Racial themes of good and evil (Part IV)

The following story is taken directly from the OCA article on Saint Niphon, Bishop of Cyprus. I have only decided to archive it here as well, as it mentions the black face "like that of an Ethiopian", a rather common trope.

"Saint Niphon, Bishop of Cyprus was born in Paphlagonia, and was educated at Constantinople. In childhood he was gentle and good, and he often attended church services, but in his youth he began to lead a prodigal and sinful life. He sometimes came to his senses, and he was horrified by the extent of his fall; but believing that he was lost and could not receive forgiveness, he resumed his impious life.

He once met a friend who gazed into his face for a long time with astonishment. When Niphon asked why he was staring, the friend replied, “I have never seen your face like this before. It is black, like that of an Ethiopian.” These words showed to Niphon his fallen state, and he began to cry out to the Mother of God, begging Her intercession.

After an intense and long prayer he saw that the face of the Mother of God on the holy icon was radiantly bright with a smile. From that time Niphon prayed incessantly to the Queen of Heaven. If he fell into sin, the face of the Mother of God turned away from him, but after tears and prayers, She mercifully turned toward him again.

Finally, Niphon completely turned his life around and began to spend his time in prayer and repentance. After an illness, from which he received healing from the Mother of God, he received the Holy Mysteries, and then accepted monastic tonsure and intensified his efforts, exhausting his body in the struggle against the passions.

This struggle lasted for many years, and devils often attacked Saint Niphon, but with the help of God he overcame them. He received from God the gift to discern evil spirits and defeat them, and also to see the departure of the soul after death. Already advanced in age, and arriving at Alexandria, he was pointed out to the Patriarch in a vision as one worthy to assume the office of bishop. They made him bishop of the city of Constantia on the island of Cyprus. However, he did not remain there for long. Saint Niphon knew the time of his death three days beforehand. Saint Athanasius the Great visited him before his blessed repose. On his deathbed the saint was granted to see angels and the All-Pure Mother of God."

Racial themes of good and evil (Part II)

As a continuation to the last post on racial themes in Christianity I have compiled various examples from scripture and tradition to demonstrate the existence of racism in our Tradition. I recommend to read the first article, as it introduces this topic. 

The first story is of St. Christopher the Great Martyr. As he was being martyred for his faith he received a vision. "The blessed one [St. Christopher] would say, that he saw a tall and large-bodied man, fair in countenance, who wore white garments, and with the lightning bolts flashing from his countenance, he covered the brilliance of the sun. On his head was a bright crown, and around him were soldiers with a fiery form, against whom fought others who were black and ugly, and they appeared to be victorious. But when that awesome ruler turned with anger, he frightened and trampled all those who battled against him, and he received from them authority and power." Perhaps this vision relates to Archangel Michael and Lucifer warring in Heaven, nevertheless, the symbolism is clear.

Next is the very obscure writing of St. Ambrose "Noe et Arca", which is about Noah's ark. I have only managed to find this in Latin, with it not being discussed at all in the English language. In book 1, chapter 34, paragraph 128 St. Ambrose writes the following:

"Color Aethiopis tenebras animae squaloremque significat, qui adversus lumini est, claritatis exsors, tenebris involutus, nocti similior quam diei."

This translates to:
"The colour of the Ethiopians signifies darkness and the squalor of their soul, which is opposed to light, excluded from clarity, is wrapped in darkness which is more similar to night than day"

Moving further, also on the same topic of 'Ethiopians', another Church father, Pope St. Peter I of Alexandria comments in his Canonical Epistle, in canon 4 on Jeremiah 13:23. He speaks of the "reprobate, and unrepentant, who possess the Ethiopian's unchanging skin". The 12th century Byzantine chronicler and canonist, John Zonaras comments on this canon adding that this type of people "carry about with them perpetually the inherent and indelible blackness of sin, as of an Ethiopian's skin, or the leopard's spots." 

To speak further on racial themes, St. Paul in his Epistle to Titus 1:12 "One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." Is St. Paul racist against Cretans? Maybe not since both St. Paul and the Cretans are White...