BRETHREN, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2

BRETHREN, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced
justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness,
became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their
dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release,
that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking
and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned,
they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the
sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute,
afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering
over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive
what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us,
that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since
we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay
aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run
with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the
pioneer and perfection of our faith.