C S

[Civixplorer @Civixplorer]

What if Philip II of Spain and Elizabeth I of England had married?

The Anglo-Spanish Empire, 1760

[Orthodox Christian @orthodox_33ad]

🔸 June 26 - Saint David the Dendrite 🌳🔸

Today, we commemorate Saint David of Thessalonica also known as David the Dendrite (“Tree-dweller”). A blessed fool for Christ, he is renowned for having lived an ascetic life atop an almond tree for 3 years. St David was born in 450 AD somewhere in the east (likely Mesopotamia). He travelled to Thessalonica where he lived as a monk at the Koukouliaton monastery from 465-470. Inspired by the stylite saints and the holy prophets - in particular his namesake King David - the Venerable David desired to devoted himself to God by living an ascetic life secluded from the world.

He therefore climbed an almond tree near the monastery, and dwelt in deep prayer and contemplation. Perched up in this tree, David endured bitter cold winters and burning summers. After 3 years, an angel appeared to St David assuring him that his prayers had been heard, and instructed him to descend from the tree and continue his ascetic life in a cell. A large crowd including Archbishop Dorotheos of Thessalonica gathered to see the renowned ascetic finally come down from his tree. Gifted by God with the ability to heal the demon possessed and sick by his prayers, many people visited his cell.

St David’s life as a recluse was interrupted sometime after 520, when Archbishop Aristeides came to his cell, pleading for him to travel to Constantinople and dissuade the emperor Justinian from his consideration to move the capital of the Byzantine administrative region of Illyricum from Thessalonica to a new city. Seeing daylight for the first time in years, David travelled to Constantinople where he was greeted with reverence, especially by the Empress Theodora.

David then astonished the emperor Justinian by taking a live piece of hot coal with incense in his bare hands, and censing the emperor without burning his hands. After David pleaded his case on behalf of the people of Thessalonica, Justinian submitted to his wishes so that the status of the city as the capital remained unchanged. St David reposed in 540 on his return journey to Thessalonica. On his scroll is written: “The true monk is one who in this life has nothing but Christ”.

[The Spectator Index @spectatorindex]

BREAKING: Volkswagen is aiming to 'cut 100,000 jobs in major overhaul', according to Reuters report.

[Politics Global @PolitlcsGlobal]

🚨🇫🇷 NEW: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot says "we [France] are absolutely ready to open the door to the UK for a return to the European Union”

[Bloomberg @business]

The heat wave searing much of Europe is officially the most severe ever recorded in the region, according to study published on Friday. https://t.co/23dMDQCwQZ

[The Spectator Index @spectatorindex]

BREAKING: Trading on 🇰🇷 South Korea's share market has been halted after it plunged by 8%

[BNO News Live @BNODesk]

UPDATE: Death toll from Venezuela earthquake rises to 235, tens of thousands still missing - AFP

[Breaking911 @Breaking911]

BREAKING: More than 50,000 people are reportedly missing following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, according to crowdsourced data from within the country.

VIA: @FaytuksNetwork

[The Kobeissi Letter @KobeissiLetter]

BREAKING: Iran has attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, per US officials.

The attack took place near the coast of Oman after the Iranian Navy warned ships not to use routes through Hormuz that have not obtained Iranian approval.

[World of Statistics @stats_feed]

⚽ FIFA World Cup Balls: Manufacturing Locations

2026 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2022 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2018 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2014 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2010 — China 🇨🇳
2006 — Thailand 🇹🇭
2002 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1998 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1994 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1990 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1986 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1982 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1978 — West Germany 🇩🇪
1974 — West Germany 🇩🇪
1970 — West Germany 🇩🇪
1966 — England 🇬🇧
1962 — Chile 🇨🇱
1958 — Sweden 🇸🇪
1954 — Switzerland 🇨🇭
1950 — Brazil 🇧🇷
1938 — France 🇫🇷
1934 — Italy 🇮🇹
1930 — Uruguay 🇺🇾

[BNO News Live @BNODesk]

UPDATE: Death toll from Venezuela earthquake rises to 164, more than 11,000 people reported missing

[BNO News Live @BNODesk]

BREAKING: USGS says "high casualties and extensive damage" likely after 2 earthquakes hit Venezuela.

8 million people felt "strong" to "violent" shaking and thousands may have been killed, according to the agency.

[BNO News Live @BNODesk]

BREAKING: USGS says Venezuela was hit by 2 earthquakes, first a 7.2 and a 7.5 about 45 seconds later

[BNO News Live @BNODesk]

BREAKING: Buildings collapse in Caracas and other cities after magnitude 7.1 quake hits Venezuela

[BNO News Live @BNODesk]

BREAKING: 6.9-magnitude earthquake hits off northern Japan - JMA

[BNO News Live @BNODesk]

BREAKING: Major earthquake hits northern Venezuela, west of Caracas

[Financial Times @FT]

Nato chief reveals Italy allowed US planes to use bases in Iran war https://t.co/SyajqPrKMH

[World of Statistics @stats_feed]

🇫🇷 Today, France recorded its hottest day on record, with a peak temperature of 44.3°C (111.7°F)

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

Trump is running out of European friends—even on the nationalist right https://t.co/9hI5GnFXzd

[Financial Times @FT]

The rise and fall of US hegemony https://t.co/9KdmeKqR8y