Podcasts about Persians

Augusto from Argentina asks: “How reliable is Polyaenus' account of the Persians using cats—or images of cats—against the Egyptians at Pelusium? Is there any truth to the story, or is it just legend?” Murray Dahm explores the evidence behind this curious tale.   Join us on Patreon patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

The acclaimed spy thriller author and ex-CIA analyst talks about his new novel, “The Persians,” set in the clandestine war between Israel and Iran. DAVID MCCLOSKEY Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substackhttps://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

David writes pretty specifically about a person whose hands and feet are pierced and is dehydrated, dislocated, and exhausted.  Sounds like a crucifixion in every way.  Here's the kicker: Crucifixion wasn't invented when he wrote this psalm in about 1000BC.  He didn't know about crucifixion. Nobody did for another 480 years until the Persians invented it. We see here a specific prophesy fulfilled by Jesus another 500 years later. The Bible is reliable. https://youtu.be/Z929k0-HtaQ

When Shakespeare wrote Othello, he set his Moorish general against the “general enemy Ottoman.” Elsewhere in his plays, he invoked “Turks,” “Saracens,” and “infidels”—terms that reveal just how present the Islamic world was in the English imagination. From Elizabeth I's diplomatic exchanges with Persia to the cultural impact of the Ottoman Empire, the Islamic world loomed large in the politics, religion, and drama of Shakespeare's England.This week, we're joined by Dr. Chloe Houston (University of Reading), a leading authority on Persia in early modern drama, and Dr. Mark Hutchings (University of Valladolid), whose research explores England's engagement with Islam on the Renaissance stage. Together, they unpack how Elizabethans understood the Ottomans, Persians, and North Africans, and how those encounters shaped both history and Shakespeare's works.Discover how global trade, diplomacy, stereotypes, and real-life ambassadors influenced depictions of Moors, Persians, and “Turks” onstage, and why Shakespeare's audiences would have found these references powerful, familiar, and sometimes unsettling.Listen now and explore the fascinating world of Elizabethan encounters with Islam in Shakespeare's plays. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a mighty nation forgets who placed them in power? Ezekiel's lament for Egypt reveals the sobering answer. This powerful examination of Ezekiel chapters 30 and 31 unpacks how God pronounced judgment on one of history's greatest empires—and why.For over 2,500 years, Egypt had stood as a cultural and military colossus, wielding immense influence across the ancient world. Yet God declared its downfall with precise detail through His prophet Ezekiel. The specificity is remarkable: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon would attack in 568 BC, followed by the Persians in 525 BC who would completely end the dynastic line of Pharaohs that had ruled continuously for millennia.The heart of Egypt's downfall? Pride. "Its heart is haughty in its loftiness," God declares. Through vivid imagery, Ezekiel portrays Egypt as a mighty tree whose branches once sheltered many nations but would become a place where only scavengers feed after judgment. This transformation from protector to prey illustrates the totality of divine judgment—a pattern that repeats throughout history.This message remains profoundly relevant today. God still raises up and brings down nations according to His sovereign purposes. Leaders who believe their countries exist autonomously, without accountability to divine standards, misunderstand the lessons of history. Yet there's hope in this warning—God always sends messengers before judgment, giving opportunity for repentance. The question for nations today is whether they will heed these warnings before experiencing the day of the Lord.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Daniel 6—aka the lions' den chapter—comes alive in this straight-Bible study with Matt Hepner (The Standard Coffee Shop). We unpack Darius's decree, why Daniel kept praying with the windows open, and what “an excellent spirit” really means for believers now. We also kick around Sabbath vs. Sunday, law vs. grace, and how Daniel's public courage maps onto modern power games.In this episode:Daniel 6: the setup, the trap, the lions' den, and the king's sleepless night“Excellent spirit” = spirit-led life (not vibes or emotions)Sabbath/rest, feast days, and Christian freedom (Col 2)Medes & Persians: why Darius's law “couldn't be changed”Aftermath: Darius's new decree honoring Daniel's God (and why that matters)Matt Hepner — owner, The Standard Coffee Shop (Lady Lake, FL)Matt's shop on Instagram: @thestandardclcl (The Standard CLCL)NEPHILIM DEATH SQUADPatreon (early access + Telegram): https://www.patreon.com/NephilimDeathSquadWebsite & Merch: https://nephilimdeathsquad.comSupport Joe Gilberti: GiveSendGoListen/Watch:Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nephilim-death-squad--6389018YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NephilimDeathSquadRumble: https://rumble.com/user/NephilimDeathSquadX: https://twitter.com/NephilimDSquadInstagram: https://instagram.com/nephilimdeathsquadContact: chroniclesnds@gmail.comX Community – Nephilim Watch: https://twitter.com/i/communities/1725510634966560797TopLobsta:X: https://twitter.com/TopLobstaInstagram: https://instagram.com/TopLobstaMerch: https://TopLobsta.comRaven:X: https://twitter.com/DavidLCorboInstagram: https://instagram.com/ravenofndsSponsors:Rife Tech – https://realsrifetechnology.com/ (Code: NEPHILIM for 10% off)Purge Store – https://purgestore.com/ (Code: NEPHILIM for 10% off)Credits:Intro Animation: @jslashr on XMusic: End of Days by Vinnie PazBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nephilim-death-squad--6389018/support.☠️ Nephilim Death Squad — New episodes 5x/week.Join our Patreon for early access, bonus shows & the private Telegram hive.Subscribe on YouTube & Rumble, follow @NephilimDSquad on X/Instagram, grab merch at toplobsta.com. Questions/bookings: chroniclesnds@gmail.com — Stay dangerous.

“The Weight of Glory” Daniel 5 September 28, 2025 Pastor John Choi  Sermon Application [file]   ----more---- Daniel 5:22 And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, [23] but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. [24] “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. [25] And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. [26] This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; [27] Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; [28] Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” [29] Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. [30] That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. [31] And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.     True glory is not achieved by self-effort but rather the gracious gift of God to those who walk in humility before Him.            1.  Where is Glory? (1-16)          2.  What is Glory? (17-23)          3.  The Weight of Glory (24-31)

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Why did the Assyrians spare Philistine port cities like Gaza when they conquered The Levant? How did the Persians overthrow the Babylonians in the region? What did Alexander The Great send back to his tutor after he sieged Gaza City?  William and Anita are joined once again by Josephine Quinn, Professor of Ancient History at the University of Cambridge and author of How The World Made The West, to discuss the five ancient empires that conquered Gaza. Join the Empire Club: Unlock the full Empire experience – with bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to miniseries and live show tickets, exclusive book discounts, a members-only newsletter, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at empirepoduk.com  For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk Blue Sky: @empirepoduk X: @empirepoduk Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Anouska Lewis Executive Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bible is the greatest book for all times and all seasons. It is justifiably called the Book of Books for there is no other book in the world like it. The Bible is the very foundation of Judeo/Christian civilisation. It has shaped the identity of Britain, the USA and many other nations.    At this current moment in history where so many seek to destroy those foundations, it is the unchanging truths of the Bible that hold the keys to our future destiny. The Bible declares itself to be the very Word of God which can rescue and restore us as individuals, as families and whole societies.    In the coming weeks we will be looking afresh at some parts of scripture that provide great light and hope when we face darkness and uncertainty from the second part of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is one of the greatest prophets in the Bible if not the greatest, well known to both Jews and Christians. His name means ‘God is salvation' and he lived in the 8th Century BC. The traditional view is that all 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah were written by one man, Isaiah, possibly in two periods around 700 BC and around 681 BC.    The book of Isaiah has been described as the Bible in miniature. There are 66 books of the Bible and 66 chapters in Isaiah. As the Bible is divided into two Testaments, so Isaiah may be divided in two parts. The first 39 chapters correspond to the Old Testament's 39 books and cover similar themes. The last 27 chapters correspond to the New Testament's 27 books and also contain material crucial to our understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus.      The first part of Isaiah, in 39 mainly depressing chapters, deals with God's judgement of persistent sin and rebellion against God and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews into captivity in Babylon. In Babylon the people of God would be depressed, dispirited and despairing of anything ever going right again. They would seem to have lost everything: their culture, their temple, their spiritual focus, their national identity, their hope. Hostile foreign forces had conquered.    But all was not lost…just as all is not lost for you, for your family, for the Christian church and for this nation and the nations of the world. For in Isaiah chapters 40-66 there is a dramatic change. Against all expectations, the prophet begins to speak words of hope that promised a great reversal of fortunes. The exile would end. The Persians would overthrow the Babylonians. Cyrus, the Persian leader of a world power, would look favourably on them. He would help the Jews return to their homeland and assist in the re-building of the Temple…a temple that would, in fact see greater glory than the previous one.    So, despite their bleak past and uncertain present, their future was bright. They would know recovery and restoration. God had not abandoned them. He was for them, and though it seemed hard to believe, He would work an amazing turnaround for them.    These chapters then in this second part of Isaiah point forward not only to a new hope for the Jews, but to the future hope for the whole world through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and ultimately an eternal new Messianic age of righteousness and peace. For us living in the times that we do the powerful prophecies of Messiah could not be more relevant or applicable. We see from Isaiah 40:1-5 that: 1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2; Lamentations 1:2,16; John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26) 2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4; Luke 3:2-3) 3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 60:1-3)  Apply  1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2). Both God and His prophet knew that the people were shaken by their tough experiences. They were carrying great pain and hurt. They were anxious and uncertain (Lamentations 1:2,16). They couldn't have taken any more hits. It would have finished them off. They needed comfort and help. That is like so many people today. Millions of people are hurting. Life has been hard and harsh. Today, behind many a composed outward appearance, are people who feel inwardly ripped apart, whose smiles and varied attempts to find some happiness disguise an aching heart. Maybe you identify with this. Life has not been easy. Your family has all kinds of problems and complications. Your marriage has not worked out. You have been bereaved of loved ones. You have been badly treated by others. You have been let down and you have let yourself down. Maybe you have made some big mistakes, and you have taken wrong turns that have been very painful. Maybe you acutely feel a sense of guilt for sins you have committed. God's attitude here is that He wants to comfort you. He wants to speak tenderly not harshly to you. He wants to declare forgiveness to you. The comfort we can receive stems from the message that “her sin has been paid for.” This is the heart of the gospel. God loves you so much He didn't just feel something for you, He did something for you. Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay the price of your sin, to bring you out of exile and free you from whatever has held you captive. The comfort we can receive stems from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew his followers would face a hostile world, but He promised them He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26). Today if you need to be comforted, you can be comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can feel the love of Jesus that drives out fear. You can know an inner peace because you know that God is with you.  2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4). In the harshest of circumstances when even whole nations can think that they are in a barren wilderness, God prepares a way for people to receive Him, just as John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus (Luke 3:2-3). So often God prepares individuals and even nations to know Him through wilderness times of great difficulty and even tragedy. He wants to prepare us for what He plans to do to restore us. In some cases, preparation means being lifted up. You may be down in life, but you are not out. God wants you to stop seeing yourself as a victim, a nobody, a failure. He wants to show you how much you are loved and valued and how much you can accomplish in life with His help. He wants to raise you up to be blessed and a blessing in your generation. In some cases, preparation means being brought low. The Bible says God resists the proud. To be truly blessed and used by God you need to stop being so independent and self-sufficient and learn to submit to and rely on the Lord. Since every mountain and hill needs to be made low without exception, everyone needs to take care to humble yourself rather than having to be brought low by God. In some cases preparation means being healed and made whole. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life, you will be amazed how much He can heal your heart and smooth out your circumstances. Whatever you and your family, or even whole nations, are going through, be sure that God is at work preparing the way of the Lord.  3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5). God's glory and manifest presence have been experienced in many revivals. But the greatest displays of His glory are ahead for the church and the world. It will happen and it will affect everyone. His supernatural glory will totally surpass any human glory. And it can happen in a moment as the shepherds in Bethlehem's fields discovered when the ‘glory of the Lord' so suddenly shone around them. God's glory will be seen in our very dark world and we must arise and shine that light for all to see (Isaiah 60:1-3). You may have been in captivity, but you don't have to stay there. God has a destiny for you, to rescue you and restore you. You may feel very bruised and tender, but His love is toward you. You may need to be built up in your self-esteem or brought down in your pride or healed in your heart, but God wants to prepare you to know His glory, goodness and grace. Today, open your life fully to the Lord. Ask for and receive His forgiveness. Seek and receive comfort through the presence of The Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 

The Bible is the greatest book for all times and all seasons. It is justifiably called the Book of Books for there is no other book in the world like it. The Bible is the very foundation of Judeo/Christian civilisation. It has shaped the identity of Britain, the USA and many other nations.    At this current moment in history where so many seek to destroy those foundations, it is the unchanging truths of the Bible that hold the keys to our future destiny. The Bible declares itself to be the very Word of God which can rescue and restore us as individuals, as families and whole societies.    In the coming weeks we will be looking afresh at some parts of scripture that provide great light and hope when we face darkness and uncertainty from the second part of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is one of the greatest prophets in the Bible if not the greatest, well known to both Jews and Christians. His name means ‘God is salvation' and he lived in the 8th Century BC. The traditional view is that all 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah were written by one man, Isaiah, possibly in two periods around 700 BC and around 681 BC.    The book of Isaiah has been described as the Bible in miniature. There are 66 books of the Bible and 66 chapters in Isaiah. As the Bible is divided into two Testaments, so Isaiah may be divided in two parts. The first 39 chapters correspond to the Old Testament's 39 books and cover similar themes. The last 27 chapters correspond to the New Testament's 27 books and also contain material crucial to our understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus.      The first part of Isaiah, in 39 mainly depressing chapters, deals with God's judgement of persistent sin and rebellion against God and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews into captivity in Babylon. In Babylon the people of God would be depressed, dispirited and despairing of anything ever going right again. They would seem to have lost everything: their culture, their temple, their spiritual focus, their national identity, their hope. Hostile foreign forces had conquered.    But all was not lost…just as all is not lost for you, for your family, for the Christian church and for this nation and the nations of the world. For in Isaiah chapters 40-66 there is a dramatic change. Against all expectations, the prophet begins to speak words of hope that promised a great reversal of fortunes. The exile would end. The Persians would overthrow the Babylonians. Cyrus, the Persian leader of a world power, would look favourably on them. He would help the Jews return to their homeland and assist in the re-building of the Temple…a temple that would, in fact see greater glory than the previous one.    So, despite their bleak past and uncertain present, their future was bright. They would know recovery and restoration. God had not abandoned them. He was for them, and though it seemed hard to believe, He would work an amazing turnaround for them.    These chapters then in this second part of Isaiah point forward not only to a new hope for the Jews, but to the future hope for the whole world through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and ultimately an eternal new Messianic age of righteousness and peace. For us living in the times that we do the powerful prophecies of Messiah could not be more relevant or applicable. We see from Isaiah 40:1-5 that: 1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2; Lamentations 1:2,16; John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26) 2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4; Luke 3:2-3) 3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 60:1-3)  Apply  1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2). Both God and His prophet knew that the people were shaken by their tough experiences. They were carrying great pain and hurt. They were anxious and uncertain (Lamentations 1:2,16). They couldn't have taken any more hits. It would have finished them off. They needed comfort and help. That is like so many people today. Millions of people are hurting. Life has been hard and harsh. Today, behind many a composed outward appearance, are people who feel inwardly ripped apart, whose smiles and varied attempts to find some happiness disguise an aching heart. Maybe you identify with this. Life has not been easy. Your family has all kinds of problems and complications. Your marriage has not worked out. You have been bereaved of loved ones. You have been badly treated by others. You have been let down and you have let yourself down. Maybe you have made some big mistakes, and you have taken wrong turns that have been very painful. Maybe you acutely feel a sense of guilt for sins you have committed. God's attitude here is that He wants to comfort you. He wants to speak tenderly not harshly to you. He wants to declare forgiveness to you. The comfort we can receive stems from the message that “her sin has been paid for.” This is the heart of the gospel. God loves you so much He didn't just feel something for you, He did something for you. Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay the price of your sin, to bring you out of exile and free you from whatever has held you captive. The comfort we can receive stems from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew his followers would face a hostile world, but He promised them He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26). Today if you need to be comforted, you can be comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can feel the love of Jesus that drives out fear. You can know an inner peace because you know that God is with you.  2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4). In the harshest of circumstances when even whole nations can think that they are in a barren wilderness, God prepares a way for people to receive Him, just as John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus (Luke 3:2-3). So often God prepares individuals and even nations to know Him through wilderness times of great difficulty and even tragedy. He wants to prepare us for what He plans to do to restore us. In some cases, preparation means being lifted up. You may be down in life, but you are not out. God wants you to stop seeing yourself as a victim, a nobody, a failure. He wants to show you how much you are loved and valued and how much you can accomplish in life with His help. He wants to raise you up to be blessed and a blessing in your generation. In some cases, preparation means being brought low. The Bible says God resists the proud. To be truly blessed and used by God you need to stop being so independent and self-sufficient and learn to submit to and rely on the Lord. Since every mountain and hill needs to be made low without exception, everyone needs to take care to humble yourself rather than having to be brought low by God. In some cases preparation means being healed and made whole. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life, you will be amazed how much He can heal your heart and smooth out your circumstances. Whatever you and your family, or even whole nations, are going through, be sure that God is at work preparing the way of the Lord.  3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5). God's glory and manifest presence have been experienced in many revivals. But the greatest displays of His glory are ahead for the church and the world. It will happen and it will affect everyone. His supernatural glory will totally surpass any human glory. And it can happen in a moment as the shepherds in Bethlehem's fields discovered when the ‘glory of the Lord' so suddenly shone around them. God's glory will be seen in our very dark world and we must arise and shine that light for all to see (Isaiah 60:1-3). You may have been in captivity, but you don't have to stay there. God has a destiny for you, to rescue you and restore you. You may feel very bruised and tender, but His love is toward you. You may need to be built up in your self-esteem or brought down in your pride or healed in your heart, but God wants to prepare you to know His glory, goodness and grace. Today, open your life fully to the Lord. Ask for and receive His forgiveness. Seek and receive comfort through the presence of The Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 

In a world where oars stitched the sea like threads in a loom, a vast Persian fleet pressed toward the Greek isles, its banners glimmering like storm-lit sails. At the heart of the Greek defense stood Athens, a city of bronze-voices and sea-worn hands. The Greeks faced a choice as old as the waves: retreat or outwit the storm. On an early dawn, the sea wore a silver breath, and the Greek captains gathered in murmured knots. The oracle of necessity spoke through their minds: fight where the Persians could not fully spread their great numbers; choose the narrow strait where walls of rock and water could bend even a multitude. The Athenians, led by a steady commander, mapped a plan not of brute force but of cunning. The ships massed into a tight chorus, smaller and nimbler than the Persian galleys. They whispered to the sea itself—"Push, then slice, then vanish." In the strait, the Persians advanced with thunder, their oars beating like drums of war. But the Greeks bent their lines, luring the enemy into a claustrophobic embrace. The Persian column, confident in its breadth, found itself a tangled forest of hulls, obstructed by reefs of rock and the sudden cunning of Greek maneuvering. As bronze met bronze, misfortune clung to the larger fleet. The Greeks struck with precision, their lines weaving through the press, their triremes ramming and retreating in a dance of discipline. The sea, once a mere highway, became a guillotine for the invaders. When the smoke cleared, the Persians reeled, their advance stalled, their dreams of conquest washed away by the tides of a single, daring strategy. The Greeks had carved a path to freedom through cunning over numbers, and the win did not merely mean victory at sea; it meant the birth of a stubborn light: that courage paired with wit can redirect fate. And so, the story of Salamis sailed into legend—a reminder that cleverness can tilt the scales even when the odds are colossal.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates the return of the Cross through the efforts of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius against the Persians. However, only when Heraclius humbled himself by removing his royal raiment was he able to bring the Cross back into Jerusalem. At the same time, this feast reminds us of the cruciform structure of many churches, the present of crosses throughout, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

"Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the Cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifed on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (See Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Later, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place." (Great Horologion) A fast is kept today, whatever the day of the week.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; commemorating the discovery of the True Cross in 326, its initial exaltation for public veneration in 335, and the recovery of the Cross from the Persians in 628 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 9/14/25 Gospel: John 3:13-17

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.DAN.5:27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.DAN.5:28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Delivered by Michaela Phie, Clairine, Reinaldy Fargo, dan Kezia Nikita Sheilanova from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Numbers 21: 4-9; Rs psalm 78: 1-2.34-35.36-37.38; Philippians 2: 6-11; John 3: 13-17.RENEWED BY THE CROSS OF CHRIST The title for our meditation on this24th Sunday in ordinary time is: Renewed by the Cross of Christ.Today the whole Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Cross. This feast beganto be celebrated in Rome around the end of the 7th century. Its purpose was tocommemorate the discovery of a portion of the cross of Jesus which was kept inJerusalem in the hands of the Persians. Emperor Heraclius found part of thecross and took it to Jerusalem on May 3, 629. What does being renewed by the crossof Christ mean? The Lord Jesus came to unite the earth and the heaven. Heraises those who are on earth to the glory in heaven. He explains this toNicodemus, one of the Jewish rabbis, that He is the "Son of Man" sentby the Father to restore man's broken relationship with God. He is the OldTestament Messiah who came from heaven to build His kingdom on earth. Unlike the Jewish view, Jesus isprecisely speaking of the Son of Man being exalted. What does it mean? Heattributes it to Moses who raised a bronze snake in the desert to heal thosewho were bitten by poisonous snakes. The Israelites were punished for grumblingand dishonouring God. Moses raised that bronze snake on a pole that signifies across, from which people must return to putting their faith only in God. This symbol is intended to emphasizewhat Jesus wants to show us, that through His death on the cross in Golgotha,He does save us. But what Jesus makes is much stronger, because what Moses didwas only for some temporary results, namely healing people from snakebites.Jesus' death on the cross actually brings true victory over sin, Satan anddeath. By dying on the cross, Jesus removes the debt of our sins, freeing usfrom error and punishment. We obtain a new life, an abundant life in the HolySpirit forever. This renewed life means that by Hisdeath on the cross Jesus shows and teaches us an act of love, that is, givingHimself totally. He does it as an offering of His love for the Father and forour salvation from sinfull life. This renewal also explains the resurrection ofour bodies to enjoy eternal life and sitting on the right hand of the Father toreign forever and ever. The Lord Jesus is in heaven but His Spirit accompaniesand guides our lives here on earth. We live today and are truly blessed here bythe victory of Christ on the cross. Let's pray. In the name of theFather ... O Lord Jesus Christ, may our lives both individuals and the churchcontinue to be illuminated and strengthened by the mystery of your holy crosswhich is a glorious victory for us. Glory to the Father… In the name of theFather ...

In 480 BC, following the fall of Thermopylae, the Greek fleet withdrew from Artemisium and regrouped at Salamis. At the same time, Xerxes advanced through Boeotia virtually unopposed, while Athens prepared for evacuation under the so-called Decree of Themistocles. Ancient sources speak of a Persian attempt to plunder Delphi, but modern scholarship generally regards this as later propaganda intended to protect the sanctuary's reputation.At Salamis, the Greek alliance faced difficult choices. Many Peloponnesian commanders favored retreat to the Isthmus, but Themistocles argued successfully for battle in the straits. His strategy, coupled with a ruse that compelled Xerxes to commit his fleet, brought the Persians into waters where their numbers offered little advantage. Among the notable figures at Salamis was Artemisia of Halicarnassus, whose role Herodotus highlights with particular interest.The Battle of Salamis was a turning point in the Greco-Persian Wars. Though the conflict was far from over, the outcome would decide the course of the war going forward.*Contents:*00:00 After Thermopylae and Artemisium00:45 Persians Passing through Delphi03:55 The Themistocles Decree12:05 Preparing for the Persians14:09 Catalog of Ships18:45 Evacuating Athens21:51 The Sack of Athens27:14 Debating with Themistocles 37:20 The Persians Arrive at Salamis50:26 The Battle of Salamis01:07:40 Aftermath of Salamis01:09:58 Thank You and PatronsSupport the show

In this echoes of war podcast we cover the epic battle of Marathon during the Greco-Persian Wars The Battle of Marathon, fought in 490 BCE, was a pivotal clash that reshaped ancient warfare and Greek identity. Outnumbered Athenians, led by seasoned commanders with Plataean allies, faced a vast Persian army under Darius I as the first Persian invasion of Greece began. Despite the odds, the Greek forces exploited terrain, forming tight phalanxes that negated the Persians' numerical advantage. The Athenians' disciplined leadership and tempo kept Persian advances from consolidating, while their soldiers' morale—fueled by citizen-soldier ethos and athletic culture—provided a crucial psychological edge. A key element of the victory was the famous endurance and momentum of the hoplites, whose coordinated spear thrusts delivered decisive blows in close quarters. Additionally, tactical maneuvers, including selective maneuvering against exposed flanks, disrupted Persian lines without incurring heavy casualties, highlighting the Greeks' emphasis on strategic positioning over brute force. The run back to Athens, symbolized by the legendary Marathon message, underscored the morale and logistical signaling integral to ancient warfare. The victory at Marathon did more than halt a Persian advance; it bought time for the Greek city-states to unite against a common threat and inspired a broader sense of democratic resilience under pressure. In cultural memory, Marathon became a beacon of civic virtue, military ingenuity, and collective identity, influencing later Greek pedagogy and the wider narrative of Western military strategy. For viewers seeking a concise takeaway, Marathon demonstrates how terrain, leadership, and cohesive citizen-soldier discipline can triumph against overwhelming odds, shaping both history and cultural memory for generations.

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine Inner Asia as the overlooked crossroads between China, Islam, Europe, and India, tracing ancient migrations through modern geopolitics in this forgotten spine of Eurasian civilization. -- SPONSOR: ZCASH | NETSUITE | ORACLE The right technology reshapes politics and culture toward freedom and prosperity. Zcash—the "machinery of freedom"—delivers unstoppable private money through encryption. When your wealth is unseen, it's unseizable. Download Zashi wallet and follow @genzcash to learn more: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/genzcash⁠⁠⁠ More than 42,000 businesses have already upgraded to NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud financial system bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, into ONE proven platform. If you're looking for an ERP platform, get a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program on NetSuite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netsuite.com/102⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Download your free CFO's guide to AI and machine learning. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): Oracle's next-generation cloud platform delivers blazing-fast AI and ML performance with 50% less for compute and 80% less for outbound networking compared to other cloud providers. OCI powers industry leaders like Vodafone and Thomson Reuters with secure infrastructure and application development capabilities. New U.S. customers can get their cloud bill cut in half by switching to OCI before March 31, 2024 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://oracle.com/cognitive⁠⁠⁠⁠. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (0:00) Introduction: Defining Inner Asia as the Forgotten Crossroads (1:37) Geographic Scope: From Transoxiana to Tibet and Zomia (3:25) James C. Scott and "The Art of Not Being Governed" (5:05) Zomia: Southeast Asian Anarchist Borderlands (9:24) Burma's Capital Move and State Control Strategies (13:00) Reframing Inner Asia as Central Hub vs. Periphery (14:33) The Continental Divide of Eurasia (18:00) Sponsors: Zcash | NetSuite (19:54) Lord Miles and the Wakan Corridor Adventure (23:42) Rudyard Kipling and "The Man Who Would Be King" (28:00) Marx vs. Kipling: Comparing Views on Race and Colonialism (31:24) World War I's Impact on European Colonial Prestige (35:07) Sponsor: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (36:34) Prehistoric Settlement: East Asian Population Formation (40:22) The Aryan Invasions and Bronze Age Civilizations (47:24) Genetic Mixing: Europeans, Persians, and Indians (57:15) Scythians vs. Persian Empire: Cyrus the Great's Death (1:02:00) Alexander the Great: Conquering Beyond Persia (1:08:04) The Hubris Trap and Christianity's Solution (1:10:53) Chinese Discovery of the Western World (150 BC) (1:15:05) Central Asian Christianity and Nestorian Civilization (1:20:48) Islamic Conquest and Religious Transformation (1:27:00) Tibet's Warrior Empire vs. China (1:30:30) Amira Ghurko's Journey: Meeting Tibet's Buddhist Elite (1:38:00) Islamic Golden Age: Arab Cotton Boom in Transoxiana (1:44:53) Genghis Khan's Destruction of Central Asian Civilization (1:51:01) The Great Game: British vs. Russian Imperial Competition (1:58:00) Modern Central Asian Dictatorships and Soviet Legacy (2:02:34) Belt and Road Initiative: China's Failed Infrastructure Push (2:06:00) Contemporary Challenges: MMA Fighters and Cultural Impact (2:07:33) Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 9 of our series on the 21 Ecumenical Councils, Justin Hibbard discusses the pivotal history that occurred over 127 years between The 2nd Council of Constantinople of 553 and the 3rd Council of Constantinople of 680. This episode covers the two major heresies of the day, the Filioque controversy, the war between the Byzantines and the Persians, the Christological gag order, the rise of Islam, and the heresy that led to the Third Council of Constantinople. HOW TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST* Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.* Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).* Invite Justin to speak at your next event. Inquire at whycatholic@substack.com.SOCIAL LINKS* Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.* Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube.* Follow Justin on Facebook.SOURCES:* The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History by Joseph Kelly* The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology by Leo Davis* New Advent: Henoticon* Byzantine Empire: Map, History, and Facts* Byzantine – Sasanian War of 602–628 DOCUMENTARY* Orthodoxy Chronicles: The Filioque Controversy - The Orthodox & Catholic Positions* Prophet Muhammad Explained in 13 Minutes* St. John of Damascus' Critique of Islam* The Rise of Islam* Episode 113: The Great Popes* Episode 111: Papal Infallibility * New Advent: 3rd Council of ConstantinoplePREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES* Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils* Episode 147: The World that Led to the Council of Nicaea* Episode 148: The First Council of Nicaea (325)* Episode 149: From Nicaea to Constantinople* Episode 150: The First Council of Constantinople (381)* Episode 151: The Council of Ephesus (431)* Episode 152: The Council of Chalcedon (451)* Episode 153: The 2nd Council of Constantinople (553) Get full access to Why Catholic? at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

In this crossover episode with The Lutheran Witness podcast, The Rev Roy Askins shares his interview with missionaries serving Germany. The Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens, the Rev. Dr. David Preus and the Rev. Dr. Christian Tiews join the podcast to discuss the work at Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. This congregation of the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK) cares for Persian immigrants seeking asylum in Germany. The conversation includes an explanation of the political situation in Germany, and the LCMS mission with Farsi speakers in Germany and beyond.   For the full story, visit engage.lcms.org/persian-project-winter-2025. To learn more about the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK), visit lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/independent-evangelical-lutheran-church. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

In this Bible Story, we are introduced to King Belshazzar, the son of King Nebuchadnezzar. He trifles with the maker of heaven and earth, and is not left unpunished. As Daniel foretold, his kingdom is stripped from him, and the Persians seized Babylon for themselves. This story is inspired by Daniel 5 & 9. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Daniel 5:17 from the King James Version.Episode 166: Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon is dead and his son King Belshazzar has taken his place. But Belshazzar had not recognized God the same way his father had and he was about to get a startling wake-up call. At one of the many feasts he threw a mysterious sign took place as a phantom hand wrote strange words on the wall. None of the King's men could interpret what it meant. None except Daniel. These words would reveal to the King that his kingdom was no longer his own, God had given it to the Persians.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.This episode is sponsored by Medi-Share, an innovative health care solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"He was an officer, a tribune, in the Roman army in the time of the Emperor Maximian. A Syrian by birth, he served in his native land. When the Persians attacked the imperial Roman army, this Andrew was entrusted with the command in the battle against the enemy — whence his title: commander, strateletes. A secret Christian, although as yet unbaptised, Andrew commended himself to the living God, and, taking only the cream of the army, went to war. Before the battle, he told his soldiers that, if they all called upon the aid of the one, true God, Christ the Lord, their enemies would become as dust scattered before them. All the soldiers, fired with enthusiasm by Andrew and his faith, invoked Christ's aid and attacked. The Persian army was utterly routed. When the victorious Andrew returned to Antioch, some jealous men denounced him as a Christian and the imperial governor summoned him for trial. Andrew openly proclaimed his steadfast faith in Christ. After harsh torture, the governor threw Andrew into prison and wrote to the Emperor in Rome. Knowing Andrew's popularity among the people and in the army, the Emperor ordered the governor to set Andrew free, but to seek another occasion and another excuse (not his faith) to kill him. By God's revelation, Andrew came to know of this imperial command, and, taking his faithful soldiers (2,593 in all) with him, went off to Tarsus in Cilicia, where they were all baptised by the bishop, Peter. Persecuted here also by imperial might, Andrew and his companions withdrew deep into the Armenian mountain of Tavros. There in a ravine, while they were at prayer, the Roman army came upon them and beheaded them all. Not one of them would recant, all being determined on death by martyrdom for Christ. On the spot where a stream of the martyrs' blood flowed down, a spring of healing water sprang forth, healing from every disease. The bishop, Peter, came secretly with his people and buried the martyrs' bodies in that same place. They all suffered with honour at the end of the third century and were crowned with wreaths of eternal glory, entering into the Kingdom of Christ our God." (Prologue)

Kirt & Mr. Sal discuss Season 1 Episode 7 of Dexter: Resurrection in which nobody does caviar like the Persians. Shoe Hammer some Show Hoppers into your day! Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJb6TAVe_sYmo4G7lAfEYtg Website: showhoppers.com Show Hoppers Twitter: @ShowHoppers Mr. Sal Twitter: @ShowHoppersSal e-mail: showhopperspodcast@gmail.com

Comedian and school teacher Pej Ahmadi makes his debut on the podcast. Randy kicks off by asking Pej about Iran, so Pej gives a little history lesson on Persia. They talk about the current situation in the Middle East and how everyone has an opinion, even if they know absolutely nothing about the region. Pej talks about his family fleeing Iran and being a refugee in the US. The boys get into a discussion about racism and bigotry and how other countries have to deal with it as part of their culture more than most Americans think. Randy asks Pej what it's like being an elementary school teacher. They shift back to discuss the 1979 Iranian revolution. Pej starts a conversation about money and politics and how financial interests are what really controls American politics. Randy asks about how he got his start in comedy and being a musician. The guys touch on the Israel-Iran conflict before closing with the news for the week - 50% of women in relationships have a back-up partner plan in mind, a chef was fired for telling a social media influencer she isn't famous enough to get a free meal, and a new study suggests women are usually right in relationship arguments.    00:00  Intro 01:00  Iran and Persians in California 05:00  Being a Refugee in America 19:00  Racism Abroad 24:00  Teaching and Education in America 31:00  Childhood and Growing Up Today 40:00  Money and Politics 48:00  Starting in Comedy 1:00:00  The Weekly News   Outro: “Funk Doctor” by Gee Dubs   Social Media: Instagram: @randyvalerio @readysetblowpodcast Twitter: @randytvalerio @readysetblowpodcast TikTok: @randyvaleriocomedy @readysetblowpod YouTube:   @randyvaleriocomedy   @readysetblowpodcast     #comedypodcast #comedy #podcast #news #advice #standup #standupcomedy #comedian #jokes #politics #relationships #dating #marriage #kids #family #parenting #iran #persia #iranian #persian #middleeast #israel #history #education #children #student #teacher #school #parents #war #conflict #money #racism #immigration #immigrants #refugees #childhood #teacher #teaching #growingup #parenting

“They will never see their gold again, just as they do not see their own ears.”Josef StalinGold's strength is that its value exists in and of itself. It's nobody else's liability. Unlike money in the bank or a bond, it carries no promise from a third party, and its value is not dependent on the creditworthiness of any issuer or guarantor. Hand it to someone else and its value is transferred. It is a “bearer” asset, effectively owned by whoever has possession of it. For this reason gold has been the target of many a heist. Quickly resmelt it, and its provenance is very hard to prove.So there is one obvious problem with gold: that is keeping it safe. It's all very well having a pot of gold, but if somebody comes along and takes it from you, as Alexander did from the Persians, or the Conquistadors from the Incas, then you're left with nothing at all.When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, the Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, supported the Spanish Republican government. The Nazis supported their opponents, the revolutionary fascist forces led by General Franco. At the time Spanish gold reserves, some 635 tonnes, were the fourth largest in the world.Much of that treasure had been accumulated during WWI, when Spain had stayed neutral. Selling stuff to the British seems to have been the really big earner: 70% of Spanish gold holdings were British sovereigns.With Franco just 20 miles from the capital, the Republicans were on the verge of defeat. Never mind the fascists, there were also rumours that Catalan separatists had hatched plans to take the gold from Madrid to Barcelona. All that gold was at risk.Finance minister, Juan Negrín, and Prime Minister, Francisco Largo Caballero, leant on President Azaña to sign a secret decree to move the gold - some 10,000 cases - to a place “which in his [Negrín's] opinion offers the best security”. Azaña signed and the gold was moved, starting the next day, to Cartajena on the south coast, as far from Franco's armies as possible. The Spanish soldiers who transported the cases thought they were lifting munitions. A fifth of it was then shipped to Marseille where it was traded for French francs, which the Republicans used to fund their side of the war. The rest, 510 tonnes, would be sent to Joseph Stalin in Moscow for safekeeping.Even if Bolshevik sympathisers, what were Negrín and Caballero thinking? The Russians had already demonstrated that they had no qualms about seizing other people's gold. In 1916, the Romanian government sent its treasury of 91 tonnes of gold to Tsarist Russia for safekeeping, worried that it was vulnerable to the Axis powers when Romania had just joined WWI on the side of the Entente. Shortly afterwards, during the Great October Revolution, communists, led by Lenin, seized power, sequestered the gold and refused to give it back. Though small amounts were returned in 1935, 1956, and 2008, “as a gesture of goodwill”, the large majority was retained. As you can imagine, it has been something of a sore spot in diplomatic relations between the two nations ever since.It seems Negrín and Caballero did not know the story. In any case, Caballero actually wrote to Stalin asking if he would “agree to the deposit of approximately 500 tonnes of gold.” Two days later, he got a reply from the Soviet leader, not previously known for his prompt responses. No surprise: Stalin would be “glad” to take the gold.Buying gold or silver to protect yourself in these ‘interesting' times? The bullion dealer I use and recommend is the Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.Alexander Orlov was the Russian agent in charge of transporting the booty. Negrín gave him fake documents to show he was an US official from the Bank of America, in case he should be stopped. Negrín, who, remember, was finance minister, had thought Bank of America was the US central bank. That would be the Federal Reserve. Russian agent Orlov didn't realise either. It's extraordinary.Four Russian ships came to Cartagena to collect the bounty, and the gold was loaded on. There was a discrepancy of 100 cases between Orlov and Spanish treasurer Mendez Aspe's number: Aspe said 7,800 cases, Orlov 7,900. Orlov said nothing. He reported the discrepancy to his superiors, who told him, “Do not worry about figures. Everything will be counted anew in Moscow. Do not mention your figure to anybody.” Aspe didn't even get a receipt off Orlov (who had been instructed not to give him one). “Don't worry, my friend,” said Orlov, “it will be issued by the State Bank of the Soviet Union, when everything is checked and weighed.” We will never know whether Orlov miscounted or whether those 100 boxes went missing.It took them three nights to load the four ships. The Russians then left Cartagena for Odessa in the Black Sea, escorted by the Spanish as far as Italy. From Odessa it was loaded onto a freight train bound for Moscow. "If all the boxes of gold that we piled up on the wharfs of Odessa were to be placed here side by side,” said one of the officials. “They would completely cover up the Red Square".When the gold arrived in Moscow, Stalin celebrated with a banquet at the Kremlin. “They will never see their gold again”, he laughed. “Just as they do not see their own ears.”The Spanish eventually got their receipt: for 5,619 standard cases and 126 damaged. Some distance below both Aspe and Orlov's figure. But three months later the Russians completed the audit, calculating that the shipments totalled 510 tonnes of gold coins and ingots, 90% pure, thus around 460 tonnes of pure gold. There were gold coins from across Europe and Latin America, especially those British sovereigns and Portuguese escudos, but also Spanish pesetas, French, Swiss and Belgian francs, German marks,, Russian rubles, Austrian schillings, Dutch guilders, and Mexican, Argentine and Chilean pesos. The numismatic value of the coins was higher than their gold content.The following year Spain met with a currency crisis. With exceptional chutzpah, even by the standards of politicians, Republicans blamed the inflation on the free market. Nothing to do with the absence of all that gold!Later, the Franco regime was happy to let the story of the "Moscow gold" stolen by Russia spread, as part of its anti-communist propaganda. And yet it appears sell orders from Negrín were actually carried out in 1937 and 1938, for which Spain received pounds, dollars and francs. Spain also received planes, tanks, machine guns, artillery, rifles, cartridges, food and fuel from Russia. The Soviets demanded some compensation for what they had sent during the war, but it's believed that aside from various expenses, the Soviets did not abuse their position and defraud the Spanish. Ultimately then, most of the gold went, one way or another, on the cost of the civil war. Such is the way with war. It is expensive.And just a couple or three years later, as Nazi forces advanced through Europe, the farce of transporting gold would be repeated many times over, and across the continent.Stories like this fill the pages of The Secret History of Gold (although this one didn't actually make the cut).The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

In this podcast recorded almost a year ago, the Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens, the Rev. Dr. David Preus and the Rev. Dr. Christian Tiews join the podcast to discuss the work at Trinity Lutheran Church, Berlin-Steglitz, Germany. This congregation of the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK) cares for Persian immigrants seeking asylum in Germany. The conversation includes an explanation of the political situation in Germany, and the LCMS mission with Farsi speakers in Germany and beyond.   For the full story, visit engage.lcms.org/persian-project-winter-2025.  To learn more about the Independent Evangelical — Lutheran Church (SELK), visit lcms.org/partner-church-bodies/independent-evangelical-lutheran-church.  For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org. Sound effect obtained from zapsplat.com.

Marziyeh (Marzi) Amirizadeh is a powerful force for persecuted Christians in Islam, unfortunately knowing all too well personally: having been sentenced to death in Iran for becoming a Christian under the brutal Islamic regime. She also advocates for the restoration of warm relations between Jews and Persians, and Israel and Iran again. One month after imposing a cease fire in the war between Israel and Iran, we discuss a wide range of issues relating to Iran, to the evil influence of the ayatollahs and IRGC, how to eliminate the threat to free the Iranian people of their country being hijacked in 1979, and her great vision for bringing Christians to Israel for a unique experience demonstrating unconditional love to Israel and the Jewish people through www.rootandbranchisrael.com. PLEASE DONATE TO THE GENESIS 123 FOUNDATION ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND AT WWW.GENESIS123.CO Connect with Marziyeh Amirizadeh and get her books at www.MarzisJourney.com and find out more about her ministry at www.NewPersia.org.To join us making special events like this possible, please give generously at https://genesis123foundation.revv.co/soldierssocialwelfareGet information about how you can join FOOTSTEPS at https://genesis123.co/footsteps/For information about and how to register for Root & Branch, please go to www.RootandBranchIsrael.comConnect with the Genesis 123 Foundation at www.Genesis123.co and learn how you can host Shabbat in your community.FB - www.facebook.com/Genesis123Foundation Twitter - @Genesis123FIG - Genesis_123_FoundationFind out how you can be part of Run for Zion and bless Israel with every step at www.RunforZion.com

2025 July 27 | This week Zach Devlin continues our Exiles sermon series in Daniel 6:1-28 preaching on what we can learn from Daniel's relationship with God and how he relied on God as he stood in opposition to the king. Daniel and the Lions' Den 6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” 6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement[a] to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. 10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” 16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared[b] to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

The power of opposition is intense. History has proved again and again how empires have fallen when facing internal weakness and external pressure. From the Persians seeing Alexander the Great sweep across the known world, to the Inca and Aztec’s falling to Spanish conquistadors, and the Western Roman Empire collapsing under the attacks of small Germanic tribes, it is amazing how opposition exploits weaknesses. Nehemiah and the people were making great progress on the walls, but Sanballat, Tobiah the Ammonite, the Arabs, and men of Ashdod were not ok with Jerusalem coming back to power. They began use weapons of mass disruption by taunting the workers and ridiculing their efforts. Sadly, this would likely be enough to deter many today from the Lord’s work. The people held strong through prayer, but then faced the threat of physical attack. This was no longer a group of bullies, but a real life threatening situation with enemies on all sides growing impatient, and putting their destruction. This brought on the natural discouragement of doing hard work under pressure, and the constant fear of attack and failure. For each of us today these same things plague our lives. From ridicule and threat, to discouragement and fear we all constantly see opposition from outside and within. There is a reality of an enemy who hates us. There is the sinful flesh that distracts us. Both of these desire to destroy us. How do we battle them and keep walking in obedience to God’s call? By doing what Ephesians 6 tells us, and armoring up! Join us for one of our worship services this weekend and MBC as we continue in the book of Nehemiah! - Pastor Ben Key Verse - Nehemiah 4:9 - "But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." For Scripture, notes, upcoming events, & more: http://bible.com/events/49450999

Introduction: The Book of Haggai is a book about God, about worship, about holiness. These themes take us back to the days of altars of Noah; of Abram (Abraham); of Isaac; of Jacob; and the Tabernacle of Moses (Play Video of Tabernacle). Haggai is the 37th book in the Old Testament .  Haggai is a Post-Exilic book meaning the timeframe happens after the Babylonian Captivity. God directed the Assyrians, Babylonians, & the Persians to accomplish His will!I. Let's set a timeline:1. Solomon's Temple built around 957 BC (United Monarchy)2. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) is defeated by Assyria in 722 BC3. The Southern Kingdom (Judah) is defeated by Babylon and the Temple was destroyed around 587-586 BC. The Book of Lamentations was written by Jeremiah based on what God did and what he saw (Lamentations 3:22-23)4. Zerubbabel's Temple (Book of Haggai) started in 536 BC and stopped with the foundation. 5. Restart on Zerubbabel's Temple started back in 520 BC. Finished in four months. Some were alive to see Solomon's Temple.READ HAGGAI 1 & 2 II. Some critical statement made in these 2 chapters:1. “Consider your ways” – 1:5 & 72. “That I may take pleasure” – 1:83. “Obeyed the voice of the Lord” – 1:124. “I am with you” – 1:13 & 2:45. “Be strong” – 2:4 (3 times)6. “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former” – 2:97. “Make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you” – 2:23 III. The Book of Haggai is connected to the Book of Ezra1. Read II Chronicles 36:22-23 2. Read Ezra 3:8-133. Read Ezra 4:1-5 (“adversaries” lied; “discouraged”; “made them afraid”; “bribed”). Fear of man paralyzes us. Fear of God frees us.4. Cyrus & Darius blessed the returning remnant (and paid for the rebuilding project!)5. Read Ezra 5:1-2 (Back on track)  IV. Haggai 1 – WHAT TIME IS IT?1. Haggai 1:3 - 2. Haggai 1:8 – 3. Haggai 1:12 4. Haggai 1:13 – 5. Haggai 1:14 –CHAPTER 2 NEXT WEEK 

In the 5th century BC, the Greek world found itself in the middle of one of its greatest wars. This wasn't one of their existential conflicts against the Persians; this was a war of Greeks against Greeks.  An alliance of city-states led by Athens fought a coalition led by Sparta for control of the Greek world.  Over nearly 30 years, the two city-states fought for supremacy, leaving a lasting impact on the Greek world. Learn more about the Peloponnesian War, its causes, and its resolution on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. ***5th Anniversary Celebration RSVP*** Sponsors Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Mint Mobile Get your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Jerry Compare quotes and coverages side-by-side from up to 50 top insurers at jerry.ai/daily American Scandal Follow American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the podcast!  https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer   Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Update your podcast app at newpodcastapps.com Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/  Disce aliquid novi cotidie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is said that Pheidippides, an Athenian herald, was sent to Sparta to request help when the Persians landed at Marathon, running 150 miles in just two days. After this, he then ran another 25 miles from the battlefield near the town of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia in the Battle of Marathon with the word “Νενικήκαμεν”, meaning ‘We have won'. He then collapsed and died on the spot due to exhaustion. Many years later; in the town of Sheffield, we find ourselves focused on the adventures of a very unfit man trying to complete his first ever Marathon. He's only just started and already he's thinking about catching a bus… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marinus and Martha were wealthy Persians; but they sold all their goods and traveled to Rome with their sons Audifax, Habakkuk, Valentine, and Cyrinus, in order to venerate the holy relics of the apostles and martyrs. When the Emperor Claudius asked them why they had come so far, at such cost, to seek the dead in Rome, they answered 'We are servants of Christ, and are come to venerate the holy apostles whose immortal souls are alive with God, that they may be our intercessors with Christ our God.' All of them were sentenced to interrogation and to death if they would not deny Christ. Valentine, who was a priest, was handed over to a General named Asterius. When Valentine healed Asterius' daughter, who had been blind for two years, Asterius and his entire household accepted Christ and were baptised by Valentine. All of them, along with Marinus and Martha and their family, underwent torture and death for the sake of Christ.

In this episode, Murray tackles a thoughtful listener question: were heavy, armoured troops consistently more effective than missile-armed light troops? Our listener reflects that European armies rarely seem to have been decimated by light forces—Carrhae being a rare exception—and wonders whether this is an accurate memory. Why did Persians, for instance, favour missile troops, and why didn't this overwhelm Macedonian forces despite showers of arrows, slings, and javelins?   Join us on Patron patreon.com/ancientwarfarepodcast  

 Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Forgetting God's Faithfulness Invites God's Judgement, Part 2 Series: Daniel: Devoted Scripture: Daniel 5:1-31 Episode: 1295 In Daniel 5:1–31, King Belshazzar hosts a lavish feast, using the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple to drink wine and praise false gods. In the midst of the celebration, a mysterious hand writes a message on the wall, terrifying the king. None of his wise men can interpret it, so Daniel is summoned. Daniel rebukes Belshazzar for his arrogance and failure to honor God, reminding him of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling. He then interprets the writing—"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin"—as God's judgment: Belshazzar's reign has been weighed, found wanting, and is about to end. That very night, Belshazzar is killed, and the kingdom falls to the Medes and Persians. Key themes include God's judgment, the consequences of pride and sacrilege, and the fulfillment of divine prophecy.

 Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Forgetting God's Faithfulness Invites God's Judgement, Part 1 Series: Daniel: Devoted Scripture: Daniel 5:1-31 Episode: 1294 In Daniel 5:1–31, King Belshazzar hosts a lavish feast, using the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple to drink wine and praise false gods. In the midst of the celebration, a mysterious hand writes a message on the wall, terrifying the king. None of his wise men can interpret it, so Daniel is summoned. Daniel rebukes Belshazzar for his arrogance and failure to honor God, reminding him of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling. He then interprets the writing—"Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin"—as God's judgment: Belshazzar's reign has been weighed, found wanting, and is about to end. That very night, Belshazzar is killed, and the kingdom falls to the Medes and Persians. Key themes include God's judgment, the consequences of pride and sacrilege, and the fulfillment of divine prophecy.

Michael Germi is a former Muslim who was born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. Iran has a population that is ten times larger than Israel. It's land mass is also many times larger than Israel. According to worldData.info, Iran is 96.5% Muslim. Its primary language is Persian. It's citizens are low-income and deal with high inflation. Most importantly, it's a nation and people greatly in need of the Gospel. Michael's biggest fear while living as a Muslim in Iran was the thought of going to hell. So what circumstances caused him to move from Islam to Christ? What is Michael's burden for Iran and the Persian people? What does it mean to be a Christian in Iran? Michael explains all this and more when the political, economic and spiritual aspects of Iran take center stage on this fascinating edition of Crosstalk.

Michael Germi is a former Muslim who was born in Iran into a Shia Muslim family. In this setting he learned to practice Islam praying 5 times a day toward Mecca. He fasted during Ramadan. He practiced self-mutilation for the cause of Allah. He migrated to Australia in 2006 and in 2009 placed his trust in Jesus Christ. He later moved to the States where he now proclaims the Gospel to Islamic nations. He has written several Farsi Christian books and desires to plant churches around the world where Persians are scattered. Iran has a population that is ten times larger than Israel. It's land mass is also many times larger than Israel. According to worldData.info, Iran is 96.5% Muslim. Its primary language is Persian. It's citizens are low-income and deal with high inflation. Most importantly, it's a nation and people greatly in need of the Gospel. Michael's biggest fear while living as a Muslim in Iran was the thought of going to hell. So what circumstances caused him to move from Islam to Christ? What is Michael's burden for Iran and the Persian people? What does it mean to be a Christian in Iran? Michael explains all this and more when the political, economic and spiritual aspects of Iran take center stage on this fascinating edition of Crosstalk.

Cyrus receives a message from the Lord. All In Gospel Podcast is a chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in depth bible study where we seek to understand God's Word.All In Gospel is recorded live at Calvary Chapel with Pastor Seann Dikkers. You can support this study at anchor.fm/allingospel or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ccwhitebear.com.

This icon was once kept in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople. In 1383, it suddenly appeared in the sky over Lake Ladoga, then travelled through the air to the city of Tikhvin, where it alit by the River Tikhvina. A monastery was built there to house it. In the twentieth century it was brought to America. Innumerable miracles have been worked through this wonderworking icon, especially healings of children.   On this day is also commemorated the Hodigritia Icon of the Mother of God. According to many accounts, this icon and the Tikhvin Icon are one and the same, so we list them together. Hodigritia is translated "Directress" or more literally "She who shows the way." It was painted by Luke the Evangelist himself, who knew the Mother of God in the flesh. Over the years the icon was taken from Antioch to Jerusalem, then to Constantinople where it was enshrined in the Church of Blachernae. When Constantinople was attacked at the same time by the Persians and the Scythians, Patriarch Sergius carried the holy icon around the ramparts, and the city was miraculously delivered from its pagan enemies. During the iconoclast period, the icon was hidden in a wall in the monastery of the Pantocrator.

This episode is the essential starting point for understanding the Neo-Assyrian Empire. In 745 BCE, a relatively obscure man named Tukulti-Apil-Esharra—better known by his biblical name Tiglath-Pileser III—seized the Assyrian throne in what would become one of the most transformative moments in ancient Near Eastern history. This episode explores how Tiglath-Pileser's revolutionary reforms reshaped the military, administration, and ideology of the Assyrian state, laying the foundation for the largest and most durable empire the world had yet seen.We delve into the political collapse that preceded his rise, the obscure origins and contested legitimacy of Tiglath-Pileser himself, and the sudden consolidation of power that enabled him to bring Assyria back from the brink of fragmentation. We then examine his first campaigns in Babylonia, where Assyrian intervention brought order to the chaos left by years of Chaldean misrule, and consider the complex relationship between Assyria and Babylon—one rooted in reverence, rivalry, and shared civilization.This episode also introduces the deep structural changes Tiglath-Pileser initiated: the expansion of a professional standing army, the shift from vassalage to direct imperial administration, and the rising use of Aramaic alongside Akkadian. We explore the rise of eunuch officials, the growing importance of taxation within the core territory of Mat Assur, and how these policies would strengthen the empire in the short term while sowing the seeds of long-term resentment.From palace coups to temple politics, from highland conquests in the Zagros Mountains to the quiet rise of Nabonassar in Babylon, this episode places 745 BCE at the center of a vast historical transformation. It is a turning point not only in Assyrian history, but in the history of the entire ancient Near East, with consequences that would echo into the rise of the Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks. For students of ancient history, biblical history, Assyriology, and the origins of empire, this episode provides a detailed and foundational account of the birth of the Neo-Assyrian world order.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories Daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

LONDINIUM 90AD: Gaius and Germanicus observe that the Americans do not appear informed that the Iranians are the uncowed, unconquered Parthians of Crassus and Caesar aka Persians of Sparta and Athens -- except for Alexander 4th century BCE. More. Michael Vlahos. Friends of History Debating Society. @michalis_vlahos

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about (1) whether and how this week's war on Iran reshapes our understanding of the more than 20 months of war in Gaza that preceded it, and (2) what we can learn from a moving essay by American journalist Isaac Saul called, “I think I'm Leaving Zionism, or Zionism is Leaving Me.” All this and what we learn about Iran from the Persians living among us, and music by these self-same Persians. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What it is like, living from siren-to-siren, shelter-to-shelter (Spoiler alert: Scary and weird, with surprising moments of grace.)

GUEST: Third Rail Omar on Israel, Iran, the U.S., and Trump. Fiery second hour: Callers call Hake "boomer" and "Ben Shapiro"!The Hake Report, Wednesday, June 18, 2025 ADThird Rail with Omar / American Me Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@third_rail - https://x.com/thecomforter_1 - https://www.tiktok.com/@thirdrailomarTIMESTAMPS* (0:00:00) Start* (0:01:23) Omar, fellow boomer — Iran-Israel… TikTok…* (0:08:44) Hey, guys!* (0:10:51) Trump first Jewish prez? War with Iran? Conspiracies…?* (0:19:40) Not a fan of Iran, but Israel's worse? In America* (0:27:55) Bibi … Israelis vs Persians…* (0:29:47) Little history lesson US and Iran* (0:34:16) Iran funding Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah* (0:42:11) Tucker, the Persians, Iranians, Apartheid* (0:48:08) Supers: Crishaun, Israel-US history, war, Trump…?* (0:55:05) Supers: No s— before marriage!* (1:02:26) KT, DC: Boomer! Israel's doing evil!* (1:31:36) ELIJAH, CA: Acting like Israel's the only problem? No solutions?!* (1:46:22) Supers: ISIS, Hamas … Rumors of wars … 2v1 …* (1:48:29) JEFF, LA: Iran, Israel, America* (1:53:08) Omar point on Biden … Closing!BLOG https://www.thehakereport.com/blog/2025/6/18/third-rail-with-omar-israel-iran-war-wed-6-18-25PODCAST / Substack HAKE NEWS from JLP https://www.thehakereport.com/jlp-news/2025/6/18/jlp-wed-6-18-25–Hake is live M-F 9-11a PT (11-1CT/12-2ET) Call-in 1-888-775-3773 https://www.thehakereport.com/showVIDEO: YT - Rumble* - Pilled - FB - X - BitChute (Live) - Odysee*PODCAST: Substack - Apple - Spotify - Castbox - Podcast Addict*SUPER CHAT https://buymeacoffee.com/thehakereportSHOP - Printify (new!) - Cameo | All My LinksJLP Network: JLP - Church - TFS - Nick - PunchieThe views expressed on this show do not represent BOND, Jesse Lee Peterson, the Network, this Host, or this platform. No endorsement or opposition implied!The show is for general information and entertainment, and everything should be taken with a grain of salt! Get full access to HAKE at thehakereport.substack.com/subscribe

"The holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel, and Ishmael, Persians by race and brethren according to the flesh, were sent by the Persian King as ambassadors to Julian the Apostate to negotiate a peace treaty. While with him at a place near Chalcedon, they refused to join him in offering sacrifice to his idols. Scorning the immunity universally accorded ambassadors, he had them slain in the year 362. This was a cause of the war with Persia in which Julian perished miserably the following year." (Great Horologion)

What happens when a Muslim from Iran meets Jesus in America - then watches his homeland go to war with Israel?  Shah Afshar was born and raised in Iran, shaped by a shame-based culture, a devout Muslim family, and the pressure to uphold family honor. But everything changed when he encountered a group of joyful American college students and heard the name of Jesus - not as a prophet, but as Savior. In this episode, Shah shares his powerful journey from Islam to Christianity, the cultural weight of honor and shame, and what he sees unfolding in the Middle East today.  With a foot in both worlds, he gives insight few can offer: why 80% of Iranians quietly cheer when Israel strikes military targets…and why Persians and Jews have a deeper shared history than most realize. Key Takeaways Why Shah sees honor and shame as central to understanding Iranian culture What it's like to leave Islam and follow Jesus as a Persian The truth about Iran's Jewish population - and how Persians and Jews once lived side by side Why many Iranians support Israel in secret How Jesus - not politics - is the only path to true peace in the Middle East Chapter Markers 00:00 – Meet Shah Afshar: From Iran to the U.S. 03:00 – Growing up Muslim in a shame-based culture 05:45 – Depression, academic pressure, and thoughts of suicide 08:00 – The hippies who introduced him to Jesus 10:30 – Calling on Jesus without theology - and finding peace 13:15 – Starting the first Iranian Christian church in America 15:00 – What changed after the revolution in Iran 18:30 – Why many Iranians secretly support Israel 21:00 – The cost - and hope - of a Persian uprising 24:00 – Jesus as the only answer to generational hate 26:00 – Persians are not Arabs: cultural and ethnic clarity 29:00 – Are the Jews still God's chosen people? 32:00 – One new man: Jew and Gentile united in Messiah   To learn more about Shah's work and story, visit shahzamfactor.com. For more episodes, teaching, and insights into the Jewish roots of your faith, head to thejewishroad.com. Be a light. Be a voice. Be a blessing.

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Lectionary: 572AThe Saint of the day is Saint EphremSaint Ephrem's Story Poet, teacher, orator, and defender of the faith, Ephrem is the only Syriac Christian recognized as a doctor of the Church. He took upon himself the special task of opposing the many false doctrines rampant at his time, always remaining a true and forceful defender of the Catholic Church. Born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia, he was baptized as a young man and became famous as a teacher in his native city. When the Christian emperor had to cede Nisibis to the Persians, Ephrem fled as a refugee to Edessa, along with many other Christians. He is credited with attracting great glory to the biblical school there. He was ordained a deacon but declined becoming a priest. Ephrem was said to have avoided presbyteral consecration by feigning madness! He had a prolific pen, and his writings best illumine his holiness. Although he was not a man of great scholarship, his works reflect deep insight and knowledge of the Scriptures. In writing about the mysteries of humanity's redemption, Ephrem reveals a realistic and humanly sympathetic spirit and a great devotion to the humanity of Jesus. It is said that his poetic account of the Last Judgment inspired Dante. It is surprising to read that he wrote hymns against the heretics of his day. He would take the popular songs of the heretical groups and using their melodies, compose beautiful hymns embodying orthodox doctrine. Ephrem became one of the first to introduce song into the Church's public worship as a means of instruction for the faithful. His many hymns have earned him the title “Harp of the Holy Spirit.” Ephrem preferred a simple, austere life, living in a small cave overlooking the city of Edessa. It was here that he died around 373. Reflection Many Catholics still find singing in church a problem, probably because of the rather individualistic piety that they inherited. Yet singing has been a tradition of both the Old and the New Testaments. It is an excellent way of expressing and creating a community spirit of unity as well as of joy. An ancient historian testifies that Ephrem's hymns “lent luster to the Christian assemblies.” We need some modern Ephrems—and cooperating singers—to do the same for our Christian assemblies today. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

The famous Battle of Thermopylae forms the centerpiece of the Spartan Mirage. Legend has it that a tiny force of 300 Spartans took on over two million Persians and managed to hold them off for a remarkable four days. The Spartan sacrifice has been credited with saving Greece and paving the way to the ultimate Greek victory over the invaders. While it's true that the Spartans made a stand at Thermopylae, so too did thousands of other Greeks whose contributions have been edited out of the story. Almost everything about this famous showdown has been exaggerated and distorted. Who were the real heroes of Thermopylae? Tune-in and find out how playing possum, 700 Thespians, and something called the Battle of Champions all play a role in the story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.