“Moving into the desert meant taking a step into the realm of freedom: Freedom from slavery, freedom from obligatory subjection, freedom from exploitation, and especially freedom from possession.” Fr. John Chryssavgis In his book, In the Heart of the Desert, Fr. John Chryssavgis explains that women were considered to be the possession of their fathers, … More Maroon Freedom & Inspiration
Abba Pachomious, like so many other men and women dissatisfied with the laxity of the Christian world around them, sought refuge for his soul in the desert. But it probably didn’t take him long to realize that not everyone was cut out to live in such harsh conditions alone. This is especially true for ladies … More Swamp Monasticism: Brotherhood Among the Maroons
I was blessed to be with three of my brothers of St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church on a journey to the Great Dismal Swamp. The City of Chesapeake had recently opened the Historical Village Park on Glencoe Road between Rt. 17 and the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. The main museum building was filled with … More Great Dismal City of God and Refuge
It is easy to think of the bold men who became Maroons in the Great Dismal Swamp. Being an enslaved man forced to help dig the canals was one of the most brutal task of the colonial era. Deep, hard tree roots had to be cut through. Briar patches were everywhere. At least three types … More Great Dismal Love?: Men & Women Maroons
Notice, I call him, “Abba,” parenthetically because “Old Man Fisher” was a well known preacher among the Great Dismal Swamp Maroons. He was a self absconded enslaved man as those he ministered to. I’m not sure and have no record if the old man became one of the deep interior Maroons who had no interactions … More “Abba” Fisher: Determination in the Spiritual Life
I’m a little peeved at myself. There is a great story of St. Moses that I read some time ago that I will use for today’s article. But I don’t have the source for it. I thought I had it in one of my previous articles and couldn’t find it. For a cross reference, read … More Lessons from St. Moses: Benefit of the Right Place
The Black Preacher is someone who is well known in American History. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Jessie Jackson, Adam Clayton Powell come to mind for most of us. Scholars will even point to such men as Bishop Richard Allen, Gowan Pamphlet, and others. Let me add one other name to your mind. A … More Old Man Fisher: Abba of the Great Dismal Swamp
“If a monk does not think in his heart he is a sinner, God will not hear him. … When someone is occupied with his own faults, he does not see those of his neighbor.” from the Sayings of the Desert Fathers ‘Ah, this is a lesson for monks and nuns only. I don’t have … More Lessons from St Moses: Attending to Our Own Faults
“But if we exert ourselves, it is within our power to either accept them (wicked thoughts) and give them our attention, or to expel them. Their coming is not within our power to control, but their expulsion is.” On the Holy Fathers of Sketis and On Discrimination, Philokalia Vol. I As I wrote in a … More Lessons From St Moses: Expulsion, not Excuses
The lessons from Moses begins with a particular struggle he had with lustful thoughts. So great were his temptations that he fled his cell and ran to his spiritual father, Abba Isadore. The elder pointed to the west where Moses saw the demonic horde who sought to capture him. But to the east were a … More Lessons from St. Moses: Commit to the Struggle
Desert Fathers Dispatch 