Saint Moses Murin the Black lived during the fourth century in Egypt.
He was an Ethiopian, and he was black of skin and therefore called
“Murin” (meaning “like an Ethiopian”). In his youth he was the slave of
an important man, but after he committed a murder, his master banished
him, and he joined a band of robbers.
Because of his bad character
and great physical strength they chose him as their leader. Moses and
his band of brigands did many evil deeds, both murders and robberies.
People were afraid at the mere mention of his name.
Moses the
brigand spent several years leading a sinful life, but through the great
mercy of God he repented, left his band of robbers and went to one of
the desert monasteries. Here he wept for a long time, begging to be
admitted as one of the brethren. The monks were not convinced of the
sincerity of his repentance, but the former robber would not be driven
away nor silenced. He continued to ask that they accept him.
St
Moses was completely obedient to the igumen and the brethren, and he
poured forth many tears of sorrow for his sinful life. After a certain
while St Moses withdrew to a solitary cell, where he spent the time in
prayer and the strictest fasting in a very austere lifestyle.
Once,
four of the robbers of his former band descended upon the cell of St
Moses. He had lost none of his great physical strength, so he tied them
all up. Throwing them over his shoulder, he brought them to the
monastery, where he asked the Elders what to do with them. The Elders
ordered that they be set free. The robbers, learning that they had
chanced upon their former ringleader, and that he had dealt kindly with
them, followed his example: they repented and became monks. Later, when
the rest of the band of robbers heard about the repentance of St Moses,
then they also gave up their thievery and became fervent monks.
St
Moses was not quickly freed from the passions. He went often to the
igumen, Abba Isidore, seeking advice on how to be delivered from the
passions of profligacy. Being experienced in the spiritual struggle, the
Elder taught him never to eat too much food, to remain partly hungry
while observing the strictest moderation. But the passions did not cease
to trouble St Moses in his dreams.
Then Abba Isidore taught him
the all-night vigil. The monk stood the whole night at prayer, so he
would not fall asleep. From his prolonged struggles St Moses fell into
despondency, and when there arose thoughts about leaving his solitary
cell, Abba Isidore instead strengthened the resolve of his disciple.
In
a vision he showed him many demons in the west, prepared for battle,
and in the east a still greater quantity of holy angels, also ready for
fighting. Abba Isidore explained to St Moses that the power of the
angels would prevail over the power of the demons, and in the long
struggle with the passions it was necessary for him to become completely
cleansed of his former sins.
St Moses undertook a new effort.
Making the rounds by night of the wilderness cells, he carried water
from the well to each brother. He did this especially for the Elders,
who lived far from the well and who were not easily able to carry their
own water. Once, kneeling over the well, St Moses felt a powerful blow
upon his back and he fell down at the well like one dead, laying there
in that position until dawn. Thus did the devils take revenge upon the
monk for his victory over them. In the morning the brethren carried him
to his cell, and he lay there a whole year crippled. Having recovered,
the monk with firm resolve confessed to the igumen, that he would
continue to live in asceticism. But the Lord Himself put limits to this
struggle of many years: Abba Isidore blessed his disciple and said to
him that the passions had already gone from him. The Elder commanded him
to receive the Holy Mysteries, and to go to his own cell in peace. From
that time, St Moses received from the Lord power over demons.
Accounts
about his exploits spread among the monks and even beyond the bounds of
the wilderness. The governor of the land wanted to see the saint. When
he heard of this, St Moses decided to hide from any visitors, and he
departed his own cell. Along the way he met servants of the governor,
who asked him how to get to the cell of the desert-dweller Moses. The
monk answered them: “Go no farther to see this false and unworthy monk.”
The servants returned to the monastery where the governor was waiting,
and they told him the words of the Elder they had chanced to meet. The
brethren, hearing a description of the Elder’s appearance, told them
that they had encountered St Moses himself.
After many years of
monastic exploits, St Moses was ordained deacon. The bishop clothed him
in white vestments and said, “Now Abba Moses is entirely white!” The
saint replied, “Only outwardly, for God knows that I am still dark
within.”
Through humility, the saint believed himself unworthy of
the office of deacon. Once, the bishop decided to test him and he bade
the clergy to drive him out of the altar, reviling him as an unworthy
Ethiopian. In all humility, the monk accepted the abuse. Having put him
to the test, the bishop then ordained St Moses to be presbyter. St Moses
labored for fifteen years in this rank, and gathered around himself 75
disciples.
When the saint reached age 75, he warned his monks that
soon brigands would descend upon the skete and murder all that were
there. The saint blessed his monks to leave, in order to avoid violent
death. His disciples began to beseech the monk to leave with them, but
he replied: “For many years already I have awaited the time when the
words which my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be fulfilled: “All
who take up the sword, shall perish by the sword” (Mt. 26: 52). After
this, seven of the brethren remained with the monk, and one of them hid
nearby during the attack of the robbers. The robbers killed St Moses and
the six monks who remained with him. Their death occurred in about the
year 400.
Source-Oca.org
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