Moses the Black

Moses the Black (; ; ; 330–405), also known as Moses the Strong, Moses the Robber, and Moses the Nubian , was a Nubian ascetic hieromonk in Egypt in the fourth century AD, and a Desert Father. He is highly venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Church. According to stories about him, he converted from a life of crime to one of asceticism. He is mentioned in Sozomen's Ecclesiastical History, written about 70 years after Moses's death.

Biography

Early life Saint Moses the Black lived during the fourth century in Egypt. He was a Nubian and was black-skinned; therefore, he was called "Murin" (meaning "like an Ethiopian"). In his youth, he was the slave of an important man, but after committing a murder, his master banished him, and he joined a band of robbers. He then roamed the Nile Valley with an infamous and violent gang of 75 robbers. Moses was a man of huge physical stature, strength and courage, and became leader of this gang of robbers that became a social menace and living terror to the communities where they roamed.

Conversion to Christianity On one occasion, a barking dog prevented Moses from carrying out a robbery, so he swore vengeance on the owner. In a second attempt, with a sword in his mouth, Moses swam across the Nile towards the owner's hut. The owner, again alerted, was able to hide, and the frustrated Moses stole four of his sheep and took them to slaughter, selling their fleece in exchange for wine. Attempting to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some monks in a colony in the desert of Wadi El Natrun, then called Scetis, 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 Scetis.

A different story of Abba Moses' death is related in The Paradise of the Holy Fathers: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 Moses was highly praised by his contemporaries. In his 5th century AD Ecclesiastical History, written about 70 years after Moses's death, Hermias Sozomen sums up Moses's legacy as follows:

A modern interpretation honors Moses the Ethiopian 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, a Coptic Orthodox monastery located in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt.

Moses the Black’s life devoted to repentance and asceticism contributed to the development of early Christian monasticism and influenced figures such as John Cassian. Some of his well-known teachings include:

"Do no harm to anyone; do not think anything bad in your heart towards anyone; do not scorn the man who does evil, do not put confidence in him who does wrong to his neighbor; do not rejoice with him who injures his neighbor. This is what dying to one’s neighbor means." == Veneration == His feast day in the Syriac Orthodox Church is celebrated on August 28, and in the Greek Church, it is also August 28.