Desert fathers

Moses the Black (330–405), also known as Abba Moses the Robber, the Ethiopian , and the Strong, was an ascetic monk and priest in Egypt in the fourth century AD, and a notable Desert Father. According to stories about him, he converted from a life of crime to one of asceticism. He is mentioned in Sozomen's Ecclesiastical History, written about 70 years after Moses's death.

Their technique of guarding the heart bears some similarities with today's use of meditation.

Saint of the Day – 14 April – St Frontone (2nd or 4th Century) Abbot, Desert Hermit, Miracle-worker. Also known as – Fronto, Frontonio, Frontomi. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Alexandria, …

The qalansuwa is a black hood that covers the head and neck's back of a Coptic monk or nun in Egypt. It is associated with a monastic professional of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. It is officially called a koulla (Coptic; but the word itself is wide-spread in the Middle East), but by the end of the twentieth century it was commonly referred to as a qalansuwa (Arabic).

The 1,700 year old wisdom of the ancient, rugged, remote, and mystic men, the"Desert Fathers" is collected here in "The Sayings Of The Desert Fathers".

Philokalia is a collection of spiritual instructions from the Eastern Christian tradition. Download the free pdf ebook on Christian heart meditation.

Photo feature by Dave Bartruff Out in the Egyptian desert between Cairo and Alexandria is an oasis of Christianity that has existed for two millennia: the Coptic Orthodox monasteries of the Wadi Na…

https://flic.kr/p/a7de3s | Bose Monastery: Desert Fathers | icon in the Coptic style of very early desert fathers -- Anthony, John and Makari.

Macedonius the Hermit, sometimes known as Macedonius Kritophagus lived at the turn of the fourth to fifth century in Syria. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Macedonius became well known to people far and wide for his holiness and gifts of healing and exorcism. Gradually multitudes of people came to seek his direction and intercession. Only at a very advanced age did he agree to live in a cell provided for him.

Abba Pemwah found a piece of dry wood and gave it to Abba John the short and said "Take this wood, plant and water it." St. John obeyed and went on watering it twice a day even though the water was about 12 miles from where they lived. After three years, that piece of wood sprouted and grew into a fruitful tree. Abba Pemwah took some of that fruit and went around to all the elder monks saying, "Take, eat from the fruit of obedience." This tree still exists in its place in his monastery"

desert father's advice

Saint Hilarion the Great (4th cent Palestine) was baptized as a young man. Inspired by Saint Anthony the Great, he asceticized in the desert. Demons tried to frighten him off, but he overcame their schemes by prayer. When robbers came to him, the power of his words made them give up crime. He was granted the gift of casting out demons. He could tell by the smell of someone’s body or clothing what passion afflicted that soul. (Oct 21)

“Abba John said, ‘Who sold Joseph?’ A brother replied saying, ‘It was his brethren.’ The old man said to him, ‘No, it was his humility which sold him, because he could have said, “I am their brother” and have objected, but, because he kept silence, he sold himself by his humility. It is also his humility which set him up as chief in Egypt.'” St. John the Dwarf from The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Chosen by Andrew Arndt, author of “Streams in the Wasteland: Finding Spiritual Renewal with the Desert Fathers and Mothers.”

Matthew – Fulfilled The big test is tomorrow! You agonize over it for it will mean a lot to your progress in class. Your score will be figured in heavily to all the daily work you put into th…

Pious Desert Father - Martyrdom

“All of us sin constantly. We slip and fall. In reality, we fall into a trap set by the demons. The Holy Fathers and the Saints always tell us, ‘It is important to get up immediately after a fall and to keep on walking toward God’. Even if we fall a hundred times a day, it does not matter; we must get up and go on walking toward God without looking back..." – Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica #orthodoxquotes #orthodoxy #christianquotes #elderthaddeus #elderthaddeusquotes