Moses the Black

"A brother once erred at Scete and a council was held. They sent for Abba Moses but he was unwilling to come. So the priest sent to him, saying: “Come, for the company is waiting for you.” He got up and came; he took a basket with many holes, filled it with sand and carried it [with him]. Coming out to meet him, they said to him: “What is this, father?” and the elder said to them: “My sins are running out behind me and I do not see them—yet here I have come today to pass judgment on the faults of another!” They said nothing to the brother when they heard this, but forgave him."

"They used to say of Abba Moses that when he became a cleric and they put the stole on him, the archbishop said to him: “Look, you have become all white, Abba Moses.” The elder said to him: “Maybe outside, my lord Pope, but what about inside?” The bishop wanted to put him to the test; so he said to the clergy: “When Abba Moses comes into the sanctuary, chase him away and follow him to hear what he says.” The elder came in; they denounced him and chased him off, saying: “Get out, Ethiopian.” Out he went, saying to himself: “They treated you rightly, ash-skinned black [man]; since you are not human, why come among humans?”"

"A brother visited Abba Moses at Scete asking him for a saying. The elder said to him: “Go and stay in a cell; your cell will teach you everything.”"