Early African Christianity's Thousands of Black Saints, Martyrs in New Book
Christianity sprang from Africa. The Bible says so. "Out of Egypt I called My Son" Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:13-15
Contact: James Wesly Smith, Apostle Dos Rosas Press, 818-896-5346, stbernice@yahoo.com
MEDIA ADVISORY, Nov. 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- Jesus Himself nourished that spiritual soil until 7 years of age. A new reference book examines the holy results in "Black Saints, Mystics, And Holy Folk (The Ancient African Liturgical Church, Vol. I)."
Five Apostles evangelized Africa. Before Antioch, Peter set a church in Babylon, Egypt. Matthew, Nathaniel Bartholomew Levi, St. Jude (Jesus' cousin), Phillip, and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:27-39) -- all ministered there. Mark (Gospel of Mark), secretary to Peter and Paul was African.
"We've been with Christianity before day one--since Pharaoh Akhenaton pronounced, 'There is one God,'" says attorney/author James Wesly Smith of his 30-year effort.
"St. Clement finds Ethiopians in the Upper Room at Pentecost. Ancients used the word Ethiopians to mean Blacks or those dark- skinned. Acts puts Queen Candace's (Abyssinia) Eunuch Finance Minister of among the first Christian converts. Coptic, Ethiopian, and Orthodox Church branches still point to the Holy Family's residence near Heliopolis, Old Cairo," Smith said.
Smith, a St. Brigid's, Los Angeles, Josephite parishioner gleaned a thousand examples how to live saintly lives from all the early African Church branches: Latin Rites, Coptic, Ethiopian Abyssinian, and Orthodox. Included are Desert Fathers, Mothers, and miracle workers, St. Mary of Egypt, martyrs, and bishops Augustine, Cyril, and Athanasius, Macarius, St. Anthony of The Desert, and sainted African Roman general officers, Maurice and Candidus, with Caesar's martyred, all-Christian Theban Legion.
"Black Saints" lists theologians Tertullian, Origen, Cyril, and Cyprian. Also found are the lesser known Catherine of Alexandria, Apa Hor and Noub, Amoun, Herais, Thecla, and even former thugs--St. Moses the Black.
"Black Christians can now confidently answer Al Islam's query, 'Why do you follow alien faith traditions?' African martyrs nourished the roots of our own ancient branch of the Church Oriental," Smith said.
An excellent resource for Black Catholic and Black History Month, CCD and RCIA, and Kwanzaa, "Black Saints' Mystics, Holy Folk's" 456 pages illuminates our church history.
Apostle Dos Rosas Press slates Black Saints' Volume II, (from 600 A.D. to present) for Christmastide release. For more information contact: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3088.html
CONTACT: James Wesly Smith
Apostle Dos Rosas Press,
1.818.896.5346
stbernice@yahoo.com
5.5 x 8.5 trade paperback
Book URL: http://www.angelfire.com/realm/blackcatholics/BlackSaintsMysticsHoly.html
Author's Bio: www.angelfire.com/realm/blackcatholics/JamesWeslySmith.html
ISBN-13 978-1-60145-088-3
ISBN-10 1-60145-088-5
