God Save the Romans

In the sixth century, the Emperor Heraclius mobilized his people in a desperate attempt to save the empire from a massive Persian/Avar/Slavic invasion that threatened it's ruin. Imprinted on coins made from the melted down treasures donated by the church, Heraclius inscribed the phrase, 'God Save the Romans,' knowing that only divine help could rescue his people from certain calamity. After years of fighting, Heraclius was able to defeat the Persians and drive them out as if by a miracle, only to watch the Empire fall apart only a few years later from the Arab invasions. So it is with life, one disaster preceding the next as the inexorable decrees of fate exert their will upon us mortals. In our moment of greatest need what can we say, having done all that we know how, except "may God save us..."