From the Events of History
Repentant Saints
• Augustine, after a life of corruption, became through repentance a bishop in the Church, a teacher, and a spiritual guide for many generations.
• Moses the Black, after a life of theft and murder, became a priest of the Lord and one of the renowned Fathers of monasticism.
• Cyprian, after having been a magician, became, after repentance, Bishop of Carthage and a teacher in the Church who presided over a council.
• Timothy, after repentance, became one of the well-known wandering ascetic Fathers. Saint Paphnutius recounted his life.
• David the Prophet, after his repentance, became an example of contrition of heart and a life of tears, and his Psalms became a model prayer for every repentant person.
• Saul of Tarsus, after persecuting the Church, became through repentance the Apostle who labored more abundantly for the Lord, became the Apostle to the Gentiles, and also ascended to the third heaven.
And what we say about the male saints, we also say about the female saints:
Those who, through repentance, reached high spiritual levels, such as Saint Mary the Copt, Saint Pelagia, Saint Paisia, and others.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in El-Keraza Magazine, Year Eight, Issue Thirty-Nine, September 30, 1977.
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