Edina Hall

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, 

Today we remember Antony the Great (c. 251–356 AD), also known as Anthony of Egypt or Anthony of the Desert, who is widely revered as the “Father of All Monks.” His life marks the shift of Christian asceticism from private practice to an organized, influential movement that defined the monastic tradition for centuries.  

Born to wealthy landowners in Koma, Lower Egypt, Antony’s life changed at the age of twenty following the death of his parents. While attending church, he heard the Gospel passage: “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

Moved by these words, Antony gave away his land, sold his remaining possessions, and donated the proceeds to the poor. After placing his younger sister in a house of virgins (a precursor to nunneries), he embarked on a life of solitude. 

Antony was not the first Christian ascetic, but he was unusual in that he moved to the “inner desert,” far beyond the outskirts of civilization. He lived for twenty years in complete isolation in an abandoned Roman fort at Mount Pispir. During this time, he practiced extreme self-denial, eating only bread, salt, and water. 

His biography, written by St. Athanasius of Alexandria, details his “spiritual combats”—temptations of laziness, lust, and boredom. Antony reportedly endured horrific visions and physical assaults from demons taking the forms of wild beasts and seductive figures.  

Around 305 AD, Antony emerged from his severe isolation in perfect health and “spiritually rejuvenated.” He spent the next several years organizing the hermits who had gathered near him, creating a loose community that balanced solitary prayer with spiritual guidance. This transition from solitary life to organized community living earned him his title as the founder of monasticism. 

In his later years, Antony remained a defender of the faith, traveling to Alexandria to support Christians during Roman persecutions and later to refute the Arian heresy. He died at the age of 105, requesting he be buried in an unmarked grave to prevent his body from becoming an object of worship. Despite his wishes, his remains can be found not only at St. Anthony’s Monastery in Egypt, but also in France at Saint-Antoine-l’Abbaye and The Church of Saint Trophime (Arles, France).

—Edina