Galle International Stadium

Home of Galle Cricket Club and also hosts Sri Lankan Test and ODI matches.  A beautiful venue for the gentleman's game.

Old Roman Chant: Terra Tremuit

Icon of Christ on Mount Athos

Third Sunday After Pentecost

"If therefore thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. Here the mind is called the eye, and the entire composition of the soul is called the body. Thus, when the mind is simple then it is light in the soul; when the mind is evil, then it is dark in the soul. What are a simple mind and an evil mind? A simple mind is one which accepts the word of God as is written, and is convinced beyond a doubt that all is indeed as is written. It has no deceit, no wavering, or hesitation. An evil mind is one which approaches the word of God with slyness, artful disputing, and questioning. It cannot directly believe, but subjects the word of God to its sophistry. It approaches the word not as a disciple, but as a judge and critic, to test something stated there, and then either scoffs at it, or says in a haughty manner, “Yes, not bad.” Such a mind has no firm tenets, because it clearly does not believe the word of God, and its own rationale is always unstable—today one way, tomorrow another. It has only wavering, confusion, questions without answers; everything is out of place with it, and it walks in the dark, fumbling its way. A simple mind sees everything clearly: every thing in it has a definite character, determined by the word of God. That is why every thing in it has its place, and it knows exactly how to behave with relation to things—it walks along open, visible roads, with complete assurance that they lead to the true goal."

-St. Theophan the Recluse

My Hope is in Christ

"I shall spare myself neither care nor labour nor vigils for the salvation of souls. My hope is in Christ, who strengthens the weakest by His divine help; I can do all in Him who strengthened me! His power is infinite, and if I lean on Him it will be mine; His wisdom is infinite, and if I look to Him for counsel I shall not be deceived; His goodness is infinite, and if my trust is stayed on Him I shall not be abandoned. Hope unites me to my God and Him to me. Although I know I am not sufficient for the burden, my strength is in Him. For the salvation of others I must bear weariness, face dangers, suffer offences, confront storms, fight against evil. He is my Hope."

-Pope St. Pius X

Profitable

"Silence is more profitable than speech, for as it has been said, 'the words of wise men are heard even in quiet.'"

-St. Basil the Great

Holy Companions

"Draw nigh to the righteous, and through them you will draw nigh to God. Communicate with those who possess humility, and you will learn morals from them. A man who follows one who loves God becomes rich in the mysteries of God; but he who follows an unrighteous and proud man gets far away from God, and will be hated by his friends."

-St. Isaac the Syrian

Pakistan Zindabad!

Pakistan, who were heavy underdogs coming into the competition, have performed the impossible by defeating South Africa, Sri Lanka, an undefeated England in the semis and finally demolished India in the final of the Champions Trophy.  The boys have a lot to be proud of and it shows you that in cricket, anything can happen.

Mohammad Amir's two huge wickets that set the tone early in India's innings.

"You had to be there. Thousands upon thousands of cricket fans streaming down the Harleyford Road and in through the gates named after two of Surrey's most favourite sons: one, Jack Hobbs, the Master, from an age few of those chanting their affections could even begin to understand; the other, Alec Stewart, whose association with the ground began with watching his father and continues to this day, as the lads under his wing press for honours and caps exactly as he once did.

"The Oval, the place of Hobbs, yes, and of Andy Sandham; of the Bedser twins, May and Barrington; of Laker and Lock, Edrich, Arnold and Jackman; of the Stewarts, the Butchers, the Bicknells, the Hollioakes, and now the Currans, about to make their mark. But none of these fine men were a whisper on the day of the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy, the day that this little corner of South London became Asian and the vibrant colours of India and Pakistan provided the backdrop to a monumental achievement...."

-Ringside at the miracle of Pakistan by Mark Nicholas 

Third Finding of the Head of the Forerunner

Troparion, Tone IV

As a divine treasure hidden in the ground
Was your head revealed to us by Christ, O prophet and forerunner.
We have gathered in commemoration of this finding
With inspired hymns of praise to the Savior,
Who saves us from corruption through your prayers!

Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, Sarajevo, Bosnia