The Monk Moses Murin the Black
Commemorated on August 28
The Monk Moses Murin the Black lived during the IV 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 in with a band of robbers. Because of his mean streak and great physical strength they chose him as their leader. Moses with his band of brigands did many an evil deed – both murders and robberies, so much so that people were afraid even at the mere mention of his name. Moses the brigand spent several years leading suchlike a sinful life, but through the great mercy of God he repented, leaving his band of robbers and going off to one of the wilderness monasteries. And here for a long time he wept, beseeching that they admit him amidst the number of the brethren. The monks were not convinced of the sincerity of his repentance; but the former robber was not to be driven away nor silenced, in demanding that they should accept him. In the monastery the Monk Moses was completely obedient to the hegumen and the brethren, and he poured forth many a tear, bewailing his sinful life. After a certain while the Monk Moses withdrew to a solitary cell, where he spent the time in prayer and the strictest of fasting in a very austere lifestyle. One time 4 of the robbers of his former band descended upon the cell of the Monk Moses and he, not having lost his great physical strength, he tied them all up and taking them over his shoulder, he brought them to the monastery, where he asked of 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, – they themselves followed his example: they repented and became monks. And later, when the rest of the band of robbers heard about the repentance of the Monk Moses, then they too gave up their brigandage and became fervent monks.
The Monk Moses did
not quickly become free from the passions. He went often to the monastery
hegumen, Abba Isidor, seeking advice on how to be delivered from the passions
of profligacy. Being experienced in the spiritual struggle, the elder taught
him never to overeat of food, to be partly hungry whilst observing the
strictest moderation. But the passions would not cease for the Monk Moses in
his dreams. Then Abba Isidor taught him the all-night vigil. The monk stood the
whole night at prayer, not being on bended knees so as not to drop off to
sleep. From his prolonged struggles the Monk Moses fell into despondency, and
when there arose thoughts about leaving his solitary cell, Abba Isidor instead
strengthened the resolve of his student. In a vision he showed him many a demon
in the west, prepared for battle, and in the East a still greater quantity of
holy Angels, likewise readied for fighting. Abba Isidor explained to the Monk
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.
The Monk 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 off from the well and who were not easily able to carry
their own water. One time, kneeling over the well, the Monk 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 up. Having recovered, the monk
with firm resolve confessed to the hegumen, that he would continue to
asceticise. But the Lord Himself put limits to this struggle of many years:
Abba Isidor blessed his student and said to him, that the profligate passions
had already gone from him. The elder commanded him to commune the Holy
Mysteries and in peace to go to his own cell. And from that time the Monk Moses
received from the Lord the power over demons.
Accounts about his
exploits spread amongst the monks and even beyond the bounds of the wilderness.
The governor of the land wanted to see the saint. Having learned about this,
the Monk Moses decided to hide away from any visitors and he departed his own
cell. Along the way he met up with servants of the governor, who asked him, how
to get to the cell of the wilderness-dweller Moses. The monk answered them:
"Go on no further to this false and unworthy monk". The servants
returned to the monastery, where the governor was waiting, and they conveyed to
him the words of the elder they had chanced upon. The brethren, hearing a
description of the elder's appearance, all as one acknowledged that they had
come upon the Monk Moses himself.
Having spent many a
year at monastic exploits, the Monk Moses was ordained deacon. The bishop
attired him in white vesture and said: "Abba Moses is now entirely
white". The saint answered: "Vladyka, what makes it purely white –
the outer or the inner?" Through humility the saint reckoned himself
unworthy to accept the dignity of deacon. One time the bishop decided to test
him and he bid the clergy to drive him out of the altar, whilst reviling him
for being an unworthy black-Ethiopian. With full humility the monk accepted the
abuse. Having put him to the test, the bishop then ordained the monk to be
presbyter. And in this dignity the Monk Moses asceticised for 15 years and
gathered round himself 75 disciples.
When the monk reached
age 75, he forewarned his monks, that soon brigands would descend upon the
skete and murder all that were there. The saint blessed his monks to leave in
good time, so as to avoid the violent death, His disciples began to beseech the
monk to leave together with them, but he replied: "I many a year already
have awaited the time, when upon me there should be fulfilled the words which
my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, did speak: "All, who take up the sword,
shalt perish by the sword" (Mt. 26: 52). After this seven of the brethren
remained with the monk, and one of these hid not far off during the coming of
the robbers, The robbers killed the Monk Moses and the six monks that remained
with him. Their death occurred in about the year 400.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.