Saint Antony the Great

Today (January 30) the Church commemorates Saint Antony the Great, considered to be the founder of the monastic way of life.

Venerable Antony the Great was born in Egypt around the year 250 to noble and wealthy parents, who raised him in the Christian faith. At the age of eighteen years old, he lost his parents and was left alone with his sister, who was in his care. One day he walked into the church thinking about the holy apostles, how they left everything to follow the Lord. Entering the church, he heard the words of the Gospel:

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21.).

These words struck Antony as if the Lord had spoken to him personally. Shortly thereafter, Antony donated the inheritance received from his parents to aid the poor inhabitants of the village, but wondered to whose care he would leave his sister. Preoccupied with such thoughts, he entered the church and again heard our Savior’s words as though they were specifically directed to him:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).

Antony placed his sister in the care of some pious nuns and left his home in the city to live in solitude, serving only the Lord.

Saint Antony’s separation from the world happened gradually. At first, he stayed near the town in the habitation of a pious man, who lived alone and tried to imitate him. He visited other hermits who lived in the vicinity of the city, and was edified by their counsel. Already at this time he was known for his spiritual feats and was called “Friend of God.”

After seeking direction from an elder, Antony settled into a remote cave. One of his friends periodically brought him food. Finally Saint Antony abandoned inhabited places, crossed the river Nile, and settled in the ruins of a military fortification. He took with him enough bread for six months; and, thereafter, he received bread from his friends only twice a year through a hole in the roof. He endured many temptations in his ascetic struggles.

After having lived in isolation for twenty years, several of Antony’s friends settled near him. They pleaded with him to come out of his voluntary isolation, threatening to break down his door. When the venerable Antony finally exited his dwelling, his friends were amazed to find him absent of any signs of emaciation and fatigue. Heavenly peace reigned in his soul and was reflected on his face. Quiet, reserved, and affable, the elder soon became the father and mentor of many.

The desert blossomed. The surrounding mountains became inhabited by countless monks. Many people regularly gathered to sing, pray, fast, and care for the poor. Saint Antony did not give his disciples any specific rules for monastic life. He cared only about how to instill in them piety, inspiring them with devotion to ascetic struggle, to prayer, to renunciation of all earthly things, and to acceptance of the will of God in all circumstances.

Saint Antony died in old age (106 years of age in 356 A.D.) and for his ascetic labors earned the title “Great”.

St Antony was the founder of eremitical monasticism, whereby several hermits under the guidance of a mentor or Abba, live separately in huts or caves (hermitages), consecrated to prayer, fasting, and good works. Several monasteries joined under one spiritual director is called a “Lavra”.

During the lifetime of the venerable Antony the Great, another type of monasticism appeared: monastics gathered in one community, sharing tasks according to each one’s ability, sharing common meals, and adhering to a standardized set of rules. Such communities were called cenobites or monasteries. The spiritual elders of these communities were called “Archimandrites”. The righteous Pachomius is honored as the founder of cenobitic monasticism.

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