coin Features Assassinated Roman Emperor Volusianus

Excavators unearthed a "very rare" gold coin depicting a murdered Roman emperor in Hungary. The third-century A.D. coin shows the face of Emperor Volusianus, who co-ruled with his father for about two years before his own soldiers killed him and his father. Because Volusianus' reign was so short, coins showing his likeness are rare, especially in Hungary, where Roman gold coins are very uncommon. This coin was very valuable at the time, so losing it must have been a great loss to its owner.

8. Ancient Gold Belt Discovered on Beet Farm

In the Czech Republic, a beet farmer unexpectedly uncovered a crumpled sheet of gold on his land. The farmer alerted local archaeologists, who determined that the gold treasure was likely the front of a leather belt dating to the Bronze Age, nearly 2,500 years ago. Concentric circles decorating the gold sheet might represent cosmological systems, the archaeologists said. It's unclear who owned the belt, but whoever did was clearly elite.

9. Egyptian Ring Depicts 'God of Fun'

A 3,300-year-old burial from ancient Egypt contained a handful of valuable jewelry, including a gold ring with an engraving of the "god of fun." This deity, Bes, was often depicted as a dwarf and was usually portrayed playing music and having a good time. However, Bes was also known for protecting women during childbirth. Archaeologists also found a gold necklace and a ring with an Egyptian hieroglyphic inscription that translates to "Lady of the Earth," but the identity of the woman this inscription refers to is still unknown.

10. Rare Coin Shows Charlemagne Just Before his Death

There are precious few known portraits of Charlamagne made during his lifetime, but now one of them has been found on a rare, 1,200-year-old coin. The coin ended up in the collection of a French farmer, who left his treasured stash to his grandson. When his grandson went through the coins years later and put the Charlemagne item on eBay, German museum curators jumped at the chance to buy it. Charlemagne (ruled A.D. 768 to 814) had the coin, known as a denarius, portray him like a Roman emperor with a laurel on his hat and the dress of a Roman general, even though the Western Roman Empire had collapsed centuries before. Why? Because the Vatican had just crowned him emperor of the Romans on Christmas day in A.D. 800, so the coin was a fitting symbol.

By Laura Geggel.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 11.27 (before 1950)

AD 25 – Luoyang is declared capital of the Eastern Han dynasty by Emperor Guangwu of Han. 176 – Emperor Marcus Aurelius grants his son Commodus the rank of "Imperator" and makes him Supreme Commander of the Roman legions. 395 – Rufinus, praetorian prefect of the East, is murdered by Gothic mercenaries under Gainas. 511 – King Clovis I dies at Lutetia and is buried in the Abbey of St Genevieve. 602 – Byzantine Emperor Maurice is forced to watch as the usurper Phocas executes his five sons before Maurice is beheaded himself. 1095 – Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont. 1382 – Al-Salih Hajji, the last Qalawunid sultan, was deposed by Barquq in 1382, ending the long period of the Turkic Bahri Mamluk period in general and particularly the Qalawunid dynasty and starting the reign of the Circassian Burji Mamluk. 1542 – Palace plot of Renyin year: A group of Ming dynasty palace women fail to murder the Jiajing Emperor, and are executed by slow-slicing. 1727 – The foundation stone to the Jerusalem Church in Berlin is laid. 1755 – An earthquake in northern Morocco devastates the cities of Fes and Meknes. 1809 – The Berners Street hoax is perpetrated by Theodore Hook in the City of Westminster, London. 1815 – Adoption of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland. 1830 – Saint Catherine Labouré experiences a Marian apparition. 1835 – James Pratt and John Smith are hanged in London; they are the last two to be executed for sodomy in England. 1839 – In Boston, Massachusetts, the American Statistical Association is founded. 1856 – The Coup of 1856 leads to Luxembourg's unilateral adoption of a new, reactionary constitution. 1863 – American Civil War: Confederate cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan and several of his men escape the Ohio Penitentiary and return safely to the South. 1863 – American Civil War: Battle of Mine Run: Union forces under General George Meade take up positions against troops led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. 1868 – American Indian Wars: Battle of Washita River: United States Army Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer leads an attack on Cheyenne living on reservation land. 1879 – War of the Pacific: Battle of Tarapacá: The confrontation between the Chilean Army and the Peruvian Army takes place in Tarapacá, the Peruvian victory is consummated with the death of the 2 generals and the capture the Chilean general in said place of battle, headed by the Peruvian victory of General Juan Buendía y Noregia. 1895 – At the Swedish–Norwegian Club in Paris, Alfred Nobel signs his last will and testament, setting aside his estate to establish the Nobel Prize after he dies. 1896 – Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss is first performed. 1901 – The U.S. Army War College is established. 1912 – Spain declares a protectorate over the north shore of Morocco. 1917 – P. E. Svinhufvud becomes the chairman of his first senate, technically the first Prime Minister of Finland. 1918 – The Makhnovshchina is established. 1924 – In New York City, the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held. 1940 – In Romania, the ruling Iron Guard fascist party assassinates over 60 of arrested King Carol II of Romania's aides and other political dissidents. 1940 – World War II: At the Battle of Cape Spartivento, the Royal Navy engages the Regia Marina in the Mediterranean Sea. 1942 – World War II: At Toulon, the French navy scuttles its ships and submarines to keep them out of Nazi hands. 1944 – World War II: RAF Fauld explosion: An explosion at a Royal Air Force ammunition dump in Staffordshire kills seventy people. 1945 – CARE (then the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe) is founded to send CARE Packages of food relief to Europe after World War II.

[agesinmotion]

OCTOBER 5TH

October 5th is a day packed with epic events you might not have heard about!

Back in 610, Heraclius sailed into Constantinople, overthrew Emperor Phocas, and steered the Byzantine Empire onto a whole new path.

On this day in 1864, a catastrophic cyclone devastated Calcutta, killing around 60,000 people and leaving the city in ruins.

In 1911, Italian troops occupied Tripoli, igniting conflicts that would echo throughout North Africa for decades.

On this day in 1918, Allied forces smashed through the formidable Hindenburg Line, a pivotal moment that signaled the beginning of the end for World War I.

And in 1988, the people of Chile boldly voted against extending Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship, ending his 16 and a half years in power and paving the way for democracy.

October 5th is a day of upheavals, disasters, and monumental shifts.

[byzantiumcyber]

Gold coin of Emperor Heraclius with his father, Heraclius the Elder. They managed to overthrow Emperor Phocas. The Elder would pass away before seeing the brilliance and tragedy of his son's war with the Sassanids and the Muslims. A new Imperial Dynasty at the start of the Islamic era.

[silvestromedia]

SAINTS SEPTEMBER 22 "There is only one tragedy in this life, not to have been a saint."- Leon Bloy

Sts. Digna & Emerita Roman Catholic Virgin Martyrs, Roman maidens martyred in the Eternal City. They both died while praying before their judges. Their relics are in St. Marcellus Church in Rome. Feastday Sept 22

Sts. Felix and Constantia, Roman Catholic Martyrs of Nocera, Italy, slain in the persecution conducted by Emperor Nero. Feastday Sept 22

ST. BASILLA, MARTYR ON THE VIA SALARIA ANTICA

Bl. Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, is the name given by the Catholic Church to the people who were killed by communist during the war because of their faith. As of July 2008, almost one thousand Spanish martyrs have been beatified or canonized. For some two thousand additional martyrs, the beatification process is underway. Sept 22

Martyrs of the Theban Legion, While serving in France, the legion marched to Agaunum, where it encamped for pagan rituals. Maurice, a commander, and Exuperius, Candidus, Innocent, Vitalis, two Victors, and the men of the legion refused to worship pagan deities, or possibly refused to massacre the local innocent populace. They were supposed to be pressured to obey by witnessing the beheading of some of their officers, but refused to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. Reportedly, Maximian brought in another legion to slay the 6,600 Christians. A basilica, St. Maurice-en-Valais, was built from about 369-391 to commemorate this remarkable martyrdom.

St. Thomas of Villanueva, Roman Catholic Spanish friar of the Order of Saint Augustine who was a noted preacher, ascetic and religious writer of his day. He became an archbishop who was famous for the extent of his care for the poor of his see. Feastday Sept 22

St. Lolanus, 1034 A.D. Scottish bishop whose life is Unknown because fifth-century legends obscure the historically accurate accounts of his labors.

St. Phocas the Gardener, Phocas’ Christian identity became known to the pagan Roman authorities. Soldiers were dispatched to find and arrest him. Upon nearing Sinope, they stopped at Phocas’ door and received lodging from him, unaware that their host was the man they were charged to capture. reluctant to carry out their orders against their kind host, but in the end they beheaded him.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading; Thursday, July 18, 2024

july 5_july 18

VENERABLE ATHANASIUS, MONK OF Mt ATHOS (1003)

Saint Athanasius of Athos, in holy Baptism named Abraham, was born in the city of Trebezond. He was orphaned at an early age, and being raised by a certain good and pious nun, he imitated his adoptive mother in the habits of monastic life, in fasting and in prayer. Doing his lessons came easily and he soon outpaced his peers in study.

After the death of his adoptive mother, Abraham was taken to Constantinople, to the court of the Byzantine emperor Romanus the Elder, and was enrolled as a student under the renowned rhetorician Athanasius. In a short while the student attained the mastery of skill of his teacher and he himself became an instructor of youths. Reckoning as the true life that of fasting and vigilance, Abraham led a strict and abstinent life, he slept little and then only sitting upon a stool, and barley bread and water were his nourishment. When his teacher Athanasius through human weakness became jealous of his student, blessed Abraham gave up his teaching position and went away.

During these days there had arrived at Constantinople Saint Michael Maleinos (July 12), igumen of the Kyminas monastery. Abraham told the igumen about his life, and revealed to him his secret desire to become a monk. The holy Elder, discerning in Abraham a chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, became fond of him and taught him much in questions of salvation. One time during their spiritual talks Saint Michael was visited by his nephew, Nikēphóros Phocas, a military officer and future emperor. Abraham’s lofty spirit and profound mind impressed Nikēphóros, and all his life he regarded the saint with reverent respect and with love. Abraham was consumed by his zeal for the monastic life. Having forsaken everything, he went to the Kyminas monastery and, falling down at the feet of the holy igumen, he begged to be received into the monastic life. The igumen fulfilled his request with joy and tonsured him with the name Athanasius.

With long fasts, vigils, bending of the knees, with works night and day Athanasius soon attained such perfection, that the holy igumen blessed him for the exploit of silence in a solitary place not far from the monastery. Later on, having left Kyminas, he made the rounds of many desolate and solitary places, and guided by God, he came to a place called Melanos, at the very extremity of Athos, settling far off from the other monastic dwellings. Here the monk made himself a cell and began to live an ascetical life in works and in prayer, proceeding from exploit to exploit towards higher monastic attainment.

The enemy of mankind tried to arouse in Saint Athanasius hatred for the place chosen by him, and assaulted him with constant suggestions in thought. The ascetic decided to suffer it out for a year, and then wherever the Lord should direct him, he would go. On the last day of this year’s length of time, when Saint Athanasius set about to prayer, a heavenly light suddenly shone upon him, filling him with an indescribable joy, all the thoughts dissipated, and from his eyes welled up graced tears. From that moment Saint Athanasius received the gift of tenderness , and he became as strongly fond of the place of his solitude as he had formerly loathed it.

During this time Nikēphóros Phocas, having had enough of military exploits, remembered his vow to become a monk and from his means he besought Saint Athanasius to build a monastery, i.e., to build cells for him and the brethren, and a church where the brethren could commune of the Divine Mysteries of Christ on Sundays.

Tending to shun cares and worries, Saint Athanasius at first would not agree to accept the hateful gold, but seeing the fervent desire and good intent of Nikēphóros, and discerning in this the will of God, he set about the building of the monastery. He built a large church in honor of the holy Prophet and Forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, and another church at the foot of a hill, in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos. Around the church were the cells, and a wondrous monastery arose on the Holy Mountain. In it were a trapeza (dining area), a hospice for the sick and for taking in wanderers, and other necessary structures.

Brethren flocked to the monastery from everywhere, not only from Greece, but also from other lands, simple people and illustrious dignitaries, desert-dwellers having labored in asceticism for long years in the wilderness, igumens from many monasteries and hierarchs wanting to become simple monks in the Athos Lavra of Saint Athanasius.

The saint established at the monastery a cenobitic monastic Rule on the model of the old Palestinian monasteries. Divine services were served with all strictness, and no one was so bold as to talk during the services, nor to come late or leave the church without necessity.

The Heavenly Patroness of Athos, the All-Pure Mother of God Herself, was graciously disposed towards the saint. Many times he was privileged to see Her with his own eyes. By God’s dispensation, there once occurred such a hunger, that the monks one after the other quit the Lavra. The saint remained all alone and, in a moment of weakness, he also considered leaving. Suddenly he beheld a Woman beneath an ethereal veil, coming to meet him. “Who are you and where are you going?” She asked quietly. Saint Athanasius from an innate deference halted. “I am a monk from here,” Saint Athanasius replied, and spoke about himself and his worries.

“Would you forsake the monastery which was intended for glory from generation unto generation, just for a morsel of dry bread? Where is your faith? Turn around, and I shall help you.” “Who are you?” asked Athanasius. “I am the Mother of the Lord,” She answered, and bid Athanasius to strike his staff upon a stone. From the fissure there gushed forth a spring of water, which exists even now, in remembrance of this miraculous visitation.

The brethren grew in number, and the construction work at the Lavra continued. Saint Athanasius, foreseeing the time of his departure to the Lord, prophesied about his impending end and besought the brethren not to be troubled over what he foresaw. “For Wisdom disposes otherwise than as people judge.” The brethren were perplexed and pondered the words of the saint. After giving the brethren his final guidance and comforting all, Saint Athanasius entered his cell, put on his mantiya and holy kukolion (head covering), which he wore only on great feasts, and emerged after prolonged prayer. Alert and joyful, the holy igumen went up with six of the brethren to the top of the church to inspect the construction. Suddenly, through the imperceptible will of God, the top of the church collapsed. Five of the brethren immediately gave up their souls to God. Saint Athanasius and the architect Daniel, thrown upon the stones, remained alive. All heard the saint call out to the Lord, “Glory to Thee, O God! Lord, Jesus Christ, help me!” The brethren with great weeping began to dig out their father from the rubble, but they found him already dead.

MARTYRS NUNS SAINTS ELIZABETH AND BARBARA (1918)

 Grand Duchess Elizabeth was a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England and the older sister of the Empress Alexandra (July 4). After marrying Grand Duke Sergei, the governor of Moscow, she converted to the Orthodox faith from protestantism on her own free will. She then organized women from all levels of society to help the soldiers at the front and in the hospitals. Grand Duke Sergius was killed by an assassin’s bomb on February 4, 1905, just as St Elizabeth was leaving for her workshops. Remarkably, she visited her husband’s killer in prison and urged him to repent.

After this, she took monastic vows and withdrew from the world, founding the Convent of Saints Mary and Martha in Ordinka. Women from the nobility and the common people were attracted to the convent. There, she served as superior, devoting her time to prayer, fasting, and helping the poor. She nursed sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals and on the battlefront.

On Pascha of 1918, the Communists ordered her to leave Moscow and join the royal family near Ekaterinburg. She left with a novice, Sister Barbara, and an escort of Latvian guards. After arriving in Ekaterinburg, St Elizabeth was denied access to the Tsar’s family. She was placed in a convent, where she was warmly received by the sisters.

At the end of May, St Elizabeth was moved to nearby Alopaevsk with the Grand Dukes Sergius, John, and Constantine and the young Count Vladimir Paley. They were all housed in a schoolhouse on the edge of town. St Elizabeth was under guard, but was permitted to go to church and work in the garden.

On the night of July 5, they were all taken to a place twelve miles from Alopaevsk, and executed. The Grand Duke Sergius was shot, but the others were thrown down a mineshaft, and then grenades were tossed after them. St. Elizabeth lived for several hours and could be heard singing the cherubic hymn when she died.

The Nun Barbara, her cell-attendant, voluntarily followed St Elizabeth into exile and received martyrdom. In 1920, Their relics were recovered and taken at great risk to China, then to Jerusalem, where they were deposited in the Convent of St Mary Magdalene. When their reliquaries were opened in 1981, their bodies were found to be partly incorrupt, and gave off a sweet fragrance.      Footnote: After the assasination of her husband in Moscow, Grand Duchess Elizabeth had a cross erected at the site of his death, bearing the inscription "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." After the revolution, the cross remained standing through the devotion of the people of Moscow to St Elizabeth, until it was personally torn down by Lenin.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-10

1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

LUKE 6:17-23

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. 20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

[raisab332012]

Answer to Who was the most destructive Byzantine emperor? by Cyrus II https://www.quora.com/Who-was-the-most-destructive-Byzantine-emperor/answer/Cyrus-II-3?ch=18&oid=1477743769794652&share=dbf45211&srid=7KVRc&target_type=answer

[jacscorner]

[Jango: I don't get why people don't like me. I'm not the bad guy in this story!]

Sector 7 of the Phoca Gigas system, Space Station Isis. The sector is the home of the Artisan Guild. Painters, sculptors, bakers, writers, and various workers from metal to wood to cloth and so on. The Artisans, in a lot of ways, are the backbone of the sector. There is no solar system here, just a collection of colony worlds and space stations. It's neutral territory for various warring warlords, all fighting for the right to take the Solar Throne and become master of the universe.

On the 7th day of the 7th month of the cosmic calendar is the day every Artisan looks forward to: Auction Day. Where Artisans do everything in their power to sell the best of their crafts. Some sell pieces, others try to market themselves to sell their services. The only rule - an unspoken one - is that the Artisans never know who will be there. After all; who rules what pieces of space can change at the drop of a hat. One year, you're dealing with the God Emperor of the Red World. The next, he's been dethroned by his second cousin, who was assassinated by his wife, and she was conquered by her neighbor and is the accompanying slave of the God Empress of the Gold World.

[Jango: ...Okay, so I'm not the good guy in this story either. But I'm not a drug lord or war profiteer.]

Jango Fox had a lot of paintings on display. As a member of the guild, he also looked forward to this day. He had many displays in his section. But there was one piece he made special. With information slipped to him by a broker he was good friends with.

[Jango: ...Hey. Don't look at me like that. You can't break a rule that's unwritten. Shishishishi~]

And then, she appeared.

Sesuna Of The Summer Court, a Sylvan of Planet Carver. The Sylvans are a peculiar people; according to them, they evolved from a giant tree on their homeworld. In essence, they're humanoid trees, with bark-like skin. The Sylvans used to be seen as peaceful people, but never weak people. In fact, they have been mostly left alone due to offworlders going to Carver and never coming back. In fact, they were savage, tribal people before these ignorant visiters were slaughtered and their tech salvaged, kickstarting their space age. They have been big players on the world stage since.

And Sesuna was their current ruler.

"Hmm..." Sesuna mused as she looked at the painting displayed. "A depiction of Agape, The Tree of Origin, in the colors that match my leaves." She put a finger to her chin. "If I didn't know any better, Artisan, I'd assume you were trying to pander to me."

"Well~" Jango shrugged his shoulders, "is it working?

"Admittedly, it is." Sesuna answered.

This story is the result of another D&D Campaign that fell through. Seems my bad luck continues with finding a TTRPG group. Though, with how things have been changing in my life, maybe this was GOOD luck, actually...

[usefullistanbul]

Known as The Golden Age

The period of his rule is known as “The Golden Age” not only because he had expanded the territory of the First Bulgarian Kingdom between three seas – the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Simeon the Great left a bright trace in Bulgarian diplomacy, united the Slavic tribes and developed the schools in Ohrid and Preslav which his father had founded. During his rule were created masterpieces of literature like the Alphabetical Prayer and Preface to the Gospel by Constantine of Preslav, Six Days by Joan Exarch and A Tale of the Letters – the latter is considered by some researchers as a work of the King himself under the pen-name Chernorizets Hrabar. The 9th and 10th centuries were also an epoque of vigorous blossoming of arts and crafts, architecture and sculpture.

Decline

However, Simeon the Great left also a dark trace in Bulgarian history. The society was exhausted of all those wars he waged and the problems of social inequality had sharpened. In the second half of the 10th century appeared a new danger: the Varangians under Oleg seized from the Hazars Kiev Visit Bulgaria – the old Slavic settlement on trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople – to settle there in 882 the capital of a state named Kievan Russia and soon their horsemen were on the north banks of the Danube…

The son of Simeon the Great, Petar, ruled from 927 to 969 following a peaceful foreign policy. He married his granddaughter to the Byzantine Emperor and signed a 40-years peace treaty. But there was already an unstable atmosphere in the state which helped the Serbs to restore their independent principality and split off from the Bulgarian kingdom. Peter also suffered a series of defeats from the Prince of Kiev, Svetoslav – an ally of the Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas – after which he fell sick and retired to a monastery. His son, Boris II (969-971), ascended the throne. When Svetoslav undertook his serial march in Bulgaria the King concluded a peace treaty with him and in 970 the united army of Bulgarians and Russians attacked Byzantium. This time, however, the Byzantines won and Boris II was taken to Constantinople as a prisoner of war.

[istanbularttr]

Known as The Golden Age

The period of his rule is known as “The Golden Age” not only because he had expanded the territory of the First Bulgarian Kingdom between three seas – the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Simeon the Great left a bright trace in Bulgarian diplomacy, united the Slavic tribes and developed the schools in Ohrid and Preslav which his father had founded. During his rule were created masterpieces of literature like the Alphabetical Prayer and Preface to the Gospel by Constantine of Preslav, Six Days by Joan Exarch and A Tale of the Letters – the latter is considered by some researchers as a work of the King himself under the pen-name Chernorizets Hrabar. The 9th and 10th centuries were also an epoque of vigorous blossoming of arts and crafts, architecture and sculpture.

Decline

However, Simeon the Great left also a dark trace in Bulgarian history. The society was exhausted of all those wars he waged and the problems of social inequality had sharpened. In the second half of the 10th century appeared a new danger: the Varangians under Oleg seized from the Hazars Kiev Visit Bulgaria – the old Slavic settlement on trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople – to settle there in 882 the capital of a state named Kievan Russia and soon their horsemen were on the north banks of the Danube…

The son of Simeon the Great, Petar, ruled from 927 to 969 following a peaceful foreign policy. He married his granddaughter to the Byzantine Emperor and signed a 40-years peace treaty. But there was already an unstable atmosphere in the state which helped the Serbs to restore their independent principality and split off from the Bulgarian kingdom. Peter also suffered a series of defeats from the Prince of Kiev, Svetoslav – an ally of the Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas – after which he fell sick and retired to a monastery. His son, Boris II (969-971), ascended the throne. When Svetoslav undertook his serial march in Bulgaria the King concluded a peace treaty with him and in 970 the united army of Bulgarians and Russians attacked Byzantium. This time, however, the Byzantines won and Boris II was taken to Constantinople as a prisoner of war.

[clothingstore]

Known as The Golden Age

The period of his rule is known as “The Golden Age” not only because he had expanded the territory of the First Bulgarian Kingdom between three seas – the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Simeon the Great left a bright trace in Bulgarian diplomacy, united the Slavic tribes and developed the schools in Ohrid and Preslav which his father had founded. During his rule were created masterpieces of literature like the Alphabetical Prayer and Preface to the Gospel by Constantine of Preslav, Six Days by Joan Exarch and A Tale of the Letters – the latter is considered by some researchers as a work of the King himself under the pen-name Chernorizets Hrabar. The 9th and 10th centuries were also an epoque of vigorous blossoming of arts and crafts, architecture and sculpture.

Decline

However, Simeon the Great left also a dark trace in Bulgarian history. The society was exhausted of all those wars he waged and the problems of social inequality had sharpened. In the second half of the 10th century appeared a new danger: the Varangians under Oleg seized from the Hazars Kiev Visit Bulgaria – the old Slavic settlement on trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople – to settle there in 882 the capital of a state named Kievan Russia and soon their horsemen were on the north banks of the Danube…

The son of Simeon the Great, Petar, ruled from 927 to 969 following a peaceful foreign policy. He married his granddaughter to the Byzantine Emperor and signed a 40-years peace treaty. But there was already an unstable atmosphere in the state which helped the Serbs to restore their independent principality and split off from the Bulgarian kingdom. Peter also suffered a series of defeats from the Prince of Kiev, Svetoslav – an ally of the Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas – after which he fell sick and retired to a monastery. His son, Boris II (969-971), ascended the throne. When Svetoslav undertook his serial march in Bulgaria the King concluded a peace treaty with him and in 970 the united army of Bulgarians and Russians attacked Byzantium. This time, however, the Byzantines won and Boris II was taken to Constantinople as a prisoner of war.

[istanbulpub]

Known as The Golden Age

The period of his rule is known as “The Golden Age” not only because he had expanded the territory of the First Bulgarian Kingdom between three seas – the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Simeon the Great left a bright trace in Bulgarian diplomacy, united the Slavic tribes and developed the schools in Ohrid and Preslav which his father had founded. During his rule were created masterpieces of literature like the Alphabetical Prayer and Preface to the Gospel by Constantine of Preslav, Six Days by Joan Exarch and A Tale of the Letters – the latter is considered by some researchers as a work of the King himself under the pen-name Chernorizets Hrabar. The 9th and 10th centuries were also an epoque of vigorous blossoming of arts and crafts, architecture and sculpture.

Decline

However, Simeon the Great left also a dark trace in Bulgarian history. The society was exhausted of all those wars he waged and the problems of social inequality had sharpened. In the second half of the 10th century appeared a new danger: the Varangians under Oleg seized from the Hazars Kiev Visit Bulgaria – the old Slavic settlement on trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople – to settle there in 882 the capital of a state named Kievan Russia and soon their horsemen were on the north banks of the Danube…

The son of Simeon the Great, Petar, ruled from 927 to 969 following a peaceful foreign policy. He married his granddaughter to the Byzantine Emperor and signed a 40-years peace treaty. But there was already an unstable atmosphere in the state which helped the Serbs to restore their independent principality and split off from the Bulgarian kingdom. Peter also suffered a series of defeats from the Prince of Kiev, Svetoslav – an ally of the Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas – after which he fell sick and retired to a monastery. His son, Boris II (969-971), ascended the throne. When Svetoslav undertook his serial march in Bulgaria the King concluded a peace treaty with him and in 970 the united army of Bulgarians and Russians attacked Byzantium. This time, however, the Byzantines won and Boris II was taken to Constantinople as a prisoner of war.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 10.5 (before 1950)

610 – Heraclius arrives at Constantinople, kills Byzantine Emperor Phocas, and becomes emperor. 816 – King Louis the Pious is crowned emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope. 869 – The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to depose patriarch Photios I. 1143 – With the signing of the Treaty of Zamora, King Alfonso VII of León and Castile recognises Portugal as a Kingdom. 1450 – Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria expels Jews from his jurisdiction. 1607 – Assassins attempt to kill Venetian statesman and scientist Paolo Sarpi. 1789 – French Revolution: The Women's March on Versailles effectively terminates royal authority. 1813 – War of 1812: The Army of the Northwest defeats a British and Native Canadian force threatening Detroit. 1838 – The Killough massacre in east Texas sees eighteen Texian settlers either killed or kidnapped. 1869 – The Saxby Gale devastates the Bay of Fundy region in Canada. 1869 – The Eastman tunnel, in Minnesota, United States, collapses during construction, causing a landslide that nearly destroys St. Anthony Falls. 1877 – The Nez Perce War in the northwestern United States comes to an end. 1900 – Peace congress in Paris condemns British policy in South Africa and asserts Boer Republic's right to self-determination. 1905 – The Wright brothers pilot the Wright Flyer III in a new world record flight of 24 miles in 39 minutes. 1910 – In a revolution in Portugal the monarchy is overthrown and a republic is declared. 1911 – The Kowloon–Canton Railway commences service. 1914 – World War I: An aircraft successfully destroys another aircraft with gunfire for the first time. 1921 – The World Series is the first to be broadcast on radio. 1930 – British airship R101 crashes in France en route to India on its maiden voyage killing 48 people. 1931 – Clyde Edward Pangborn and Hugh Herndon,Jr. make the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean in the plane Miss Veedol. 1936 – The Jarrow March sets off for London. 1938 – Holocaust: In Nazi Germany, Jews' passports are invalidated. 1943 – World War II: Battle of the Pacific: Ninety-eight American POWs are executed by Japanese forces on Wake Island. 1944 – The Provisional Government of the French Republic enfranchises women. 1945 – A six-month strike by Hollywood set decorators turns into a bloody riot at the gates of the Warner Brothers studio. 1947 – President Truman makes the first televised Oval Office address.