January 17th is the feast day of St. Antony (or Anthony) the Great, also called Antony of Egypt, Antony the Abbot, Antony of the Desert, Antony the Anchorite, Antony the Hermit, Antony of Thebes, and also known as the Father of All Monks.
About four years after St. Antony’s
death, about AD 360, his contemporary Egyptian, St. Athanasius of Alexandria
(AD 295/298-373), wrote a biography of Antony called “The Life of Antony.” It
became one of best-known works of literature in Christian world, and remains in
print even still today.
The reading of “The Life of Antony”
influenced the conversion of many, including St. Augustine of Hippo (ad
354-430), St. John Chrysostom (AD 354-407), and this writer.
In future articles we will go into the
details of St. Antony’s life, but first, let’s just get a bit of a flavor of
who this Third and Fourth Century illiterate but holy Egyptian Hermit and Monk
was. The following is from “The Life of Antony” by St. Athanasius:
St. Antony “was able to be of such use to
all, that many soldiers and men who had great possessions laid aside the
burdens of life, and became monks for the rest of their days. And it was as if
a physician had been given by God to Egypt. For who in grief met Antony and did
not return rejoicing? Who came mourning for his dead and did not forthwith put
off his sorrow? Who came in anger and was not converted to friendship? What
poor and low-spirited man met him who, hearing him and looking upon him, did not
despise wealth and console himself in his poverty? What monk, having being
neglectful, came to him and became not all the stronger? What young man having
come to the mountain and seen Antony, did not forthwith deny himself pleasure
and love temperance? Who when tempted by a demon, came to him and did not find
rest? And who came troubled with doubts and did not get quietness of mind?”
Again, St. Athanasius writes of St.
Antony: “Read these words, therefore, to the rest of the brethren that they may
learn what the life of monks ought to be; and may believe that our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ glorifies those who glorify Him: and leads those who serve
Him unto the end, not only to the kingdom of heaven, but here also – even
though they hide themselves and are desirous of withdrawing from the world –
makes them illustrious and well known everywhere on account of their virtue and
the help they render others. And if need be, read this among the heathen, that
even in this way they may learn that our Lord Jesus Christ is not only God and
the Son of God, but also that the Christians who truly serve Him and
religiously believe in Him, prove, not only that the demons, whom the Greeks
themselves think to be gods, are no gods, but also tread them under foot and
put them to flight, as deceivers and corrupters of mankind, through Jesus
Christ our Lord, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
During his life, St. Antony had many serious battles with the devil, so let’s close with a quote from St. Antony about what he found the devil to be afraid of: “The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices. He is also afraid when we are humble and good. He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross.”
Dibby Allan Green