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
I have to thank the Black Empowerment Group of Chesapeake Virginia for allowing me to speak via Zoom today. January 1st is the final day of Kwanzaa, which focuses on Faith. It is also the feast day of St. Basil the Great, the patron of my parish. One of the three major Cappadocian fathers, Basil … More Living an African-American Orthodox Christian Life: Essential Reading
“Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17 LXX The chattel enslavement of Africans and African Americans in Virginia was established by the early 1700’s. Slave patrollers and a colonial militia were effective in crushing a widespread rebellion before it began in 1730. Blacks who escaped south of the … More Of Desert Fathers & Maroons: Victory in Unity
“Our Father, Abba Anthony, said he had never put his own personal advantage before the good of a brother.” John the Eunuch from the Sayings of the Desert Fathers There is a story of Abba Macarius receiving some fresh grapes. He wanted to eat them. But, he chose not to and knew another monk who … More Of Desert Fathers & Maroons: The Perils of Self Indulgence
Behold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell together in unity? Psalm 132:1 LXX (133 Maesoretic) He (“old man” Elias) called togerher everybody who lived near him and built cells for them in a single day, me delivering mortar, and another bricks, another drawing water, and another cutting wood. … More Of Desert Fathers and Maroons: The Blessings of Unity
Desert Fathers Dispatch 