St. Anthony the Great

"Looking up, he saw the roof as it were opened up and a ray of light descending to him. All the demons around suddenly vanished. The pain of his body immediately ceased. The building which, to his vision, had appeared broken from the battle, now was again whole. But Anthony, feeling this help, besought the vision that had appeared to him. He said, “Where were you? Why did you not appear to help me at the beginning of my quest? Why did you not appear and make my pain cease?” A voice came to him and said, “Anthony, I was here, but I was waiting to see your contest. And since you have endured and have not been worsted, I will always be your help and your succor. I will make your name known throughout the world.”"

-Life of St. Anthony by St. Athanasius

Football is a beautiful thing

It is temporal but it is beautiful.  For all the ugly we have seen in these Euros, we have also seen magnificent things.  Payet's sublime late strike, Austria not even making knockout stages, Ronaldo's insane back heel, and England...

The very fact that Iceland (population not even 400,000) have made it this far deserves praise.  What they did to England today is even more of a shock.

More misery for the English!

Path of Salvation

"According to human reasoning, the path of salvation, it would seem, should be a smooth path, quiet and peaceful; but according to the words of the Gospel, this path is sorrowful, difficult, and narrow. The Lord said, 'I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword' (Matt. 10:34)."

-St. Ambrose of Optina

Simple

“Let your prayer be completely simple. For both the publican and the prodigal son were reconciled to God by a single phrase.”
-St. John Climacus

"Why do you increase your bonds? Take hold of your life before your light grows dark and you seek help and do not find it. This life has been given to you for repentance; do not waste it in vain pursuits."

-St. Isaac the Syrian

Departure

"Why do you trouble yourself in a house that is not your own? Let the sight of a dead man be a teacher for you concerning your departure from hence."

-St. Isaac the Syrian

Ichiro!

Congratulations to my favorite player of all-time for attaining 4257 hits in his legendary career!  Long Live Ichiro!

Paschal Troparion in Different Languages