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Slava Isusu Christu!

Hello everyone, I have recently been looking over the sayings of the desert fathers and I have read those having to do with Moses the Black. I noticed that there were many sayings having a somewhat racist connotation, even from others from Scetis! What is to be said of this? Was this true racism, or was it simply a way of testing father Moses' determination?

Also, there is a saying where father Moses says something along the lines of "they are correct, I am not a man, but a beast, for my skin is black like ashes"... what is this all about?

Thank you for your help, other than these sayings, I have found the rest to be very beautiful, especially those from the very lips of father Moses the black.

-Justin

Dear Justin,

Yes, St Moses was submitted to such comments and this indicates a general ignorance about races and even racism that existed then as now.

This was less prevalent in the Alexandrian and Syriac Churches since so many Christians of that tradition were Nubians and Ethiopians.

It was there that the tradition developed that black skin colour was a sign of especial closeness to God our Light and Sun. As the sun burns what it touches to a dark colour, so too does the Fire of God etc.

God bless,

Alex