African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) September 22 Peter the Merciful of Constantinople (6th Century) Served as a tax collector in Africa under Justinian. Peter was once a cruel man who rarely gave alms to the poor. In a vision, he saw the demons heaping his sins against him on a scale. To his … More Dispatch from the Desert: September 21st thru 27th
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) September 16th Dorotheus of Egypt (4th century) Lived in a cell in the Thebaid. He built cells for new monks and would pray and recite the Psalms while weaving mats. Cyprian (258) Bishop and hieromartyr of Carthage. Unlike the other bishop of the same name, this Cyprian was … More Dispatch from the Desert: September 14th thru 20th
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) September 11th Theodora of Alexandria (490) She was a married young woman who committed adultery. Mourning what she had done, Theodora cut off her hair, dressed as a man, and gained entrance to a men’s monastery where she was heralded for her ascetic disciplines under the name Theodore. … More Dispatch from the Desert: September 7th thru 13th
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) August 31st Cyprian (258) Bishop of Carthage. Born a pagan, he devoted himself to studying the scriptures and greatly criticized Roman society’s immorality. Cyprian led the Church against heretics, sometimes in hiding. As he was about to be martyred, the bishop gave 25 gold coins to his executioner. … More Dispatch from the Desert: August 31st thru September 6th
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) August 26th Tithoes (5th century) A disciple of Abba Pachomius and became the Abbot of Tabennisi Monastery. Seven lessons in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are attributed to him. Zer-Jacob (?) Missionary in Ethiopia Ibestion the Confessor (ca. 450) August 27th Poemen the Great (450) Also known … More Dispatch from the Desert: August 24th thru 30th
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) No African (native born or from elsewhere) saints are listed for this week. A Word from the Fathers & Mothers “Every virtue that is acquired without much effort is not strong and is easily shaken by the wind.” Abba Isaac to Ammah Theodora, from the Matericon “How … More Dispatch from the Desert: August 17th thru 23rd
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) August 12th Pallamon (ca. 325) Egyptian instructor of St. Pachomius August 16th Chaeremon (4th century) Monk of Nitra, Egypt. One lesson is attributed to him in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers A Word from the Fathers & Mothers “How can we acquire the fear of God … More Dispatch from the Desert: August 10th thru 16th
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) August 5th Cantidus, Cantidian, and Sibelius (4th century) Martyrs of Egypt. August 7th Or (390) A hermit of the Thebaid (Upper Egypt), said to have supernatural radiance due to his years of strict asceticism. “For a monk, this is the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ to … More Dispatch from the Desert: August 3rd thru 9th
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) There are no African, or African associated saints listed in the Prologue of Ohrid for the week. If anyone has a list from another source, please feel free to send the information. A Word from the Fathers & Mothers “An old man was sitting in his cell and a voice … More Dispatch from the Desert: July 27th thru August 2nd
African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) July 25th: Eupraxia the Virgin (413) She was the daughter of a nobleman in Constantinople and relative of Emperor Theodosius the Great. Eupraxia and her mother moved to Egypt and worshiped at several monasteries. She became a nun at seven years old growing in ascetic disciplines with age. … More Dispatch from the Desert: July 20th thru 26th
Desert Fathers Dispatch 