Changes: Moses the Black

*Saint Moses the Black*
Saint Moses the Black
	File:StMosesTheBlack.gif
Born	330, Egypt
Died	405, Scetes, Egypt
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Churches; Oriental Orthodox Churches; Eastern Catholic Churches
Major shrine	Paromeos Monastery, Scetes, Egypt
Feast	August 28 (West); July 1 = Paoni 24 (East)
Attributes	black monk with a pierced bag full of sand
Patronage	Africa

Revision as of 08:31, 9 January 2010

Saint Moses the Black (Coptic: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲙⲱⲥⲏ; 330 – 405), known as the Ethiopian or the strong was an ascetic monk and priest in Egypt in the fourth century CE.

Early life

Moses was a slave of a government official in Egypt who dismissed him for theft and suspected murder. He became the leader of a gang of bandits who roamed the Nile Valley spreading terror and violence. He was a large, imposing figure.

Conversion to Christianity

On one occasion, a barking dog prevented Moses from carrying out a robbery, so he swore vengeance on the owner. Weapons in his mouth, Moses swam the river toward the owner's hut. The owner, again alerted, hid, and the frustrated Moses took some of his sheep to slaughter. Attempting to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some monks in a colony in the desert of Scetes, near Alexandria. The dedication of their lives, as well as their peace and contentment, influenced Moses deeply. He soon gave up his old way of life, became a Christian, was baptized and joined the monastic community at Scetes.

Monastic Life

Moses had a rather difficult time adjusting to regular monastic discipline. His flair for adventure remained with him. Attacked by a group of robbers in his desert cell, Moses fought back, overpowered the intruders, and dragged them to the chapel where the other monks were at prayer. He told the brothers that he didn't think it Christian to hurt the robbers and asked what he should do with them. The overwhelmed robbers repented, were converted, and themselves joined the community.

Moses was zealous in all he did, but became discouraged when he concluded he was not perfect enough. Early one morning, Saint Isidore, abbot of the monastery, took Moses to the roof and together they watched the first rays of dawn come over the horizon. Isidore told Moses, "Only slowly do the rays of the sun drive away the night and usher in a new day, and thus, only slowly does one become a perfect contemplative."

Moses proved to be effective as a prophetic spiritual leader. The abbot ordered the brothers to fast during a particular week. Some brothers came to Moses, and he prepared a meal for them. Neighboring monks reported to the abbot that Moses was breaking the fast. When they came to confront Moses, they changed their minds, saying "You did not keep a human commandment, but it was so that you might keep the divine commandment of hospitality." Some see in this account one of the earliest allusions to the Paschal fast, which developed at this time.

When a brother committed a fault and Moses was invited to a meeting to discuss an appropriate penance, Moses refused to attend. When he was again called to the meeting, Moses took a leaking jug filled with water and carried it on his shoulder. Another version of the story has him carrying a basket filled with sand. When he arrived at the meeting place, the others asked why he was carrying the jug. He replied, "My sins run out behind me and I do not see them, but today I am coming to judge the errors of another." On hearing this, the assembled brothers forgave the erring monk.

Moses became the spiritual leader of a colony of hermits in the Western Desert. Later, he was ordained a priest.

Death

At about age 75, about the year 405 AD, word came that a group of Berbers planned to attack the monastery. The brothers wanted to defend themselves, but Moses forbade it. He told them to retreat, rather than take up weapons. He and seven others remained behind and greeted the invaders with open arms, but all eight were martyred by the bandits on 24 Paoni (July 1).

A different story of Abba (Father) Moses' death is related in The Paradise of the Holy Fathers ^[1]:

"31. Abba Poemen said: Abba Moses asked Abba Zechariah a question when he was about to die, and said unto him, "Father, is it good that we should hold our peace?" And Zechariah said unto him, "Yea, my son, hold thy peace." And at the time of his death, whilst Abba Isidore was sitting with him, Abba Moses looked up to heaven, and said, "Rejoice and be glad, O my son Zechariah, for the gates of heaven have been opened."

Legacy

A modern interpretation honors Saint Moses the Black as an apostle of non-violence. His relics and major shrine are found today at the Church of the Virgin Mary in the Paromeos Monastery.

References

↑ The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol II, Chatto & Windus, 1917

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Infobox Saint
-{{Oriental}}
+|name=Saint Moses the Black
-The power of repentance has transformed this infidel slave, '''St. Moses the Black''' (330-405 A.D.), who was a murderer, adulterer and robber into a great Desert Father, teacher, comforter, and [[priest]], who wrote rules for the [[monks]], and a [[martyr]]-saint whose name continues to be mentioned on the [[altar]] and in our prayers.
+|birth_date=330
+|death_date=405
+|feast_day=August 28 (West)<br>July 1 = [[Paoni]] 24 (East)
+|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]]<br>[[Eastern Orthodox Churches]]<br>[[Oriental Orthodox Churches]]<br>[[Eastern Catholic Churches]]
+|image=StMosesTheBlack.gif
+|imagesize=
+|caption=
+|birth_place=[[Egypt]]
+|death_place=[[Scetes]], [[Egypt]]
+|titles=
+|beatified_date=
+|beatified_place=
+|beatified_by=
+|canonized_date=
+|canonized_place=
+|canonized_by=
+|attributes=black monk with a pierced bag full of sand
+|patronage=Africa
+|major_shrine=[[Paromeos Monastery]], [[Scetes]], [[Egypt]]
+|suppressed_date=
+|issues=
+|prayer=
+|prayer_attrib=
+}}
+'''Saint Moses the Black''' ([[Coptic language|Coptic]]: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲙⲱⲥⲏ; 330 – 405), known as '''the [[Ethiopia]]n''' or '''the strong''' was an ascetic monk and priest in Egypt in the fourth century CE.
-== Life and martyrdom ==
-[[Image:Stmoses.gif|thumb|Classic Coptic icon of 'The Strong St. Moses the Black']] On 24 [http://www.geocities.com/remenkimi/monthsnames.htm Baounah (Paoni - Coptic month)], St. Moses the Black, whose life story is remarkable, was martyred. This saint took the Kingdom of Heaven by force, exactly as our Lord Jesus Christ said: "The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12). In his early life, St. Moses was a slave to people who worshiped the sun. He was a mighty man who loved to eat and drink excessively. He killed, robbed and committed all evil. No one could stand up before him, or challenge him. On many occasions, he lifted up his eyes to look to the sun and to talk to it saying, "O Sun!! if you are God, let me know it." Then he said, "And you O God whom I do not know, let me know you." One day, he heard someone saying to him, "The monks of Wadi El-Natroun know the real God. Go to them and they will tell you." Instantly, he rose up, girded his sword and went to the wilderness of Shehet (Skete). He met St. Esidorous (Isidore) the priest, who was frightened when he saw him, because of his appearance. St. Moses comforted him by saying that he came to the monks so that they might let him know the real God. St. Esidorous took him to St. [[Macarius the Great]], who preached to him, taught him the faith and baptized him. He accepted St. Moses as a monk and taught him to live in the wilderness. St. Moses dashed in many [[worship]]s, and fought a spiritual fight, which was greater than that fought by many saints. However, the Devil fought him intensively with his old habits of excessive eating, drinking, and fornication. He informed St. Esidorous about everything which came upon him in his fight with the Enemy. He comforted him and taught him how to overcome the snares of the Devil. It was told about him, that when the elders of the Monastery slept, he used to go round to their cells and take their water pots and fill them with water, which he brought from a well at a far distance from the monastery. After many years in spiritual struggle, the Devil envied him, and struck him with a sore on his foot which made him sick and bed-ridden. When he knew that this was from the Devil, he increased in his asceticism and worship, until his body became as a burnt wood. God looked to his patience, healed his illness, and removed all his pains. The blessing of the Lord came upon him. After a while, he became the Father and the spiritual guide of 500 brothers, who elected him to be [[ordination|ordained]] a priest. When he came before the [[Patriarch]] to be ordained, the Patriarch wanted to test him by asking the elders, "Who brought this black here? Cast him out." He obeyed, and left saying to himself, "It is good what they have done to you, O black colored one. The Patriarch, however, called him back and ordained him a priest, and said to him, Moses, all of you now has become white."
+==Early life==
-One day, he went with some elders to St. Macarius the Great, who said to them, "I see among you one to whom belong the crown of martyrdom." St. Moses answered him, "Probably it is me, for it is written: 'For all they that take with the sword, shall perish with the sword.'" (Matt. 26:25). After they returned to the [[monastery]], it did not take long until the Berbers attacked the monastery. He told the brethren, "Whoever wants to escape, let him escape." They asked him, "And you O father, why do you not also escape?" He replied that he had waited for this day for long time. The Berbers entered the monastery and killed him with seven other brothers. One of the brethren was hiding, and saw the angel of the Lord, with a crown in his hand standing by and waiting for him. He went out from his hiding place to the Berbers and he was also martyred.
+Moses was a slave of a government official in [[Egypt]] who dismissed him for theft and suspected murder.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} He became the leader of a gang of bandits who roamed the [[Nile Valley]] spreading terror and violence. He was a large, imposing figure.
+==Conversion to Christianity==
-His body is now located at Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Monastery of El-Baramous in Egypt.
+On one occasion, a barking dog prevented Moses from carrying out a robbery, so he swore vengeance on the owner. Weapons in his mouth, Moses swam the river toward the owner's hut. The owner, again alerted, hid, and the frustrated Moses took some of his sheep to slaughter. Attempting to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some [[monk]]s in a colony in the desert of [[Scetes]], near [[Alexandria]]. The dedication of their lives, as well as their peace and contentment, influenced Moses deeply. He soon gave up his old way of life, became a [[Christian]], was baptized and joined the monastic community at Scetes.
-== Source ==
+==Monastic Life==
+Moses had a rather difficult time adjusting to regular monastic discipline. His flair for adventure remained with him. Attacked by a group of robbers in his desert cell, Moses fought back, overpowered the intruders, and dragged them to the chapel where the other monks were at prayer. He told the brothers that he didn't think it [[Christian]] to hurt the robbers and asked what he should do with them. The overwhelmed robbers repented, were converted, and themselves joined the community.
-[http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/10_24.html#1 Coptic Orthodox Synaxarium (Book of Saints)]
+Moses was zealous in all he did, but became discouraged when he concluded he was not perfect enough. Early one morning, [[Isidore of Egypt|Saint Isidore]], abbot of the [[monastery]], took Moses to the roof and together they watched the first rays of dawn come over the horizon. Isidore told Moses, "Only slowly do the rays of the sun drive away the night and usher in a new day, and thus, only slowly does one become a perfect contemplative."
-== External Links ==
-* http://www.stantonymonastery.org/saintmoses/
-* http://www.stmaryofegypt.net/saints_moses.shtml
-* http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm34.htm
-* [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/m/sgp16.htm Icon and Troparion of St. Moses the Ethiopian]
-* [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/m/cap19.htm Icon of Holy Abba Moses the Strong]
-* [http://www.comeandseeicons.com/peace.htm Prayer for Peace] St. Moses is known for his repentance of a life of violence and for this he is seen as a peacemaker.
+Moses proved to be effective as a prophetic spiritual leader. The abbot ordered the brothers to fast during a particular week. Some brothers came to Moses, and he prepared a meal for them. Neighboring monks reported to the abbot that Moses was breaking the fast. When they came to confront Moses, they changed their minds, saying "You did not keep a human commandment, but it was so that you might keep the divine commandment of hospitality." Some see in this account one of the earliest allusions to the Paschal fast, which developed at this time.
-[[Category:Desert Fathers]]
-[[Category:Egyptian Saints]]
+When a brother committed a fault and Moses was invited to a meeting to discuss an appropriate penance, Moses refused to attend. When he was again called to the meeting, Moses took a leaking jug filled with water and carried it on his shoulder. Another version of the story has him carrying a basket filled with sand. When he arrived at the meeting place, the others asked why he was carrying the jug. He replied, "My sins run out behind me and I do not see them, but today I am coming to judge the errors of another." On hearing this, the assembled brothers forgave the erring monk.
-[[Category:Martyrs]]
-[[Category:Saints]]
+Moses became the spiritual leader of a colony of [[hermits]] in the [[Western Desert (North Africa)|Western Desert]]. Later, he was ordained a priest.
+==Death==
+At about age 75, about the year 405 AD, word came that a group of [[Berbers]] planned to attack the monastery. The brothers wanted to defend themselves, but Moses forbade it. He told them to retreat, rather than take up weapons. He and seven others remained behind and greeted the invaders with open arms, but all eight were martyred by the bandits on 24 [[Paoni]] (July 1).
+A different story of Abba (Father) Moses' death is related in ''The Paradise of the Holy Fathers'' <ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=4TIYAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22arsenius%20the%20great%22&client=firefox-a&pg=PP9#v=onepage&q=%22arsenius%20the%20great%22&f=false The Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Vol II, Chatto & Windus, 1917]</ref>:
+:''"31. '''Abba Poemen said:''' Abba Moses asked Abba Zechariah a question when he was about to die, and said unto him, "Father, is it good that we should hold our peace?" And Zechariah said unto him, "Yea, my son, hold thy peace." And at the time of his death, whilst Abba Isidore was sitting with him, Abba Moses looked up to heaven, and said, "Rejoice and be glad, O my son Zechariah, for the gates of heaven have been opened."''
+==Legacy==
+A modern interpretation honors Saint Moses the Black as an apostle of non-violence. His relics and major shrine are found today at the Church of the [[Virgin Mary]] in the [[Paromeos Monastery]].
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
+== External links ==
+*[http://www.stmaryofegypt.net/saints_moses.shtml St. Moses the Black - St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church]
+*[http://www.premontre.org/subpages/loci/zzzlocalsites/lsjackson/stmosesbio.htm  Life of St. Moses the Black]
+*[http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=181 St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery - St. Moses the Black]
+*[http://blog.stmaryofegypt.net/about St Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church - About]
+*[http://www.stantonymonastery.org/saintmoses/ St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery - St. Moses the Black]
+*[http://www.mosestheblack.org Brotherhood of St Moses the Black]
+==See also==
+*[[Black Moses|Other references to Black Moses]]
+*[[Paromeos Monastery]]
+*[[Scetes]]
+*[[Coptic Christianity]]
+[[Category:330 births]]
+[[Category:405 deaths]]
+[[Category:Egyptian saints]]
+[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy]]
+[[Category:Christianity in Africa]]
+[[Category:African saints]]
+[[Category:Ethiopian saints]]
+[[Category:Egyptian Roman Catholic saints]]
+[[Category:Ethiopian Roman Catholic saints]]
+[[Category:Eastern Catholic saints]]
+[[Category:Egyptian Christian monks]]
+[[Category:5th-century Christian saints]]
+[[bg:Мойсей Мурин]]
+[[es:Moisés el Moro]]
+[[ru:Моисей Мурин]]
+[[uk:Мойсей Мурин]]