The Christian Education Department of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese has made the Book of Exodus the focus of our Sunday School year 2025-26 and the summer’s Bible Bowl. Brainstorming ideas of teaching the Teen SOYO class, my partner advisor, Philip Riske, brought up “The Life of Moses” by St. Gregory of Nyssa as a good … More Rethinking Exodus: A Forgotten Pursuit of Virtue?
Originally posted on St. Djan Darada Fellowship:
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love you.” Jesus said…
Usually when we think of African-American Christian leaders who spoke and acted out against injustice, a number of Civil Rights era figures come to mind; MLK (of course), Fannie Lou Hammer and the like. Or, if we want to talk about self-help leaders in our community, Elijah Muhammad and Marcus Garvey come to mind. Yet, … More Of Desert Fathers & Maroons: Congolese Christian Experience
I read the lives of the saints from the Prologue of Orhid every morning. This is how I created a very long list of African holy men and women and created my book, Become All Flame: Lent with African Saints. A member of my parish gave me a copy of the Ethiopian Synaxarion. I find … More Abba Akaweh: An Orthodox Link to West Africa?
Perhaps every African American Orthodox Christian has August 28th circled on a calendar. It is the feast day of Abba Moses the Black. He is also known as the “Ethiopian” (due to his very dark “burnt” complexion), “Robber” (he was a former gang leader and thief), and “Strong” (mostly by Copts referring to a story … More Saints of Africa: August
“‘But you, when you pray, go into your room and pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly’” Matthew 6:6 “‘Go sit in your cell and your cell will teach you everything’” Moses #6, Sayings of the Desert Fathers Prayer is a … More Saints of Africa: July
“You can go right back to the very beginning of Christianity, Catholicism, the genesis of Christianity as we know it to be presently constituted, was conceived in Africa – by those whom the Christian church calls ‘The Desert Fathers.’” from the Autobiography of Malcolm X, page 368. There is a tendency among many in the … More Saints of Africa: June
Saint Mary of Egypt will be honored twice this month. Her feast day is April 1st and on the fifth Sunday of Great Lent as she is an example of repentance and God’s mercy on those who turn to Him. Those unfamiliar with her story can listen to this great Ancient Faith Radio episode. Mark … More Saints of Africa: April
Desert Fathers Dispatch 