Saint Moses the Black

An Ethiopian, Moses was the slave of a nobleman until he committed murder and was banished. He joined a band of robbers, living a sinful life of evil deeds until, through the mercy of God, he repented and fled to a monastery in the Egyptian desert. Giving himself entirely in obedience to his spiritual father, he spent many grueling years laboring and weeping for his sins, constantly tested by both men and demons. Tormented for years by lust, he was healed through standing at prayer in night vigils. When four robbers from his former gang descended on his cell, Moses overpowered them and tied them up. Realizing who he was, they too repented and became monks. He was physically attacked by demons but after a year of recovery he was given power over demonic forces. Ordained in old age, he founded a monastery which grew to 75 monks. Foreseeing its destruction in an attack by marauders, he warned the brothers to leave but Saint Moses himself chose to stay and die by the sword in the year 400.