Recovering the tradition of African Christian holy men and women from centuries-long neglect, Fr. Deacon John R. Gresham, Jr. restores the sacredness of early African Christians to modern seekers. This book is a remedy for the broken images about Black sanctity that have eroded the hope of the African diaspora and the whole Church in the years since violence, greed, and negligence pushed these stories into obscurity. From the African pilgrim who carried Christ's cross in His passion to the holy women in hiding who overcame demons in Christ's name, these African Christian ancestors shone so brightly that they still enlighten the Church, extending the call to the African diaspora to reclaim their place at God's table.

With poetic prayers and suggested scripture readings after each brief recollection of a saint, this daily lenten devotional will draw you into habits that will build you up to be more like the saints, too.

This collection of the stories of 49 saints from Africa can be read in Lent or at any time of the year.

Table of Contents

• Useful Terms
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• Introduction

Week One

• Simon of Cyrene
• Scillitan Martyrs
• Asclas of Egypt
• Theodora & didymus the soldier
• Bishop Cyprian of Carthage
• Iradia
• Callistratus & 49 Companions

Week Two

• Djan Darada
• Menas
• Katherine
• Thomais
• Julia
• Elesbaan
• Fulvanius

Week Three

• Perpetua & Felicity
• Anthony the Great
• Macarius the Great
• John of Thebes
• Eugene & Mary of Alexandria
• Agathon of Egypt
• Bishop Serapion of Thmuis

Week Four

• Athanasius the Great
• Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria
• Zacharias the Recluse of Egypt
• Paphnutius
• Pachomius the Great
• Theodore the Sanctified
• Bessarion the Great

Week Five

• Moses the Black
• Paisius the Great
• Sisoes the Great
• Sarah of the Nile
• Pambo
• Poemen the Shepherd
• Theodora of Alexandria

Week Six

• Mary of Egypt
• Euphrosyne & Paphnutius
• Ammon
• Thais (Taisia)
• Thais
• Isadora of Tabennisi
• John the Dwarf

Week Seven

• Augustine of Hippo
• Monica of Africa
• Patapius
• Isaac of Fayoum
• Isidore of Pelusia
• Isidore of Sketis
• Onuphrius the Great

• Bibliography
• About the Author
• About the Cover Image Artist
• About the Illustrator
• Coming soon from Park End books