E00631: Athanasius of Alexandria composes in Greek the Life of *Antony ('the Great', monk of Egypt, ob. 356, S00098) at the request of monks from abroad; it presents Antony as an exemplary monk, and describes his ascetic practices, struggles with demons, miracles, and doctrines. Written in Alexandria (Egypt), in c. 360.
Creators: name: Bryan
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Athanasius of Alexandria, Life of Antony (CPG 2101; BHG 140)<br><br>Summary:<br><br>(Preface and 1) The text opens with an address to the monks living outside Egypt, who have requested from Athanasius information on Antony, his life and training. Antony is born in a Christian family of modest economic means, and is raised in a Christian manner, mostly staying at home and receiving no education in letters. (3-10) Antony is about eighteen or twenty, when his parents die and he is left alone with a very young sister. Moved by hearing the Scriptures in the church, he sells his properties, entrusts his sister to be raised by virgins, and embraces the ascetic life at his village, first at home, and later in an old tomb nearby. The Devil attempts to distract him, but Antony withstands all temptations and has a vision of Christ promising to stand by him always. He is about thirty-five at this point.<br><br>(11-13) Encouraged by his vision, Antony leaves the village, and settles in a deserted barracks where he spends twenty years as a recluse. He struggles with demons remaining unharmed, and has many visions. (14-15) Antony is forcibly taken out of his cell by people wishing to be taught by him, and attracts many followers. He leads the monks like a father and gives a long sermon (16-43), admonishing them to persevere in ascetic discipline, and analysing the nature and devices of demons. (44-45) Under his leadership, the monastic community flourishes. (46) During the persecution of Maximinus Daia, Antony goes with other monks to Alexandria in order to support those arrested, hoping to suffer martyrdom himself. <br><br>(47-54) He withdraws again to his monastic home (the ‘Outer Mountain’), but, worried by the crowds visiting him, he decides to move to the Upper Thebaid. Instructed by a voice, he goes instead to the inner desert, and, guided by Saracens, he settles at the foot of a high mountain. He works miracles and struggles with demons. (55-59) Antony is visited by many, gives spiritual advice to the monks, performs healing miracles, and (60) has a vision of the soul of *Amun of Nitria ($00419) entering heaven. (61-66) There follow other miracles of healing, foresight and knowledge, and visions concerning the ascent of the soul from earth to heaven.<br><br>(67-68) Antony is mild and humble, obeys the bishops, priests and deacons, and opposes Melitian schismatics and Arian heretics. (69-71) He goes to Alexandria to publicly denounce the Arians, where he is received as a holy man, healing many. A large number of pagans convert to Christianity inspired by his holiness. (70-80) Pagan philosophers visit and discuss with him, only to be defeated by Antony, despite his being illiterate. (81) The emperors Constantine, Constantius and Constans write letters to him, and Antony reluctantly replies with admonitions for them to be faithful, humane, and just. <br><br>(82-88) Antony has visions revealing dreadful persecutions against the church, present and future. He predicts the death of Balakios, an Arian military commander who persecuted the orthodox. Antony leads the whole of Egypt and the monastic community by his miracles, wisdom and charisma.<br><br>(89-93) At the age of 105, Antony predicts his own death, and, disapproving of the burial customs of the Egyptians, who wrap and expose the dead instead of burying them, he retreats back to the inner mountain, lest they do the same with his body. He falls ill, and, prior to his death, he instructs two monks to bury him at a secret place, and to divide his clothing among themselves and bishops Athanasius of Alexandria and Serapion of Thmuis. He dies and is buried. Athanasius and Serapion keep the clothes of Antony as valuables (E00669). Antony’s body remains in excellent health to the end, despite his long life and extreme asceticism. Similarly, despite having written nothing, he becomes famous around the world, as far as Spain, Gaul, Rome and Africa.<br><br>(94) Athanasius exhorts his readers to spread the story, reading it to monks as a model of correct ascetic practice, and to pagans, as a proof of the superiority of the Christian faith.<br><br>Text: Bartelink 2004. Summary: Efthymios Rizos.