Athanasius of Alexandria, Life of Antony. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 4 (Schaff and Wace, 1892), public domain.
Passages · 45
- Life of Antony §1 — Prologue. Table of Contents. §§1, 2. Birth and beginnings of Antony. §§3, 4. His early ascetic life. §§5, 6. Early conflicts with the devil. §7. Details of his life at this time (271–285?) §§8–10. His life in the…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §2 — Birth and beginnings of Antony. 1. Antony you must know was by descent an Egyptian: his parents were of good family and possessed considerable wealth, and as they were Christians he also was reared in the same Faith.…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §3 — His early ascetic life. 3. And again as he went into the church, hearing the Lord say in the Gospel, ‘be not anxious for the morrow,’ he could stay no longer, but went out and gave those things also to the poor.…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §4 — Early conflicts with the devil. 5. But the devil, who hates and envies what is good, could not endure to see such a resolution in a youth, but endeavoured to carry out against him what he had been wont to effect…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §5 — Details of his life at this time (271-285?). 7. This was Antony’s first struggle against the devil, or rather this victory was the Saviour’s work in Antony, ‘Who condemned sin in the flesh that the ordinance of the…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §6 — His life in the tombs, and combats with demons there. 8. Thus tightening his hold upon himself, Antony departed to the tombs, which happened to be at a distance from the village; and having bid one of his…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §7 — He goes to the desert and overcomes temptations on the way. 11. And on the day following he went forth still more eagerly bent on the service of God and having fallen in with the old man he had met previously, he…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §8 — How Antony took up his abode in a ruined fort across the Nile, and how he defeated the demons. His twenty years' sojourn there. 12. Then again as he went on he saw what was this time not visionary, but real gold…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §9 — How he left the fort, and how monasticism began to flourish in Egypt. Antony its leader. 14. And so for nearly twenty years he continued training himself in solitude, never going forth, and but seldom seen by any.…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §10 — His address to monks, rendered from Coptic, exhorting them to perseverance, and encouraging them against the wiles of Satan. 16. One day when he had gone forth because all the monks had assembled to him and asked to…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §11 — The growth of the monastic life at this time (about A.D. 305). 44. While Antony was thus speaking all rejoiced; in some the love of virtue increased, in others carelessness was thrown aside, the self-conceit of…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §12 — How Antony renewed his ascetic endeavours at this time. 45. Antony, however, according to his custom, returned alone to his own cell, increased his discipline, and sighed daily as he thought of the mansions in…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §13 — How he sought martyrdom at Alexandria during the Persecution (311). 46. After this the Church was seized by the persecution which then took place under Maximinus, and when the holy martyrs were led to Alexandria,…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §14 — How he lived at this time. 47. And when at last the persecution ceased, and the blessed Bishop Peter had borne his testimony, Antony departed, and again withdrew to his cell, and was there daily a martyr to his…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §15 — How he delivered a woman from an evil spirit. 48. When therefore he had retired and determined to fix a time, after which neither to go forth himself nor admit anybody, Martinian, a military officer, came and…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §16 — How at this time he betook himself to his 'inner mountain.'. 49. But when he saw himself beset by many, and not suffered to withdraw himself according to his intent as he wished, fearing because of the signs which…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §17 — How he there combated the demons. 51. So he was alone in the inner mountain, spending his time in prayer and discipline. And the brethren who served him asked that they might come every month and bring him olives,…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §18 — Of the miraculous spring, and how he edified the monks of the 'outer' mountain, and of Antony's sister. 54. And once being asked by the monks to come down and visit them and their abodes after a time, he journeyed…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §19 — How humanely he counselled those who resorted to him. 55. So after certain days he went in again to the mountain. And henceforth many resorted to him, and others who were suffering ventured to go in. To all the monks…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §20 — Of the case of Fronto, healed by faith and prayer. 57. Wherefore a man, Fronto by name, who was an officer of the Court and had a terrible disease, for he used to bite his own tongue and was in danger of injury to…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §21 — Of a certain virgin, and of Paphnutius the confessor. 58. There was also a maiden from Busiris Tripolitana, who had a terrible and very hideous disorder. For the runnings of her eyes, nose, and ears fell to the…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §22 — Of the two brethren, and how one perished of thirst. 59. But when two brethren were coming to him, the water failed on the way, and one died and the other was at the point of death, for he had no strength to go on,…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §23 — Of the death of Amun, and Antony's vision thereof. 60. And this is so, for once again he was sitting on the mountain, and looking up saw in the air some one being borne upwards, and there was much joy among those who…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §24 — Of Count Archelaus and the virgin Polycration. 61. And Archelaus too, the Count, on a time having found him in the outer mountain, asked him merely to pray for Polycratia of Laodicea, an excellent and Christian…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §25 — Strange tales of the casting out of demons. 63. Afterwards, on another occasion, having descended to the outer cells, he was asked to enter a vessel and pray with the monks, and he alone perceived an exceedingly…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §26 — Of Antony's vision concerning the forgiveness of his sins. 65. And many monks have related with the greatest agreement and unanimity that many other such like things were done by him. But still these do not seem as…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §27 — Of the passage of souls, and how some were hindered of Satan. 66. And he had also this favour granted him. For as he was sitting alone on the mountain, if ever he was in perplexity in his meditations, this was…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §28 — How Antony reverenced all ordained persons. 67. Added to this he was tolerant in disposition and humble in spirit. For though he was such a man, he observed the rule of the Church most rigidly, and was willing that…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §29 — How he rejected the schism of Meletius and the heresies of Manes and Arius. 68. And he was altogether wonderful in faith and religious, for he never held communion with the Meletian schismatics, knowing their…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §30 — How he confuted the Arians. 69. And once also the Arians having lyingly asserted that Antony’s opinions were the same as theirs, he was displeased and wroth against them. Then being summoned by the bishops and all…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §31 — How he visited Alexandria, and healed and converted many, and how Athanasius escorted him from the city. 70. All the people, therefore, rejoiced when they heard the anti-Christian heresy anathematised by such a man.…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §32 — How he reasoned with divers Greeks and philosophers at the 'outer' mountain. 72. And Antony also was exceeding prudent, and the wonder was that although he had not learned letters, he was a ready-witted and sagacious…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §33 — How he confuted the philosophers by healing certain vexed with demons. 80. ‘And these signs are sufficient to prove that the faith of Christ alone is the true religion. But see! you still do not believe and are…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §34 — How the Emperors wrote to Antony, and of his answer. 81. And the fame of Antony came even unto kings. For Constantine Augustus, and his sons Constantius and Constans the Augusti wrote letters to him, as to a father,…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §35 — How he saw in a vision the present doings of the Arians. 82. Being known to be so great a man, therefore, and having thus given answers to those who visited him, he returned again to the inner mountain, and…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §36 — That his healings were done by Christ alone, through prayer. 83. Such are the words of Antony, and we ought not to doubt whether such marvels were wrought by the hand of a man. For it is the promise of the Saviour,…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §37 — How wisely he answered a certain duke. 85. At another time, suffering the same compulsion at the hands of them who had need, and after many entreaties from the commander of the soldiers, he came down, and when he was…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §38 — Of the Duke Balacius, and how, warned by Antony, he met with a miserable end. 86. And a certain general, Balacius by name, persecuted us Christians bitterly on account of his regard for the Arians—that name of…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §39 — How he bore the infirmities of the weak, and of his great benefits to all Egypt. 87. Thus, therefore, he warned the cruel. But the rest who came to him he so instructed that they straightway forgot their lawsuits,…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §40 — Of his discernment, and how he was a counsellor to all. 88. For this was the wonderful thing in Antony’s discipline, that, as I said before, having the gift of discerning spirits, he recognised their movements, and…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §41 — How, when now 105 years old, he counselled the monks, and gave advice concerning burial. 89. It is worth while that I should relate, and that you, as you wish it, should hear what his death was like. For this end of…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §42 — Of his sickness and his last will. 91. But he, knowing the custom, and fearing that his body would be treated this way, hastened, and having bidden farewell to the monks in the outer mountain entered the inner…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §43 — Of Antony's death. 92. Having said this, when they had kissed him, he lifted up his feet, and as though he saw friends coming to him and was glad because of them—for as he lay his countenance appeared joyful—he died…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §44 — How Antony remained hale until his death, and how the fame of him filled all the world. 93. This is the end of Antony’s life in the body and the above was the beginning of the discipline. Even if this account is…vatican.va
- Life of Antony §45 — The end. 94. 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 Saviour Jesus Christ glorifies those who glorify Him:…vatican.va
Scripture cited · 116 verses
Genesis 19:26 · Genesis 25:27 · Genesis 31:5 · Exodus 15:9 · Numbers 24:5 · Numbers 24:6 · Joshua 5:13 · Joshua 23:14 · Joshua 24:23 · 1 Samuel 16:12 · 2 Samuel 18:24 · 1 Kings 18:15 · 2 Kings 5:26 · 2 Kings 6:17 · 2 Kings 19:35 · Job 5:23 · Job 40:16 · Job 40:19 · Job 40:20 · Job 40:21 · Job 40:22 · Job 40:23 · Job 40:24 · Job 41:1 · Job 41:18 · Job 41:19 · Job 41:20 · Job 41:27 · Psalm 9:6 · Psalm 18:7 · Psalm 18:10 · Psalm 20:7 · Psalm 25:1 · Psalm 27:3 · Psalm 35:16 · Psalm 38:14 · Psalm 39:2 · Psalm 50:16 · Psalm 68:1 · Psalm 90:10 · Proverbs 4:23 · Proverbs 15:13 · Ecclesiastes 4:8 · Sirach 1:25 · Isaiah 10:14 · Ezekiel 18:26 · Daniel 4:19 · Hosea 4:12 · Habakkuk 2:15 · Matthew 3:3 · Matthew 4:10 · Matthew 4:20 · Matthew 6:7 · Matthew 6:31 · Matthew 6:34 · Matthew 7:2 · Matthew 7:22 · Matthew 8:31 · Matthew 9:20 · Matthew 10:8 · Matthew 12:19 · Matthew 14:28 · Matthew 17:20 · Matthew 19:21 · Matthew 27:60 · Matthew 28:5 · Luke 1:13 · Luke 1:41 · Luke 4:41 · Luke 9:62 · Luke 10:18 · Luke 10:19 · Luke 10:20 · Luke 11:9 · Luke 12:29 · Luke 17:21 · John 6:45 · John 8:44 · John 8:56 · John 16:23 · John 19:41 · Acts 4:35 · Acts 8:20 · Romans 2:16 · Romans 8:3 · Romans 8:18 · Romans 8:28 · Romans 8:32 · Romans 8:35 · 1 Corinthians 2:4 · 1 Corinthians 4:5 · 1 Corinthians 4:6 · 1 Corinthians 9:27 · 1 Corinthians 15:10 · 1 Corinthians 15:31 · 2 Corinthians 2:11 · 2 Corinthians 6:14 · 2 Corinthians 12:2 · 2 Corinthians 12:10 · 2 Corinthians 13:5 · Galatians 6:6 · Ephesians 2:2 · Ephesians 4:26 · Ephesians 6:11 · Ephesians 6:12 · Ephesians 6:13 · Philippians 3:13 · Philippians 3:14 · Colossians 2:15 · 1 Thessalonians 5:17 · 2 Thessalonians 3:10 · Titus 2:8 · Hebrews 1:2 · James 1:20 · 2 Peter 1:4 · 1 John 4:1