Bravlin
Bravlin (apparent Cyrillic: "Бравлин") was an apocryphal overlord of the Rus' who supposedly devastated all the Crimea from Kerch to Sugdaea in the last years of the 8th century but was paralyzed when he had entered the church of St. Stephen in Sugdaea.
His Crimean campaign is mentioned in only one source, the Russian version of the Life of St. Stephen of Sugdaea, tentatively dated to the 15th or 16th centuries. Vasily Vasilievsky, who was the first to publish this manuscript in the 19th century, reasoned that the core of the narrative might stem from the Early Middle Ages, reflecting a vague memory of some 10th-century Russo-Byzantine conflict.
Since St. Stephen of Surozh died in 786 and Bravlin's invasion is said to have happened "several years" after his death (during the term of Stephen's successor, archbishop Philaret), this Rus' expedition is usually dated to the 790s. Among those historians who view Bravlin as a historical figure, Nikolay Belyaev attempted to trace in his fanciful name some allusion to the Battle of Bravalla (770). Anyway, the name Bravlin is obviously of non-Slavic origin and may be attributed only to Vikings who at that time represented a serious force on ancient Slavic lands.
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by: AvalonNow is the season for healing
Deeply we need to see God's mercy revealing
Where we have fallen from His way
For we know He gives hope to the humble
Gives light in the darkness
And grace when we stumble
Let us call on His name together
Knowing He will say
If my people pray
Reach for me with hearts that are broken
I will not forget what is spoken
Come and seek my face
Heaven will rain
Rivers of my grace overflowing
Night and day my ears will be open
If my people pray
Now is the day to awaken
To pray with conviction for the souls of the nations
So let us call on His name
Who's faithful, the promise still remains
If my people pray
Reach for me with hearts that are broken
I will not forget what is spoken
Come and seek my face
Heaven will rain
Rivers of my grace overflowing
Night and day my ears will be open
If my people pray
Let us not grow weary as we wait for the day
When the light turns the night into morning
On our knees, calling Your name
As we lift our hearts to Heaven, yeah, knowing You will say
If my people pray
Reach for me with hearts that are broken
I will not forget what is spoken
Come and seek my face
Heaven will rain
Rivers of my grace overflowing
Night and day my ears will be open