SAINT MOSES THE BLACK, OF ETHIOPIA 7096Home » Shop » Icons » Alpha » M - N » SAINT MOSES THE BLACK, OF ETHIOPIA 7096

Product Description

SAINT MOSES THE BLACK, OF ETHIOPIA 7096 St. Moses the Black had been a slave of a government official in Egypt who discharged him for theft and suspected murder. He became the leader of a gang of bandits who roamed the Nile Valley and had the reputation for being associated with terror and violence.On one occasion, when he sought to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some monks in a monastic colony in Skete in the western desert near Alexandria. The dedication of their lives and their peace and contentment seem to have influenced him deeply. Eventually, he gave up his old way of life and became a monk himself. Moses became the spiritual leader of a colony of hermits in the desert near Skete. At some time, he had been ordained a priest. When he was 75 years old, about the year 407, word came that a group of renegades planned to attack the colony. The brothers wished to defend themselves, but Moses forbade such action. He told them to retreat rather than take up the sword. He and seven others stayed on to greet the invaders with open arms, but all were martyred by the bandits.

Feast Day: 28th August