Albemarle Tradewinds September 2016 Web Final

Orthodox Christianity
ST. MOSES THE BLACK (330-405 AD)
St. Moses was an Ethiopian. He was a slave of a pagan government official who dismissed him for theft
and incorrigible behavior. Moses took up a life of criminality and violence. Moses was a man of great
physical prowess. He led a gang of bandits in the Nile valley.
Being sought by the authorities, Moses fled to Egypt’s Nitrian Desert, to an area known as Sketis, which
was known for its secluded monastic communities. There, to escape detection, Moses took refuge in one
of the monasteries.
Moses was deeply impressed by the single-minded devotion and ascetic discipline of the monks. He soon
became a Christian, was baptized, and joined the monastery. He was trained by St. Isadore the Priest and
received instruction from St. Macarius the Great.
After many years of spiritual struggle, Moses himself became a great monastic elder and a guide of souls.
Some of his sayings and some anecdotes of his life were recorded by his disciples and passed down to us in
the Apothegmata Patrum (The Sayings of the Desert Fathers).
When Moses was seventy-five years of age, in about the year 405, the monastery was attacked by
barbarian invaders at whose hands Moses and seven companions were martyred. His earthly remains are
at the monastery of al-Baramus, in Egypt. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is August 28.
All chapters copyright © 2016 by author Nick.
Martone.; inquiries c/o St. George’s Church,
P.O. Box 38, Edenton, NC. (252) 482-2006.
From the “Apothegmata Patrum:”
A brother at Scetis committed a fault. A council was called to which Abba Moses was invited, but he refused to
go to it. Then the priest sent someone to say to him, “Come for everyone is waiting for you.” So he got up and
went. He took a leaking jug, filled it with water and carried it with him. The others came out to meet him
and said to him, “What is this, Father?” The old man said to them, “My sins are running out behind me, and
I do not see them, and today I am coming to judge the errors of another.” When they heard that they said no
more to the brother but forgave him.
Ron Stevens Hand-Carved Decoys
Ron Stevens is a woodcarver of eastern waterfowl. As he drifts into semi-retirement, he spends even
more time in his busy workshop perfecting his unique skill. By “chip carving” cedar knees into lifelike
decoys, then painting with detail of exacting feather head-to-tail, Stevens’s blue ribbon pedigree is
evident. A current resident of Elizabeth City (EC) via Chincoteague, VA, then the US Coast Guard, he
continues to display in shows along the east coast. His style ascended from research of H. V. Shrouds,
and studying the works of locals Ned Burgess and Ambrose “Hambone” Twiford. His passion is
projected as he teaches 2-3 classes per year in the white building on the Kenyon Bailey property in EC.
The depth of artistry in his decoy creations emerged
from a three-dimensional approach to carving.
He developed a system of tripod cameras in his aviary
some years back to create angle, curve, and depth to
show an exacting proportion in a life-like decoy.
By: C.L. Cooke
Stevens work will be displayed this month at the
Currituck Wildlife Festival. (See page 2 for details)
Y’All Come.
The experience for all ages is enriching.
8 Albemarle Tradewinds September 2016 albemarletradewinds.com