Six Years of Struggle: The Detail We Miss in the Life of Saint Moses the Black
What the video says
This video highlights a commonly overlooked detail in the life of Saint Moses the Black. While many know him as a great example of repentance who struggled with lust, the speaker points out a small line in his story that is often missed. After Moses first experienced dark thoughts of fornication and lust, he went to Abba Isidore, who told him not to be discouraged, and then to another elder who told him to fast, pray, and be vigilant.
The crucial detail is that he then struggled with these thoughts for six years. The speaker emphasizes that Moses was being guided by Abba Macarius and Abba Isidore, in the same generation as Abba Arsenius—arguably the greatest generation of spiritual elders in Church history—yet still struggled for six years. This long endurance is what makes him such an incredible example of transformation: he remained hopeful and fought for a life of virtue and life with Christ for years.
Key moments
- Many people miss a detail about Saint Moses the Black's struggle with lust, found in a simple line of his life.
- After first having dark thoughts of fornication and lust, Moses went to Abba Isidore, who told him not to be discouraged.
- He then went to another elder who told him to fast, pray, and be vigilant.
- The overlooked detail: Moses struggled with these thoughts for six years.
- Moses was guided by Abba Macarius and Abba Isidore, in the same place and generation as Abba Arsenius—arguably the greatest generation of spiritual elders in Church history.
- His six years of hopeful struggle make him an incredible example of transformation and perseverance in the life of virtue and with Christ.
This post reflects on a small but easily overlooked detail in the life of Saint Moses the Black, the great repentant father of the Egyptian desert. While his story is well known as a powerful example of deliverance from a violent past and a life of sin, the speaker draws attention to a single line: after Moses was first beset by dark thoughts of fornication and lust, he sought guidance from Abba Isidore, who told him not to be discouraged, and from another elder, who counselled him to fast, pray, and be vigilant.
What follows is the striking part—he struggled with these thoughts for six years. The post emphasizes that Moses was not struggling alone or without support: he was under the guidance of Abba Macarius and Abba Isidore, living in the same generation and place as Abba Arsenius, arguably the greatest generation of spiritual elders in Church history.
Even surrounded by such fathers, holiness did not come quickly or easily. It is precisely this long endurance that makes Moses such a remarkable example of transformation. He did not lose heart when victory was delayed; he remained hopeful and continued to fight for a life of virtue and communion with Christ year after year.
The post closes with the implication for us: if Abba Moses, the man whom the demons fear, struggled for that long while surrounded by the greatest elders, then we should not despair at our own slow progress. His life teaches patience and hope with ourselves, showing that perseverance through years of unseen struggle is itself a path to sanctity.
Readers are invited to reflect on how this forgotten detail of six years can change the way they view their own spiritual battles.
Main points
- A single line in the life of Saint Moses the Black is often missed: he struggled with lustful thoughts for six years.
- Abba Isidore told him not to be discouraged; another elder counselled fasting, prayer, and vigilance.
- Moses was guided by Abba Macarius and Abba Isidore, in the same generation as Abba Arsenius.
- Even surrounded by the greatest elders, his transformation took years of patient struggle.
- If Moses struggled so long, we too should have hope and patience with ourselves.