Every Savage Creature Gentle

Every Savage Creature Gentle

Stories concerning Ethiopian's relations with wild animals are legion. ...
In his desert cave Abuna Abd el-Mesih el-Habashi is said to have spoken to
lizards, snakes and scorpions as 'his friends.'

Even a very large and dangerous snake is said to have lived with el-Habashi
(the Ethiopian) for some years, the monstrous snake would come and sit next
to him or even lie down on his lap. Jackals are said to have slept at the
cave entrance. Abuna Abd el-Mesih is reported to have lived with a wolf in
1964; the wolf in the cave used to sit with him and he patted it on the
back, allowing the tawny-grey mammal, which had a formidable reputation for
flesh eating, to leave the cave if visitors came to see the Ethiopian
mystic.

Once a gigantic snake came to Abuna Abd el-Mesih and blew something into his face, but the desert monk was unafraid. He would even walk out into the
desert carrying a scorpion in his hand. He showed no signs of fear when
handling scorpions, disregarding the lobster-like pincers and jointed tail
that could easily inflict poison upon anyone touching such a dangerous
arachnid. (1 Kings 12:11). Abuna Abd el-Mesih was deeply offended when
visiting monks killed scorpions in his cave. He describes all life forms in
the natural world as his 'family.'

When once challenged to fit a wooden door to the mouth of his cave for
reasons of personal security, Abuna Abd el-Mesih replied, "A jackal does not need a door does he?"

He also liked to quote Job 5:17, "For you will be in league with the stones
of the field; and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you."

Perhaps all the stories of love between humans and beasts in any century,
from the fourth century and even to our own, are parables of mutual love:

"With Christ every brute beast is wise and every savage creature gentle."


From the Testimony of Dr John Watson in the book
"The Ethiopian Servant Of Christ: The Life of Father Abd el-Mesih
el-Habashi"
By His Grace Bishop Macarius, pages 124-5
St Shenouda's Monastery Press, Sydney, Australia 2009