From cold-blooded to humble, the story of Saint Moses the Ethiopian

Icon of Saint Moses - Wikipedia

Saint Moses the Ethiopian (also known as St. Moses the Black or Abyssinian) started his life as a slave in the household of an Egyptian governor; during his childhood, he would begin to steal things from the house. His habits would worsen during his childhood, eventually leading to him being accused of murder by his master. Instead of bringing charges against him (which would most likely lead to his execution), the master dismissed him from the house.

Saint Moses was out in the world by himself now, but his credentials from the life he lived as a slave led to him joining a band of raiders. The raiders would commit all sorts of sinful acts, killing others and stealing from them. He would eventually become the gang's leader, and the stories of his exploits were spread everywhere; it is said that even just saying his name would strike fear into the people's hearts. He had a reputation for a short temper and the willingness to ruin honest men and their families.

Little is known of what compelled Saint Moses to arrive at a desert monastery, only that he had become repentant. He cried and begged to become one of the brethren, but the monks were not convinced of his sincerity. Saint Moses was undeterred, refusing to leave or be kicked out; he kept asking to be accepted into the monastery. Eventually, he would be taken into the brethren, where he would be fully obedient to his superiors. Saint Moses would weep many tears for the sinful life he lived, and he would later confine himself in a solitary cell, where he would spend the time praying and fasting.

He would despair so much over his past that word got to his abbot, Saint Isidore. Hearing the news, he took Saint Moses to the rooftop of the monastery; as the sun rose, he said, “See! The light only gradually drives away the darkness. So it is with the soul.” Saint Moses would continue working on his soul, yet he still thought himself unworthy. His humility caught the bishop's attention, who decided to test him by telling the clergy to drive him out of the altar, declaring him an “unworthy Ethiopian.” In a gesture of humbleness, Saint Moses accepted the insults thrown towards him, and the bishop ordained him as a priest after this test.

Saint Moses would serve as a priest until he was seventy-five years old. When he gave word to the monks that a gang would ascend upon the monastery and kill everyone inside, he told the monks to leave, but he would not be going with them. When asked why, he replied, “For many years now, I have awaited the time when the words spoken by my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be fulfilled: ‘All who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.” Saint Moses and seven other monks stayed, where they would greet the bandits with open arms and soon were martyred.

A monastery named after Saint Moses - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376050637621513109/

Newman Ministry writes that “St. Moses the Black’s youthful days saw him not only committing violence against other peoples’ property, but also against their persons. This man’s impressive strength enabled him to exercise great control over those people and things he set his sight upon. Such a man well-versed in physical violence and self-defense, one would imagine would have been well-positioned to set up defenses at his monastery to ward off the invading Berbers. However, the true Christian that he was, St. Moses showed the depth to which God’s Grace had taken on his soul in his final counsel. The man of violence decades before was suddenly saying at the approach of danger the precise words of Christ: “All that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”

Despite the life he lived, Saint Moses was faithful to God to the end, even if he was martyred for it. His story exemplifies that no amount of sin in your past should keep you from pursuing a holy life; God is faithful and merciful to those who humble themselves. Refrain from letting your own past keep you from the restoration and life Jesus brings.