Dispatch From The Desert:  January 27th to February 1st, 2020

African Saints (from the Prologue of Ohrid) Peter of Egypt (Jan. 27) 5th Century Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom (Jan. 30)  Basil the Great (Jan. 1)spent time in Egypt and is listed in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.  Gregory and John would have known of these and … More Dispatch From The Desert:  January 27th to February 1st, 2020

Dispatch from the Desert:  January 20th to 26th, 2020

African Saints (from the Prolouge of Ohrid) Paul, Pausirius, and Theodotian (Jan. 24) 3rd Century, martyrs in Egypt Zosimas of Cilicia(Jan. 24) 6th Century, Bishop of Babylon in Egypt Ammon of Egypt (Jan. 26) a disciple of Anthony the Great (Jan. 17)   A Word from the Fathers & Mothers “Some of them (monks), after … More Dispatch from the Desert:  January 20th to 26th, 2020

Dispatch from the Desert: January 13th to 19th, 2020

African Saints (from the Prolouge of Ohrid) Theodulus (Jan. 14) 5th Century, Son of Nilus of Sinai Paul of Thebes (Jan. 15) 3rd & 4th Century, Lived in the deserts of Upper Egypt surrendering his part of an earthly inheritance for the sake of Christ. His asceticism made a heavy impression on Anthony the Great. … More Dispatch from the Desert: January 13th to 19th, 2020

Dispatch From The Desert:  January 6th to 12th, 2020

African Saints (from the Prolouge of Ohrid) Elias the Wonder-worker of Egypt (Jan. 8) 5th Century, Agatho (Jan. 8, Greek calendar) 5th Century, Egyptian monk Venerable Ammon (Jan. 10) 5th Century, A monk in Nitra, Egypt. He was known for overcoming his anger and knowledge of Holy Scripture. Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria (Jan. 12) … More Dispatch From The Desert:  January 6th to 12th, 2020

Dispatch from the Desert:  Raising Awareness of Ancient African Saints

It has been said among African-Americans that if you don’t know your past, you don’t know your future.  If this proverb is true, then the black church is doomed to fail as we don’t have much of a clue of who our ancient heroes are.  Most of us belong to churches that were founded in … More Dispatch from the Desert:  Raising Awareness of Ancient African Saints

Dispatch From The Desert:  December 30th, 2019 to January 5th, 2020

  African Saints (from the Prolouge of Ohrid) Basil the Great (Jan. 1) 330-379 AD, Although not an African, this Cappedocian is listed among the Sayings of the Desert Fathers as he spent time in Egypt. He patterned his life after the monastics and was known for his generosity as well as his theological contributions … More Dispatch From The Desert:  December 30th, 2019 to January 5th, 2020

St. Moses: The Immediate Purpose of the Christian

The goal of our profession is the kingdom of God.  Its immediate purpose, however, is purity of heart, for without this we cannot reach our goal.  We should therefore always have this purpose in mind … St. Moses from St. John Cassian’s On the Holy Fathers of Sketis (Philokalia vol. I) For anyone that thinks … More St. Moses: The Immediate Purpose of the Christian