One of the things that amazes me about the Great Dismal Swamp Maroons, (and leads me to believe the flight of the enslaved Africans to such a place after the 1730 Chesapeake Uprising was no accident of location), was how they were able to feed themselves. Obviously, they caught fish, hunted and trapped wild game, … More Maroon Cultivation: A Way of Spiritual Growth
“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
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
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 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
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…
