We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Saint Moses the Black

by Digre

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

      name your price

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 5 Digre releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Fall Olafs Konungs, Saint Moses the Black, Helige Serafim av Sarov, The Way of a Pilgrim, and Martyryxan. , and , .

      20 SEK or more (50% OFF)

     

  • C35 St. Moses
    Cassette + Digital Album

    Warm Grey Cassette with linocut printed O-card and inlay card.

    Folded inlay with the story about how the power of repentance has transformed this murderer, fornicator and thief, St. Moses the Black (330-405 A.D.) into a great Desert Father, teacher, comforter, and priest, who wrote rules for the monks, and a martyr-saint whose name continues to be mentioned on the altar and in our prayers.

    Comes in a cardboard Cassette Card mailer Box. Slagruta catalog number 10. Tape duplication on primitive machinery of low quality. For decent quality consider digital release included as download.

    Limited to 50 units.

    Special orders through contact. Find other Slagruta releases at slagruta.bandcamp.com

    Includes unlimited streaming of Saint Moses the Black via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
Troparion 01:19
Thou didst abandon the Egypt of the passions, O Father, Ascending the mount of the virtues with fervent faith, Taking the Cross of Christ upon thy shoulders; And being glorified in godly works, Thou didst prove to be a model for monastics, O summit of the fathers. Pray unceasingly with them that our souls may find mercy!
2.
Saint Moses lived in Egypt during the fourth century. He was an Ethiopian, and since he was black of skin he was called “Murin” meaning “like an Ethiopian”. In his youth he was the slave to a government official in Alexandria where they worshiped the sun. After young Moses committed a murder his master banished him.
3.
Being expelled from servitude to his master, St. Moses joined himself to a band of robbers which he quickly came to lead due to his extremely harsh character and great physical strength. He became even more of a hardened sinner in this band, as they committed numerous robberies and murders.
4.
O Sun 04:53
The villain Moses was a mighty man who loved to eat and drink excessively. He killed, robbed, fornicated and committed all evil but was unable to gather any ripe fruits to show for his life of lust and pleasure, and so, he called out to the sun seeking the true God. He lifted up his eyes to look to the sun saying, "O Sun!! if you are God, let me know it." Then he said, "And you O God whom I do not know, let me know you." As he spoke to the sun, in his cry for the help from the Divine, another Sun, this the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) responded, with rays of healing, saying to him, "The monks of Wadi El-Natroun know the real God. Go to them and they will tell you." Instantly, he rose up, girded his sword and went to the wilderness of Scetes. There he was overwhelmed by the great piety of the monastic community.
5.
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 neither be driven away nor silenced. He continued to implore that they accept him. He met St. Esidorous (Isidore) the priest, who was frightened when he saw him, because of his appearance. St. Moses comforted him by saying that he came to the monks so that they might let him know the real God. St. Esidorous took him to St. Macarius the Great, who preached to him, taught him the faith and baptized him. He accepted St. Moses as a monk and taught him to live in the wilderness.
6.
Saint Moses was completely obedient to the hegoumen and the brethren, and he poured forth many tears of sorrow for his sinful life. After a certain while Saint Moses withdrew to a solitary cell, where he spent his time in prayer and the strictest fasting.
7.
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 Saint 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.
8.
Once, four of the robbers of his former band descended upon the cell of Saint 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 Saint Moses’ repentance, then they also gave up their thievery and became fervent monks.
9.
Once the Fathers in Scete asked Moses to come to an assembly to judge the fault of a certain brother, but he refused. When they insisted, he took a basket which had a hole in it, filled it with sand, and carried it on his shoulders. When the Fathers saw him coming they asked him what the basket might mean. He answered, "My sins run out behind me, and I do not see them, and I am come this day to judge failings which are not mine."
10.
Saint Moses drove himself to additional labors. Making the rounds of the wilderness cells at night, 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, Saint 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 crippled for a whole year. After he recovered, the monk with firm resolve confessed to the hegoumen, that he would continue with his ascetic struggles. But the Lord Himself put limits to this toil which lasted for many years: Abba Isidore blessed his disciple and told him that the passions had already left him. The Elder commanded him to receive the Holy Mysteries, and to go to his own cell in peace. From that time, Saint Moses received from the Lord power over demons.
11.
When the saint reached the age of 75, he warned his monks that soon brigands would descend upon the skete and murder all those who remained there. The saint blessed his monks to leave, in order to avoid violent death. His disciples begged the saint to leave with them, but he replied: “For many years now, 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’” (Matt. 26: 52). After this, seven of the brethren remained with Saint Moses, and one of them hid nearby during the attack of the robbers. The robbers killed Saint Moses and the six monks who remained with him. Their death occurred about the year 400.
12.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

about

Saint Moses, who is also called Moses the Black, was a slave. Being expelled from servitude to his master because of a murder he committed in his younger days, St. Moses joined himself to a band of robbers which he quickly came to lead due to his extremely harsh character and great physical strength. He became even more of a hardened sinner in this band, as they committed numerous robberies and murders, but by the grace of God he took refuge in a monastery near Alexandria one day to hide from local authorities, where he was overwhelmed by the great piety of monks. He gave up his old way of life, became a Christian, was baptized and joined the monastic community

credits

released July 21, 2019

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Digre Umeå, Sweden

Holy Martyr-king Olav of Norway, pray to God for us.

contact / help

Contact Digre

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Digre, you may also like: