Monday, 23 March 2015

Thanks to Brother Augustine

Св. Мојсеј Мурин од Мариово.jpg (on Wikimedia Commons)

A saying about St. Moses the Black/Ethiopian/Nubian

On one occasion Abba Moses of Patara was engaged in a war against fornication, and he could not endure being in ‎his cell, and he went and informed Abba Isidore of it; and the elder entreated him to return to his cell, but he would ‎not agree to this. And having said, "Fr., I cannot bear it," the elder took him up to the roof of his cell, and said ‎unto him, "Look to the west," and when he looked he saw multitudes of devils with troubled and terrified aspects, ‎and they showed themselves in the forms of phantoms which were in fighting attitudes. Abba Isidore said unto him, ‎‎"Look to the east," and when he looked he saw innumerable holy angels standing there, and they were in a state of ‎great glory. Then Abba Isidore said unto him, "Behold, those who are in the west are those who are fighting with the ‎holy ones, and those whom you have seen in the east are they who are sent by God to the help of the saints, for those ‎who are with us are many." And having seen this Abba Moses took courage and returned to his cell without fear.‎