St. Moses the Ethiopian

St. Moses the Ethiopian

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Archival Giclee Signed Print

8x10 in., 11x14 in

St. Moses was a slave of a government official in Egypt who dismissed him for theft and suspected murder. He eventually became the leader of a gang of hundreds of bandits who roamed the Nile Valley spreading terror and violence. After a failed robbery attempt he sought to hide from local authorities, taking shelter with some monks in a colony in the desert of Scete, 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 and joined the monastic community at Scete. In time St. Moses proved to be effective as a prophetic spiritual leader. When a brother committed a fault and Moses was invited to a meeting to discuss an appropriate penance, Moses refused to attend. When he was again called to the meeting, Moses took a leaking sack filled with sand and carried it on his shoulder. When he arrived at the meeting place, the others asked why he was carrying the sack. He replied, “These sands are my sins, which are running down behind me and I cannot see them, and yet I have come this day to judge shortcomings which are not mine…” On hearing this, the assembled brothers forgave the erring monk.

At about age 75, around the year 407, word came that a group of renegades planned to attack the colony of Monks. The brothers wanted to defend themselves, but Moses forbade it. He told them to retreat, rather than take up weapons. He and seven others remained behind and greeted the invaders with open arms, but all eight were martyred by the bandits. Many now honor St. Moses the Ethiopian as an apostle of non-violence.