Early life Saint Moses the Black lived during the fourth century in
Egypt. He was a
Nubian and was black-skinned; therefore, he was called "Murin" (meaning "like an Ethiopian"). In his youth, he was the slave of an important man, but after committing a murder, his master banished him, and he joined a band of robbers. He then roamed the Nile Valley with an infamous and violent gang of 75 robbers. Moses was a man of huge physical stature, strength and courage, and became leader of this gang of robbers that became a social menace and living terror to the communities where they roamed.
Conversion to Christianity On one occasion, a barking dog prevented Moses from carrying out a robbery, so he swore vengeance on the owner. In a second attempt, with a sword in his mouth, Moses swam across the Nile towards the owner's hut. The owner, again alerted, was able to hide, and the frustrated Moses stole four of his sheep and took them to slaughter, selling their fleece in exchange for wine. Attempting to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some
monks in a colony in the desert of
Wadi El Natrun, then called Scetis, near
Alexandria. The dedication of their lives, as well as their peace and contentment, influenced Moses deeply. He soon gave up his old way of life,
became a Christian, was baptized and joined the
monastic community at Scetis. A different story of Abba Moses' death is related in
The Paradise of the Holy Fathers:31. Abba Poemen said: Abba Moses asked Abba Zechariah a question when he was about to die, and said unto him, "Father, is it good that we should hold our peace?" And Zechariah said unto him, "Yea, my son, hold thy peace." And at the time of his death, whilst Abba Isidore was sitting with him, Abba Moses looked up to heaven, and said, "Rejoice and be glad, O my son Zechariah, for the gates of heaven have been opened." ==Legacy==