Anthony the Great

Who they were

Anthony was orphaned at twenty. As a young man he gave all he owned to the poor and withdrew into the Egyptian desert, where he lived in solitude, fasting, work and prayer, and fought the temptations of the devil. Around him gathered families of monks who, under a spiritual father, gave themselves to God: he is honoured as the father of monks.

St Athanasius wrote his life, the Vita Antonii, saying that although Anthony lived hidden in the mountains he was known and loved in Spain and Gaul, Rome and Africa, not for writings or learning but only for his devotion to God.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Anthony has been honoured as a saint since his death in the fourth century. On his feast animals and stables are blessed, and he is pictured with a pig, the tau-shaped hermit's staff and a bell, after the medieval Antonine hospitallers.

Why that counted as sanctity

Anthony gave everything to the poor and his whole life to God in the desert. As St Athanasius wrote, he became known everywhere only for his love of God, so that others might see that the commandments can be kept and take courage.

Connected on this site

• Isaac of Dalmatia Saint Pupil
• Macarius of Alexandria Saint Pupil
• Pambo Saint Pupil
  “390) was a Coptic Desert Father of the fourth century and disciple of Anthony the Great.” — Wikipedia
• Amun Saint
  “He was one of the most venerated ascetics of the Nitrian Desert, and Athanasius of Alexandria mentions him in his life of Anthony the Great.” — Wikipedia
• Anthony of Padua Saint
  “He is distinguished from other saints named Anthony, such as Anthony of Padua, by various epithets: Anthony of Egypt, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Anthony the Hermit, and Anthony of Thebes.” — Wikipedia
• Anthony the Hermit Saint
  “He is distinguished from other saints named Anthony, such as Anthony of Padua, by various epithets: Anthony of Egypt, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Anthony the Hermit, and Anthony of Thebes.” — Wikipedia
• Athanasius of Alexandria Saint
  “The biography of Anthony's life by Athanasius of Alexandria helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe via its Latin translations.” — Wikipedia
• Hilarion Saint
  “291 – 371), also known by the bynames of Thavata, of Gaza and, in the Orthodox Church, as the Great, was a Christian anchorite who spent most of his life in the desert according to the example of Anthony the Great (c.” — Wikipedia
• Paphnutius of Thebes Saint
  “251 AD - died 4th century AD), also known as Paphnutius the Confessor, was a historical early Christian figure, said to be a disciple of Anthony the Great and a bishop of a city in the Upper Thebaid in the early fourth century.” — Wikipedia
• Paul the Simple Saint
  “Paul the Simple of Egypt (225 – 339) was a hermit and disciple of Anthony the Great.” — Wikipedia
• Sisoes the Great Saint
  “Sisoës the Great (also Sisoi the Great, Sisoy the Great, Sisoes of Sceté or Shishoy; Coptic: ⲁⲡⲁ ϫⲓϫⲱⲓ; died 429 AD) was an early Christian desert father, a solitary monk pursuing asceticism in the Egyptian desert in a cave of his predecessor, St Anthony the Great.” — Wikipedia