ANTHONY THE GREAT (HERMIT), ST. (251-356) | ASCETICISM | ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA, ST. (295-373)

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Anthony the Great is considered the founder of the desert monastic life. Egyptian by birth, the son of wealthy, pious parents, he fell in love with solitude and prayer from the early years. After the death of his parents at the age of nineteen this man of God decided to leave the world and settle in the desert. Soon envious demons, seeing his burning love for God and unparalleled feats, subjected him to various temptations, but retreated each time in disgrace.

At first, they tormented him with fears about the enormous difficulty of asceticism, prompting him to return to secular life, but they were defeated by the power of saint’s ceaseless prayer. Then deceitful spirits tried to provoke the monk to impure desires. However, this wise, God-loving young man forced himself to even more fervent prayer, acquiring sobriety and the gift of discerning thoughts. Satan, seeing that the poison of his temptations did not harm the saint, but only reinforced him in the love of God, resorted to his last plot – commanded a legion of demons to beat Anthony. When that ploy did not reach its goal, the serpent, enraged in malice, decided to terrorize the saint with sight of terrifying beasts trying to tear him apart. However, this righteous man endured patiently, and, without losing vigilance, strived with his heart toward Him, before Whom demons are powerless.
So Satan was finally put to shame, and Antony, acquiring divine grace, was given power to seal demons, who trembled before him.
Contrary to his desire for complete solitude, the saint admitted crowds of faithful, who sought his words and revered his holy ways. And those words gave guidance to everyone – instructing, healing, and nourishing people’s hearts with unworldly peace and joy. Even so, his immense love of God and desire to enjoy God’s presence uninterruptedly, forced him to retreat to most desolate places, touched only by his followers - fellow monks.
Fr. Anthony died at the age of one hundred and five, having been revealed, in advance, the time of his death. Saint’s soul departed to God filled with joy, as wayfarer finally reaching homeland.