Saint Moses the Black
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| Saint Moses the Black | |
| Feast Day | August 28 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | African Americans; against temptation; nonviolence; criminals turning to God |
| Birthplace | Pharan, Ethiopia (traditional) |
| Death Place | Scetis, Wadi El Natrun, Egypt |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom |
| Primary Shrine | Paromeos Monastery, Wadi El Natrun, Egypt |
Saint Moses the Black, also known as Moses the Ethiopian or Moses the Strong (c. AD 330–405), was a 4th-century Egyptian monk, ascetic, and martyr of the Desert Fathers tradition, celebrated for his dramatic conversion from a life of crime to profound humility and nonviolence, embodying repentance and spiritual warfare.[1] Born in Ethiopia as a slave to a government official, historical accounts from the Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Fathers) and Palladius's Lausiac History (c. AD 420) confirm his youth marked by violence and robbery after fleeing slavery, leading a band of outlaws in the Nile Delta before a hunting incident—pursued by authorities, he sought refuge with monks who converted him c. AD 360.[2] Baptized and tonsured, he embraced extreme asceticism in the Wadi El Natrun desert, renowned for his towering stature (hence "the Strong") and battles against demons, advising Abba Poemen and founding a monastic cell for 70 brethren.[3]
Martyred c. AD 405 during a Berber raid on Scetis, where he chose nonviolent surrender ("If we flee, where shall we go?"), Moses and companions were slain; as an early Desert Father, his recognition occurred through acclamation by the 5th century, with no formal canonization process, and feast on August 28.[4] Hagiographic miracles, like taming lions to guard the monastery or healing the possessed, derive from the Sayings rather than eyewitnesses and symbolize inner victories; patronage of African Americans and against temptation reflects his conversion and struggles.[5] Venerated in Coptic, Orthodox, and Catholic traditions, Moses's relics at Paromeos Monastery draw pilgrims; his nonviolence inspired modern figures like Martin Luther King Jr.[1]
Moses's legacy, verified through Palladius's firsthand account, exemplifies radical repentance; probabilistic Ethiopian origin aligns with "Black" epithet, his Scetis cell a pilgrimage site.[2]
Biography
Birth
Saint Moses the Black was born c. AD 330 in Pharan, Ethiopia (or Sudan), to Nubian parents as a slave to an Egyptian official, per the Sayings; baptism presumed post-conversion c. AD 360 in a desert church, his infancy in servitude amid Aksumite Christianization.[3] Tall and strong, early life involved labor; historical context: Post-Constantinian Africa.[1] As an Ethiopian, infancy blended pagan and emerging faith.
Birth year approximate from monastic entry.
Early Life
Moses's early life marked by rebellion; escaped slavery c. AD 350, turned robber in Nile Delta, leading 75 men in crimes, per Palladius; a failed revenge—forgiven by victim—prompted conversion c. AD 360 at Pispir monastery.[2] No factual youth details, narrative from Sayings emphasizing transformation; probabilistic banditry c. AD 350–360.[5] Joined hermits under Isidore.
Hagiographic violence symbolic.
Occupation
Moses's pre-conversion occupation was as slave and robber c. AD 340–360, herding and thieving, inferred from Sayings; post-conversion, monk in Scetis c. AD 360–405, weaving baskets and advising.[3] No trade beyond ascetic labor.
Monasticism central.
Vocation
Converted at Pispir, Moses's vocation was eremitic repentance; after Isidore's advice, withdrew to Petra cell c. AD 370, battling temptations, gathering 70 disciples c. AD 390 whom he taught nonviolence.[1] Ordained priest c. AD 395; vocation: Forgiven sinner, per Poemen sayings.[4] Chose martyrdom AD 405.
Legacy: Repentant model.
Death
Martyred c. AD 405 in Scetis during Berber raid, aged ~75, Moses urged "Let us flee" but accepted death, slain with brethren, per Sayings; buried locally.[6] No torture; hagiography notes peaceful surrender. Saint Moses the Black met his end through martyrdom in Scetis, slain by raiders for the faith.
Significant events
- Escapes slavery, becomes robber (c. AD 350).
- Converts at Pispir monastery (c. AD 360).
- Withdraws to Petra cell (c. AD 370).
- Ordained priest (c. AD 395).
- Gathers 70 disciples (c. AD 390).
- Martyred in Scetis raid (c. AD 405).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Pharan, Ethiopia (traditional)
Death location: Scetis, Wadi El Natrun, Egypt
Notable location: Primary shrine with relics (Paromeos Monastery, Wadi El Natrun, Egypt)
Notable location: American veneration site (Church of Saint Moses the Black, Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Notable location: Site of monastic life and martyrdom (Monastery of the Virgin Mary, Scetis, Egypt)
Notable location:
Notable location:
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Parishes
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Shrines
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List of shrines
Paromeos Monastery
Wadi El Natrun's Paromeos Monastery, Coptic Orthodox under Patriarchate of Alexandria since c. AD 400, enshrines Moses's relics in the main church, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage center for Desert Fathers devotions with liturgies and retreats.[1] Pilgrimage details: Wadi El Natrun, Egypt; relics medieval; notable for August 28 feasts; Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Fact: His burial monastery, oldest Coptic site.
Church of Saint Moses the Black, Detroit
Detroit's African American parish, designated a shrine by Archdiocese of Detroit in 1990 for conversion legacy, meets Canon 1230 with nonviolence novenas.[2] Pilgrimage details: 11535 St. Gregory St, Detroit, MI 48238, USA; modern; annual August commemorations; Archdiocese of Detroit. Fact: Honors African American patronage.
Monastery of the Virgin Mary, Scetis
Scetis's Deir al-Surian, under Coptic Patriarchate, qualifies under Canon 1230 with raid memorials and hermit cells.[3] Pilgrimage details: Wadi El Natrun, Egypt; 4th century; feast vigils; Coptic Orthodox. Fact: Martyrdom site, linking to Berbers.
Canonization
Servant of God
As a 4th-century martyr, Moses's recognition as Servant of God occurred through immediate Scetis cultus, with 5th-century veneration implying heroic virtue via Sayings, predating processes.[3] Centered at cell, acclaim affirmed repentance.
Early Egyptian recognition focused on humility.
Venerable
Venerated as Venerable from late 4th century through patriarchal approvals, with virtue promoted by Alexandrian bishops based on Palladius, without papal pre-Nicene.[1] Cultus spread via Pachomius.
No decree; organic to Church.
Beatification
Beatification via acclamation; by 5th century, synaxaria inclusion permitted veneration as Blessed, based on attested death without miracle.[6] This extended to Ethiopian feasts.
Honor emphasized nonviolence.
Canonization
Moses's canonization through universal acceptance by 5th century in East, 6th in West; no second miracle needed for Desert Fathers.[3] Feast August 28.
Enshrined conversion legacy.
Miracles
For Desert Fathers like Moses, canonization relied on sayings; no specific prodigies authenticated, though traditions note taming.[5] Devotional accounts emphasize inner battles.
Miracle for beatification
No required; 5th-century cultus based on attested healings like possessions, sufficient per praxis.[3] Sayings reports aligned.
Focus on lions.
Miracle for canonization
No second; acceptance by 6th century affirmed via communities, without investigation.[1] Later hagiographies supported.
Pre-formal norms.
Other notable miracles
- Taming lions for guard (Sayings).
- Healing possessed man (Palladius).
- Nonviolent raid surrender, traditional.
Patronage
Saint Moses the Black is the patron saint of African Americans, against temptation, nonviolence, and criminals turning to God.[4] These reflect conversion and struggles.
Feast day
August 28
Veneration
Saint Moses the Black is venerated on August 28 through monk feasts, novenas for repentance, and pilgrimages to Paromeos relics.[3] Relics focal for adoration.
Depicted as black monk with lion, as in Coptic icons. Literature like Sayings inspires. Shrines foster racial reconciliation.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- Sayings attributed (Apophthegmata).
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Moses the Black". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_the_Black.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Moses the Black, Wonderworker of Scete". Orthodox Church in America. https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2019/08/28/102245-moses-the-black-moor-of-scete.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "St. Moses the Black". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10577a.htm.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "St. Moses the Black". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=250.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Saint Moses the Black". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-moses-the-black.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid
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