1. The Martyrdom of St. Anba Moses, the Black
On this day, of the year 123 of the martyrs, 407 AD, the strong St. Moses the Black, was martyred. This saint was born in Ethiopia in the year 332 AD. In his young age, he was a slave to a person who worshipped the sun. He was a mighty man, who loved to eat and drink excessively. He was of vicious character; he killed, robbed and committed fornication. No one could stand up before him for his might. He escaped from his master and became a ringleader for a band of robbers. His journey to repentance began when one day, he lifted up his eyes to the sun, saying, “O Sun, if you are God, let me know it. And You O God, whom I do not know, let me know who You are.” One day, he heard someone saying to him, “The monks of the wilderness of Shiheet (Scetis) know the real God. Go to them and they will inform you.” Immediately, he rose up, girded his sword and went to the wilderness of Shiheet. He met Abba Isidore the priest of Scetis, who was frightened when he saw his appearance. Moses comforted him saying, “Do not be afraid. I have come to you to hear about the real God.” Abba Isidore took him to St. Macarius the Great, who talked to him about The Lord Christ, the incarnation and the redemption. Moses believed and accepted the faith. Abba Macarius baptized him and accepted him as a monk. Abba Moses lived an austere spiritual life. The devil fought him intensively with his former iniquities and sins. He often came to Abba Isidore, his teacher, to reveal to him all temptations of the enemy. Abba Isidore comforted, strengthened and taught him how to overcome the snares of the devil. Abba Moses loved serving others. When the elders of the monastery went to sleep, he would pass by their cells, take their water pots and fill them with water from a well far from the monastery. After many years in spiritual struggle, the devil envied him, and struck him with sores on his feet, leaving him ailing and unable to move. When he knew that this was a temptation from the devil, he increased in his asceticism and worship, until his body became as a burnt wood. God looked upon his patience and toil. He relieved him of his pain, and the grace of God dwelt upon him. After a while, he became the spiritual guide of 500 brothers, who elected him to be 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 one here? Cast him out.” He obeyed, and left saying to himself, “It is good what they have done to you, O black colored one.” When the Patriarch, however, saw his humility and endurance, he called Abba Moses back and ordained him a priest, and said to him, “Moses, you have now become entirely white.” One day, he went with the elders to St. Macarius the Great, who said to them, “I see among you one to whom belongs the crown of martyrdom.” Abba Moses answered him, “Probably it is me, for it is written, ‘For all who take the sword, shall perish by the sword’” (Matthew 26: 25). Shortly after they returned to the monastery, the Berbers attacked the monastery in their first raid in the year 407 AD. He told the brothers, “Whoever wants to escape, let him escape.” They asked him, “And you, why not also escape?” He replied, “I have waited for this day for a long time.” The Berbers entered the monastery and killed him along with seven other brothers. One of the brothers was hiding behind straw mats and saw the angel of The Lord placing crowns over the heads of the martyrs and with a crown in his hand waiting for him. He went out from his hiding place. The Berbers killed him and he received the crown of martyrdom, as well. Beloved ones, let us contemplate the power of repentance and what it did. It changed a heathen slave, who was a murderer, fornicator and robber into a monk, teacher, priest, saint, and great martyr. His pure body is present along with the body of his teacher the saint Abba Isidore in a shrine in St. Mary El-Baramous monastery in Wadi El-Natroun in Egypt. May the blessing of his prayers be with us all. Amen.
2. The Departure of St. Isidore, the Priest of Scetis
On this day also, of the year 113 of the martyrs, 397 AD, St. Isidore, the priest, departed. At first, he became a monk in the region of Nitria and was ordained a priest to serve the hermits in the area of Celia. Then he came to St. Macarius the Great in Scetis and became one of his early disciples. He was his fellow companion in establishing St. Macarius monastic community. He was known as the priest of Scetis because he was the one to celebrate the divine liturgies for the monks. He was characterized by many virtues, the most important of which was his gentleness and his interest in the salvation of others. If any monk was to be expelled after repeated attempt to reform him, he accepted him. He would embrace, care for, tolerate and strengthen him with his gentleness, patience and a heart that was full of love. He was a man of prayers, and never ceased praying while working with his hands. He said, “Let us struggle in prayer for the enemy to flee away and earnestly contemplate upon God to gain victory.” Because of his great love for prayer, he worked much even after he advanced in age. God had granted him the gift of casting out unclean spirits, because of his longsuffering and overcoming anger. They asked him once, “Why do the devils exceedingly fear you?” he replied, saying, “”Ever since I became a monk, I have not allowed anger to move from my throat to my head.” When he completed his good endeavor, he departed in peace. May the blessing of his prayers be with us all. Amen. And glory be to God, now and forever. Amen.