ACT 1, SCENE 1 — The Bandit King of the Desert
(Stage: A dry, rugged desert camp at dusk. Rocks and burning torches. Stolen goods —
cloaks, jewelry, baskets — are scattered. THREE GIRLS stand tied together at stage left.
MOSES stands tall in the center, sword at his hip. BANDITS surround him, laughing,
feasting, cheering.)
MOSES (boasting to his crew):
This desert belongs to me. Every step, every shadow, every traveler who dares cross it —
mine!
If they breathe, we rob. If they resist, we kill. Understand?
BANDITS (in unison):
Yes, Moses! You are truly our leader — king of the sands!
(They cheer. MOSES grins proudly. BANDIT 2 nudges him, pointing to the captives.)
BANDIT 2 (grinning):
We got a lot of gold today… but on top of that, look at all the beautiful women we caught.
Especially the one in white. That one there — she’s beautiful. Talk to her, Moses. Make her
mine, please.
MOSES (smirking, amused):
What are you talking about? Untie her and bring her to me. Let me see.
(BANDIT 2 unties her and brings her forward. The GIRL stands with quiet strength and
dignity.)
MOSES (walking around her, examining her):
Well, well… you don’t tremble like the others. Tell me… are you their master? Or are they
your slaves?
GIRL (Sara) (calm, unwavering):
No one is a master here. No one is a slave. We are all servants of God.
MOSES (raising an eyebrow):
Servants? Of who?
SARA:
My Master is Jesus Christ.
MOSES (mocking):
Jesus? Hm… I think I’ve heard that name. Some ritual man from the city?
SARA (smiling softly):
No. He is not just a man. He is the Savior of the world — the Son of God.
MOSES (laughs loudly):
Savior? Savior of who? You think a man can be God? I serve the sun and the moon! They
are untouchable — powerful!
SARA:
The sun may burn your skin… but it will never heal your heart.
My God died on the cross to save me… and even you.
MOSES (stepping closer):
Died? A god… who dies? That makes no sense. If He’s so powerful, how did He get
crucified?
(MOSES and BANDITS laugh mockingly.)
SARA (firm, eyes steady):
Because He chose to suffer for our sins — for the wicked, the forgotten, the proud.
And then He rose again — and lives still. He speaks to us, Moses.
MOSES (a bit unsettled):
You speak like you know Him.
SARA (quietly):
I do.
What is your name?
MOSES:
Moses.
SARA (smiling):
Then you bear the name of a prophet — a great man of God in the Holy Scriptures.
(BANDIT 2 grows impatient.)
BANDIT 2 (frustrated):
Moses, stop wasting time! Just say the word — she’s mine.
MOSES (raising his hand):
Wait. Not yet. I want to hear more.
MOSES (to SARA):
If your God is in heaven… then why do you carry gold, silver, and all these things?
SARA:
I was taking them to the city — to sell them and give the money to the poor.
The Bible says, “He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord.”
MOSES (genuinely intrigued):
You’re bold. I like that. I’ll let you go… for now. But I want to hear more about this Jesus of
yours.
SARA (softly, confidently):
It is with great pride that I will speak of my Lord and Savior.
(SARA returns to the other girls. MOSES turns away from the fire, visibly distracted. The
BANDITS go back to their celebration. MOSES walks off toward the dark edge of the stage,
alone.)
SCENE 2 — The Silence of the Sun
(Lights shift. Sound: desert wind, distant night animals. MOSES stands alone in the dark,
facing upward.)
NARRATOR (voice from the side):
What Sara said pierced deeper than any blade.
And though the bandits still robbed and drank and laughed…
Moses began to change.
When things went wrong… when the gold turned sour, or their plans fell apart,
Moses began to grow angry… but not at men.
He looked up — to the only god he had ever known.
MOSES (yelling to the sky):
Sun! I’ve called you my god. You burn, you shine, you rise every day…
But you do not speak!
She says her God talks to her… speaks love, not fire.
Then speak! Are you god or not? Show me!
(He stands silent. The wind blows. A warm spotlight representing the sun burns overhead,
but says nothing.)
MOSES (bitterly):
What kind of god stays silent?
(He lowers his head, shaken. Slowly, he turns and walks off into the darkness.)
NARRATOR (softly):
And in that silence… something began to break.
The voice of a girl — stronger than his sword — had planted a seed of truth
in the heart of a feared bandit.
NARRATOR (gently):
As Moses walked, his mind troubled and his spirit stirred,
his feet — without knowing — led him to the monastery of Scetes.
The very place where silence speaks… and the truth of God is found.
(Inside the monastery courtyard, MONK 1 peers out, alarmed.)
MONK 1 (whispering to MONK 2):
It is him — Moses the bandit! What shall we do?
MONK 2 (fearfully):
Better hide! He is fierce and feared!
(Several MONKS quickly scatter and hide behind cloisters and pillars. One elder monk
remains: ABBA ISIDORE. Calm, composed, filled with the Spirit, he steps forward without
fear.)
ABBA ISIDORE (gently):
Peace be with you, my son. What do you seek in this place?
MOSES (looking around, puzzled but drawn):
What is this place? It feels… different. Quiet. Honest.
What do you all do here?
ABBA ISIDORE:
This is a monastery — a home for those who seek the one true God.
Here, we worship the Lord in truth. We live in prayer, humility, and service.
MOSES:
God… the one I’ve been searching for.
I remember now… the girl — she said His name was Jesus Christ. Is this the same God?
ABBA ISIDORE (smiling):
Yes, my son. The one true God — the Savior of the world.
He gave Himself for us, so that even the greatest sinner may be made new.
Here, you will find peace and Light that never fades.
MOSES (with resolve, stepping closer):
I want to see this God. Teach me.
ABBA ISIDORE (continuing warmly):
If you obey in all things, you shall find Him.
Come. Rest with us. Learn.
We will walk together.
(He places a hand gently on Moses’s shoulder, guiding him a few steps forward as they walk
slowly.)
ABBA ISIDORE (softly, teaching as they walk):
Jesus Christ, our Lord, is the Word of God made flesh.
He is the Light of the world — the only Son of the Father, born before all ages.
He came down for us men and for our salvation.
He was born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit,
He lived among the poor, the broken, the sinners.
He was crucified — not because He was weak,
but because of His great love.
He took the burden of sin upon Himself…
and through His death, He destroyed death.
Through His resurrection, He opened the gates of heaven to all who believe.
(They stop walking. Moses listens, visibly moved.)
ABBA ISIDORE (turning to face him):
He knows your name, Moses.
He sees your pain, your struggle, your past.
And still, He calls you.
Not to shame you… but to make you new.
He does not need your strength… only your heart.
MOSES (quietly, eyes filling with tears):
I… I never knew a God like this.
ABBA ISIDORE (nodding gently):
Most don’t. But once you taste His mercy, you will never return to the old path.
Come. The journey has just begun.
(ABBA ISIDORE and MOSES walk together toward the entrance of the chapel. A
large cross hangs above the doorway. ABBA ISIDORE pauses before entering,
standing reverently, and makes the Sign of the Cross.)
ABBA ISIDORE (whispering with reverence):
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit… One God. Amen.
(He lowers his hand and prepares to enter.)
MOSES (startled, pulling back slightly):
What—what was that?
What are you doing? Is that a sign to attack me!?
(MOSES instinctively reaches for his dagger. ABBA ISIDORE, calm and gentle,
slowly lifts his hand to reassure him.)
ABBA ISIDORE (chuckling softly):
No, my son. No sword, no harm.
This is the Sign of the Cross — the banner of our King.
(He demonstrates again, slowly and reverently.)
ABBA ISIDORE (teaching):
When we make the sign of the cross,
we remember the One who was crucified for us
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Father above,
the Son who came down,
and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
We place our hand on our forehead… to honor the Father,
on our chest… to remember the Son who came down to save us,
then on our right and left shoulders…
to call upon the Holy Spirit who strengthens us.
It is a prayer written not with words,
but with our bodies.
A shield against evil.
A confession of faith.
A reminder — that Christ loved us even to death on the Cross.
(He lowers his hand, eyes filled with peace.)
When we make the sign of the cross…
we are saying, “I belong to Jesus. I follow Him. I live in His mercy.”
MOSES (wide-eyed, absorbing every word):
I have never seen such a sign…
but my heart doesn’t fear it.
It feels… holy.
(Then they start walking inside)
MOSES (quietly to Abba Isidore):
Who is he?
ABBA ISIDORE:
Our father — Abba Macarius. He walks with God. He will teach you more.
ABBA MACARIUS (looking up kindly):
Peace, Father Isidore. Who do you bring before me?
ABBA ISIDORE:
This is Moses. Once feared — but now, God has stirred his heart.
He wishes to know the truth… to know Christ.
ABBA MACARIUS (gazing into Moses’s eyes):
You are welcome here, Moses. What do you seek?
MOSES (earnest, broken):
I want to find God. I want to serve Him. I used to believe in the sun and the moon —
but they do not speak to me.
I heard the name Jesus… and since then, I can’t forget it.
Abba Isidore spoke of Him, and I need to know more.
(ABBA MACARIUS closes his scroll and stands. A gentle smile.)
ABBA MACARIUS:
Listen, my son.
The true God is not the sun above — He is the Creator of that sun.
He made all things — the heavens, the earth, the stars, and you.
He is one God in three persons:
The Father, who formed you;
The Son, Jesus Christ, who became man and died for you;
and The Holy Spirit, who gives you life and speaks truth to your soul.
Our Lord Jesus Christ —
He came in the flesh, was crucified, died, and rose again for our salvation.
He speaks not through fire, but through the heart.
He does not enslave… He saves.
MOSES:
You speak of a God I have never known…
A God who loves even me… a thief… a murderer…
I want to know Him. I want to change.
(ABBA MACARIUS motions for him to sit. MOSES kneels beside him like a child at a
teacher’s feet. The monks quietly gather around, some still hesitant, others amazed.)
NARRATOR (softly):
Thus began the greatest war of Moses’s life — not with sword or fire,
but with repentance and faith.
The lion of the desert… would become a lamb of God.
And in that holy desert, under the care of the saints,
Abba Macarius began to teach him — not only with words,
but with prayer, fasting, and silence…
that the heart must be broken to be rebuilt.
Another scene opens
ABBA MACARIUS (teaching):
My son, the Lord Jesus said:
"Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
He did not come for the righteous, but for sinners.
He does not remember your past once you repent —
only your heart now.
MOSES (softly, with trembling voice):
Then… there is still hope…
Even for me?
(He pauses, then slowly lifts his eyes to Abba Macarius.)
MOSES (confessing):
I have done great evil.
I was the chief among thieves.
I have robbed the poor…
I’ve killed without mercy…
I’ve mocked God, and laughed at the righteous.
I’ve lived for blood and gold…
I’ve broken mothers’ hearts and stolen fathers’ bread.
I don’t deserve mercy.
(He bows his head in shame. A long silence. Then ABBA ISIDORE steps forward, placing a
hand on Moses’s back.)
ABBA ISIDORE (gently, with compassion):
Yes… and still, there is room for you.
For our Lord said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
His mercy is deeper than the sea…
and it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
MOSES (with tears):
Then I want to repent.
I want to turn away from all of it…
I want to belong to this God who forgives even a man like me.
ABBA MACARIUS (smiling through tears):
More than hope. There is grace.
For where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
You are not bound to who you were, Moses.
When we are buried with Christ in baptism,
we rise with Him — new, washed, beloved.
MOSES (firmly):
Then I am ready.
I want to die to who I was.
And live for Christ — the one true God.
(ABBA MACARIUS gently steps forward. MOSES unsheathes his sword and holds it out. A
long silence as he offers it up with trembling hands.)
ABBA MACARIUS (taking the sword):
Then, my son… this sword —
which once served darkness,
you will need no longer.
(He sets the sword down carefully on the altar beside him. Then, he takes up a Bible
wrapped in cloth and places it in Moses’s hands.)
ABBA MACARIUS (firm, but tender):
This will be your sword now —
the Word of God.
Sharper than any blade…
stronger than any armor.
It will not protect your body…
but it will guard your soul.
The road will not be easy, Moses.
But it leads to glory.
And every step you take — you will never walk alone again.
(MOSES clutches the Bible to his chest. He bows deeply.)
MOSES (softly):
Thank You, Lord…
For calling even me.
NARRATOR (with quiet awe):
And so it came to pass —
the thief… the murderer… the mocker of God…
was led in humility to the waters of baptism.
Not as a slave to his past…
But as a new creation, robed in Christ.
(ABBA MACARIUS stands beside the water. ABBA ISIDORE stands behind Moses with a
hand on his shoulder. MOSES steps into the basin, eyes closed. Silence.)
ABBA Isidore (raising his hand, solemnly):
Moses…
I baptize you in the name of the Father…
and of the Son…
and of the Holy Spirit.
(He gently immerses Moses. The music swells — soft Ge'ez chanting. As Moses rises from
the water, he is handed a white baptismal robe by a young monk. Light bathes the stage in
warmth.)
MONKS (chant softly):
"Alleluia, Alleluia… glory to God in the highest…"
NARRATOR (firm, full of hope):
And thus was born Abba Moses the Ethiopian.
Not by sword… but by the Spirit.
Not by fear… but by faith.
He who once ruled the desert…
was now a servant of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Another scene
( Aba mosses praying)
DEMON VOICE 1 (offstage whisper)
Moses… you are still the bandit at heart…
DEMON VOICE 2
Your prayers are empty… return to your old power!
DEMON VOICE 3
Who are you to seek God?
(MOSES trembles, clutching his chest. The whispers rise, chaotic. He staggers and falls to
his knees, then collapses onto the ground, weeping bitterly.)
MOSES (crying out softly)
Lord, have mercy on me… deliver me, O God…
(Enter ABBA ISIDORE, rushing in with concern.)
ABBA ISIDORE
My son! What troubles you?
MOSES (between sobs)
The evil ones war against me day and night… but I will not turn back!
ABBA ISIDORE (kneeling beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder)
Endure, my son. The greater the battle, the greater the crown.
NARRATOR (voice warm, reverent):
And so, Abba Moses walked a new path —
no longer with a sword in his hand, but with the cross in his heart.
He prayed longer than the others,
prostrated more deeply,
and served with a joy that could only come from a soul healed by mercy.
Though he had come as a stranger —
a feared bandit —
he became the servant of all.
He fetched water. He tended the sick.
He washed the feet of those who once feared his name.
And day by day, the monks watched…
and wondered.
How could such love come from such a past?
Abba Isidore and Abba Macarius continued to guide him,
but it was clear to all…
Abba Moses was no longer just a student.
He had become a light —
a living gospel written in humility and fire.
Even the elders began to lean on his wisdom,
as they saw how deeply he studied,
how faithfully he fasted,
and how purely he walked in repentance.
(The other scene)
NARRATOR (calm but solemn):
But no monastery is free from trial.
And where light shines… shadows often stir.
One day, a monk stumbled in weakness —
and instead of mercy, a storm of judgment began to form.
MONK 1 (angry)
This brother has sinned! He must be judged!
MONK 2 (sternly)
We cannot allow such behavior in the community!
MONK 1
Call Abba Moses! Let him decide!
(The MONKS quiet as MOSES enters slowly. On his back he carries a large basket or sack,
with sand trickling steadily behind him. The MONKS look on in confusion as he approaches
the gathering.)
MONK 1 (puzzled)
Father, what is this? Why do you carry a basket leaking sand?
(MOSES stops at the center of the circle. He sets down the basket and looks at them with
humility and sorrow.)
MOSES (softly but firmly)
See how the sand pours out behind me — these are my sins that run behind me where I
cannot see them. And yet today I am called to judge my brother?
(He pauses, looking around at each monk.)
MOSES
Let him go. Let us each weep for our own faults.
(The MONKS fall silent, their hearts pierced. Slowly, they embrace the BROTHER. A deep
peace fills the space.)
NARRATOR (softly)
Thus Moses taught them not with harsh words, but with the weight of his own repentance.
(Lights fade gently.)
NARRATOR (warm, reflective tone)
In time, the monks of the desert learned not only from Moses’s words, but from his life — a
life of humility, repentance, and love.
His name spread far beyond the desert sands. From villages and cities, rulers and common
folk alike spoke of Moses the Black, the bandit who became a saint.
All who heard his story marveled at how the fiercest of men had been transformed by the
mercy of God. And many came, hoping to see him with their own eyes — to hear from his
lips the wisdom that had once been hidden behind a sword.
(Lights dim slightly as the NARRATOR steps back. Stage transitions to a desert path leading
toward the monastery. Enter a STRANGER — the pilgrim — walking with purpose and
hope.)
The Pilgrim Seeks Abba Moses
(The STRANGER walks along the path, looking around eagerly. MOSES appears, coming
from the opposite direction, dressed humbly with a staff or simple cloak.)
MOSES (gently)
Peace be with you, traveler. Where do you go on this desert road?
PILGRIM
I seek the holy Abba Moses the Black. I have heard of his wisdom and holiness, and I long
to see him.
MOSES (bowing his head, humbly)
Why would you seek that sinner, that unworthy man?
PILGRIM (startled, saddened)
I have heard he is a great man of God. I will go on, and hope that I may learn from him.
(The PILGRIM continues on. MOSES watches him go, then quietly exits in another direction.
The PILGRIM reaches the monastery.)
The monastery gate or entrance. The PILGRIM approaches, dusty from travel. A MONK
comes forward with kindness.)
MONK 1 (warmly, hands open in welcome)
Peace be to you, my son. What brings you here to this holy place?
PILGRIM (bowing slightly, with eagerness)
Father, I have journeyed far. I came seeking the holy Abba Moses. I have heard of his great
wisdom, his holiness, and how God transformed his life. I long to see him and learn from
him.
MONK 1 (smiling gently)
You have come to a good place, my son.
PILGRIM (hesitating a moment)
Yet… on my way, as I neared the monastery, I met a stranger. He spoke humbly, and he told
me… he told me that Abba Moses is unworthy, that all that is said about him is not true, and
that I should not trouble myself to seek him.
MONK 1 (puzzled, frowning slightly)
Who said this? What type of man did you meet?
PILGRIM (thinking, describing slowly)
He was a black man, tall and strong in stature, with a beard long and full. His eyes were
kind, but full of sorrow. His voice was soft, yet firm.
(The MONK’s eyes widen in realization. A soft, knowing smile comes to his face.)
MONK 1 (with wonder, almost amused by Moses’s deep humility)
My son… that was Abba Moses himself whom you met!
(The PILGRIM looks stunned, glancing back down the path as if hoping to glimpse him
again.)
MONK 1 (gently, with admiration)
See how pride has no hold on him. Even as many speak his name with honor, he lowers
himself before all. Truly, in his humility, he is great in the sight of God.
(The PILGRIM bows his head deeply, moved by what he has learned. The MONK gestures
to lead him inside.)
MONK 1
Come. Let us go, and may you still receive his blessing.
(Lights soften and fade as they exit toward the monastery.)
NARRATOR (slowly stepping into the light, voice deep and reverent):
And though the monks returned to their duties,
the stranger — the pilgrim — could not walk away.
His feet stayed,
but more than that…
his heart refused to leave.
For in Abba Moses,
he had seen what he himself longed to become —
a man changed,
a soul redeemed,
a life reclaimed by grace.
He sat quietly among the monks,
his heart burning with questions,
his mind echoing the humility he had witnessed.
How could a man so feared…
so fallen…
become a vessel of peace?
And then, in the hush of evening,
as lamps flickered and sandals shuffled across stone,
the man he had come to see entered —
not as a king or judge,
but as a brother and a father.
Abba Moses, once ruler of the desert,
now a servant of the cross,
stood before them…
…and began to speak.
ABBA MOSES (gentle, calm):
My sons, never forget… I was once a man of blood and shadow. A bandit feared across the
land. I robbed, I cursed, I lived only for my strength.
(The MONKS look at him in awe and quiet respect.)
ABBA MOSES (smiling humbly):
But the mercy of God… it reached even me. I looked to the sun and asked it if it was God —
and it was silent. But the true Light? The Light of Christ… it did not speak from the sky. It
spoke through the love of the fathers, through the patience of Abba Isidore, and through the
Gospel.
MONK 1:
Father… how can we become like you?
ABBA MOSES (gently):
Do not seek to become like me… seek to become small. For the smaller you are before
men, the greater you will become before God.
Let your heart be as the soil — lowly and soft — that the Word of God may take root in you.
MONK 2:
But what if we fall, Abba?
ABBA MOSES:
Then rise again. And again. And again. For God is not a judge waiting to strike you… He is a
Father running to embrace His lost child. Repentance is not shame. It is healing.
(He stands slowly, his hands raised slightly as he speaks like a shepherd to his flock.)
ABBA MOSES:
Be a light to the world, my sons — even a little candle in the dark is enough to show the way.
You do not need to be many… only faithful.
(The MONKS nod. One of them quietly wipes a tear. The light fades to a warm golden hue.)
NARRATOR (softly, stepping forward one last time):
And so Moses the Black — the Ethiopian — who once walked in darkness, became a great
light to many. His life was a living sermon… not of perfection, but of transformation.
He taught that mercy is greater than pride, that love is stronger than fear, and that the
greatest among us is the one who kneels lowest.
May we, too, seek such humility… and rise with the same light.