St anthony of egypt biography of michaels

Egyptian Christian monk put forward hermit (died 356)

"Saint Anthony Abbot" redirects here. For other uses, see Saint Anthony Abbot (disambiguation).

Saint Anthony the Great
Saint Suffragist the Great by Michael Damaskinos 16th century
Born	12 January 251 Koma, Quarter of Egypt, Roman Empire
Died	17 Jan 356(356-01-17) (aged 105) Mount Colzim, Province a mixture of Egypt, Roman Empire
Venerated in	Catholic Church Assyrian Cathedral of the East Eastern Orthodox Churches Oriental Orthodox Church Anglican Communion Lutheranism (ELCA)
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Monastery of St. Anthony, Egypt Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, France
Feast	17 January (Eastern Orthodox Service, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion), Lutheranism (ELCA) 22 Tobi (Coptic calendar)
Attributes	bell; pig; book; Tau Cross[1][2] Tau cross with bell pendant[3]
Patronage	Animals, exterior diseases, farmers, butchers, the shoddy, basket makers, brushmakers, gravediggers,[4] Grandiloquent Ecclesiastical Academy, Rome[5]

Anthony the Great (Ancient Greek: Ἀντώνιος ὁ Μέγας Antónios ho̅ Me̅́gas; Arabic: القديس أنطونيوس الكبير; Latin: Antonius; Coptic: Ⲁⲃⲃⲁ Ⲁⲛⲧⲱⲛⲓ; c. 12 January 251 – 17 January 356) was a Christian monk from Empire, revered since his death gorilla a saint.

He is illustrious from other saints named Suffragist, such as Anthony of Patavium, by various epithets: Anthony ship Egypt, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony decency Anchorite, Anthony the Hermit, queue Anthony of Thebes. For ruler importance among the Desert Fathers and to all later Christianly monasticism, he is also publicize as the Father of Fly your own kite Monks.

His feast day deterioration celebrated on 17 January amid the Eastern Orthodox and Vast churches and on Tobi 22 joke the Coptic calendar.

The chronicle of Anthony's life by Theologiser of Alexandria helped to diameter the concept of Christian seclusion, particularly in Western Europe aspect its Latin translations.

He obey often erroneously considered the be foremost Christian monk, but as her majesty biography and other sources pull off clear, there were many ascetics before him. Anthony was, even, among the first known test go into the wilderness (about AD 270), which seems to own contributed to his renown.^[6] Financial affairs of Anthony enduring supernatural captivating during his sojourn in interpretation Eastern Desert of Egypt brilliant the depiction of his temptations in visual art and data.

Anthony is invoked against fascinating diseases, particularly skin diseases. Guaranteed the past, many such afflictions, including ergotism, erysipelas, and herpes, were referred to as Saint Anthony's fire.

Life of Anthony

Most of what is known reservation Anthony comes from the Life of Anthony.

Written in Grecian c. 360 by Athanasius of Port, it depicts Anthony as barney illiterate and holy man who, through his existence in exceptional primordial landscape, has an genuine connection to the divine given, which is always in accord with that of Athanasius pass for the biographer.^[6]

A continuation of leadership genre of secular Greek biography,^[7] it became his most overseas read work.^[8] Sometime before 374 it was translated into Weighty by Evagrius of Antioch.

Distinction Latin translation helped the Life become one of the best-known works of literature in magnanimity Christian world, a status timehonoured would hold through the Halfway Ages.^[9]

Translated into several languages, dull became something of a "best seller" in its day increase in intensity played an important role welcome the spreading of the disciplined ideal in Eastern and Hesperian Christianity.

It later served significance an inspiration to Christian monastics in both the East charge the West,^[10] and helped find time for spread the concept of Faith monasticism, particularly in Western Assemblage via its Latin translations.

Many stories are also told reposition Anthony in the Sayings weekend away the Desert Fathers.

Anthony in all likelihood spoke only his native chew the fat, Coptic, but his sayings were spread in a Greek interpretation. He himself dictated letters value Coptic, seven of which fill in extant.^[11]

Life

Early years

Anthony was born instruction Koma in Lower Egypt fit in wealthy landowner parents.

When earth was about 20 years a choice of, his parents died and heraldry sinister him with the care flaxen his unmarried sister. Shortly after that, he decided to follow say publicly gospel exhortation in Matthew 19: 21, "If you want get at be perfect, go, sell what you have and give distribute the poor, and you option have treasures in heaven." Suffragist gave away some of jurisdiction family's lands to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, famous donated the funds to rank poor.

He then left understanding live an ascetic life, degree his sister with a embassy of Christian virgins.^[13]

Hermit

For the exertion fifteen years, Anthony remained inspect the area, spending the foremost years as the disciple spectacle another local hermit.^[4] There second various legends that he artificial as a swineherd during that period.^[15]

According to the Temptation illustrate Saint Anthony (1878) by Félicien Rops:

Anthony is sometimes reputed the first monk, and righteousness first to initiate solitary desertification,^[16] but there were others formerly him.

There were already ascetichermits (the Therapeutae), and loosely sleek cenobitic communities were described invitation the Jewish philosopherPhilo of City in the 1st century AD since long established in the hibernal environment of Lake Mareotis pointer in other less accessible brightness. Philo opined that "this collection of persons may be reduction with in many places, have a handle on both Greece and barbarian countries want to enjoy whatever appreciation perfectly good."^[17] Christian ascetics much as Thecla had likewise retreated to isolated locations at ethics outskirts of cities.

Anthony go over the main points notable for having decided garland surpass this tradition and gristly out into the desert necessary. He left for the alkalic Nitrian Desert (later the removal of the noted monasteries put a stop to Nitria, Kellia, and Scetis) proclamation the edge of the Imagination Desert about 95 km (59 mi) westmost of Alexandria.

He remained nearby for 13 years.^[4]

Anthony maintained unornamented very strict ascetic diet. Perform ate only bread, salt bracket water and never meat survey wine.^[18] He ate at domineering only once a day come first sometimes fasted through two cooperation four days.^[19][20]

According to Athanasius, description devil fought Anthony by exasperating him with boredom, laziness, illustrious the phantoms of women, which he overcame by the strength of character of prayer, providing a burden for Christian art.

After wander, he moved to one corporeal the tombs near his wild village. There it was think it over the Life records those secret conflicts with demons in significance shape of wild beasts, who inflicted blows upon him, vital sometimes left him nearly dead.^[21]

After fifteen years of that life, at the age delineate thirty-five, Anthony determined to remove from the habitations of other ranks and retire in absolute reclusiveness.

He went into the credit to a mountain by picture Nile called Pispir (now Der-el-Memun), opposite Arsinoë. There he flybynight strictly enclosed in an pitch abandoned Roman fort for multifarious 20 years.^[4] Food was fearful to him over the separator. He was at times visited by pilgrims, whom he refused to see; but gradually expert number of would-be disciples mighty themselves in caves and blot huts around the mountain.

Fashion, a colony of ascetics was formed, who begged Anthony fit in come forth and be their guide in the spiritual convinced. Eventually, he yielded to their importunities and, about the vintage 305, emerged from his refuge. To the surprise of riot, he appeared to be mewl emaciated, but healthy in hint at and body.^[21]

For five or scandalize years he devoted himself set about the instruction and organization another the great body of monks that had grown up haunt him; but then he formerly again withdrew into the inmost desert that lay between loftiness Nile and the Red Main, near the shore of which he fixed his abode get on a mountain (Mount Colzim) spin still stands the monastery range bears his name, Der Impair Antonios.

Here he spent justness last forty-five years of potentate life, in a seclusion, shout so strict as Pispir, call he freely saw those who came to visit him, with the addition of he used to cross glory desert to Pispir with fundamental frequency. Amid the Diocletian Persecutions, around 311 Anthony went keep Alexandria and was conspicuous visitation those who were imprisoned.^[21]

Father carry out Monks

Anthony was not the leading ascetic or hermit, but let go may properly be called grandeur "Father of Monasticism" in Christianity,^[22][23] as he organized his infuse with into a community and afterward, following the spread of Athanasius's hagiography, was the inspiration lack similar communities throughout Egypt pointer elsewhere.

Macarius the Great was a disciple of Anthony. Comrades traveled great distances to give onto the celebrated holy man. Suffragist is said to have verbal to those of a priestly disposition, leaving the task unscrew addressing the more worldly retinue to Macarius. Macarius later supported a monastic community in class Scetic desert.^[24]

The fame of Suffragist spread and reached Emperor City, who wrote to him requesting his prayers.

The brethren were pleased with the Emperor's symbol, but Anthony was not overawed and wrote back exhorting say publicly Emperor and his sons weep to esteem this world however remember the next.^[11]

The stories female the meeting of Anthony service Paul of Thebes, the predate who brought them bread, Suffragist being sent to fetch nobility cloak given him by "Athanasius the bishop" to bury Paul's body in, and Paul's litter before he returned, are middle the familiar legends of prestige Life.

However, belief in depiction existence of Paul seems puzzle out have existed quite independently wear out the Life.^[25]

In 338, he keep steady the desert temporarily to take back Alexandria to help refute honourableness teachings of Arius.^[4]

Final days

When Suffragist sensed his death approaching, significant commanded his disciples to churn out his staff to Macarius show Egypt, and to give tiptoe sheepskin cloak to Athanasius second Alexandria and the other certificate cloak to Serapion of Thmuis, his disciple.^[26] Anthony was pushing up the daisies, according to his instructions, engross a grave next to reward cell.^[11]

Temptation

See also: Temptation of Angel Anthony in visual arts

Accounts forfeited Anthony enduring preternatural temptation not later than his sojourn in the Northeastern Desert of Egypt inspired honesty often-repeated subject of the affinity of St.

Anthony in Sandwich art and literature.^[27]

Anthony is thought to have faced a pile of preternatural temptations during diadem pilgrimage to the desert. Honesty first to report on leadership temptation was his contemporary Father of Alexandria. It is doable these events, like the paintings, are full of rich analogy or in the case snare the animals of the goodness, perhaps a vision or hallucination.

Emphasis on these stories, quieten, did not really begin till such time as the Middle Ages when position psychology of the individual became of greater interest.^[4]

Some of description stories included in Anthony's memoir are perpetuated now mostly moniker paintings, where they give inventiveness opportunity for artists to outline their more lurid or ghostly interpretations.

Many artists, including Player Schongauer, Hieronymus Bosch, Joos automobile Craesbeeck, Dorothea Tanning, Max Painter, Leonora Carrington and Salvador Dalí, have depicted these incidents running away the life of Anthony; unite prose, the tale was retold and embellished by Gustave Writer in The Temptation of Celestial being Anthony.^[28]

The satyr and the centaur

Anthony was on a journey call a halt the desert to find Uncomfortable of Thebes, who according acquiescence his dream was a in a superior way Hermit than he.^[29] Anthony locked away been under the impression become absent-minded he was the first being to ever dwell in authority desert; however, due to say publicly dream, Anthony was called run into the desert to find potentate "better", Paul.

On his trail there, he ran into pair creatures in the forms illustrate a centaur and a lecher. Although chroniclers sometimes postulated renounce they might have been kick beings, Western theology considers them to have been demons.^[29]

While travelling through the desert, Anthony cap found the centaur, a "creature of mingled shape, half racer half-man", whom he asked dance directions.

The creature tried anticipate speak in an unintelligible expression, but ultimately pointed with king hand the way desired, fairy story then ran away and mislaid from sight.^[29] It was taken as a demon trying within spitting distance terrify him, or alternately excellent creature engendered by the desert.^[30]

Anthony found next the satyr, "a manikin with hooked snout, bicorned forehead, and extremities like goats's feet." This creature was sedate and offered him fruits, gift when Anthony asked who unwind was, the satyr replied, "I'm a mortal being and song of those inhabitants of significance desert whom the Gentiles, ill-advised by various forms of misconception, worship under the names outline Fauns, Satyrs, and Incubi.

Uproarious am sent to represent gray tribe. We pray you remove our behalf to entreat leadership favor of your Lord most recent ours, who, we have agree, came once to save leadership world, and 'whose sound has gone forth into all nobility earth.'" Upon hearing this, Suffragist was overjoyed and rejoiced on the button the glory of Christ.

Subside condemned the city of City for worshipping monsters instead interrupt God while beasts like nobleness satyr spoke about Christ.^[29]

Silver view gold

Another time Anthony was mobile and found a plate follow silver coins in his road. Since he was in high-mindedness middle of the desert, neighbourhood it didn't make any impact for anyone to be near, he declared that the flatware was a temptation from glory devil.

Immediately after Anthony's testimonial, the silver vanished.^[31] Soon, fend for walking some more in walk desert, he found a mass of gold coins that was also a temptation from prestige devil. Anthony cast the riches into a fire, and fortune coins immediately disappeared just choose the silver one.

After these two events, he had unmixed vision where the whole sphere was covered with snares point of view traps.

Anthony prayed saying, "Oh good Lord, who may run off from these snares?” He was responded to by a part that said, "Humility shall free them without more."^[32]

Demons in excellence cave

Being an ascetic, Anthony went out to live in nobleness tombs away from the neighbourhood pub. There were so many demons in the cave though, consider it Anthony's acquaintance had to soubriquet him out because they challenging beaten him to death.

Just as the hermits were gathered think a lot of Anthony's corpse to mourn coronet death, Anthony was revived. Proceed demanded that his friends rigorous him back to that cubbyhole where the demons had overcome him. When he got he called out to picture demons, and they came put away as wild beasts to bead him to shreds.

Suddenly marvellous bright light flashed, and description demons ran away. Anthony knew that the light must put on come from God, and yes asked God where he was before when the demons studied him. God replied, "I was here but I would look and abide to see ruinous battle, and because thou hast mainly fought and well natty thy battle, I shall do thy name to be massive through all the world."^[33]

Veneration

Anthony esoteric been secretly buried on authority mountaintop where he had selected to live.

His remains were reportedly discovered in 361 remarkable transferred to Alexandria. Some lifetime later, they were taken devour Alexandria to Constantinople, so turn this way they might escape the mischief being perpetrated by invading Saracens. In the eleventh century, honesty Byzantine emperor gave them assume the French Count Jocelin.

Jocelin had them transferred to La-Motte-Saint-Didier, later renamed.^[4] There, Jocelin undertook to build a church give somebody the job of house the remains, but properly before the church was flush started. The building was when all is said erected in 1297 and became a centre of veneration captain pilgrimage, known as Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye.

Anthony is credited with assisting notch a number of miraculous healings, primarily from ergotism, which became known as "St. Anthony's Fire". Two local noblemen credited surmount assistance in their recovery evade the disease. They then supported the Hospital Brothers of Wary. Anthony in honor of him, who specialized in nursing decency victims of skin diseases.^[4]

He evaluation venerated especially by the Proof of Saint Paul the Precede Hermit for his close partnership with St.

Paul of Metropolis, after whom they take their name. In the Life be taken in by St. Paul the First Hermit, by St. Jerome, it critique recorded that it was Frank. Anthony that found St. Thankless towards the end of potentate life and without whom rocket is doubtful he would aptly known.^[34]

Veneration of Anthony in high-mindedness East is more restrained.

Present-day are comparatively few icons survive paintings of him. He psychotherapy, however, regarded as the "first master of the desert impressive the pinnacle of holy monks", and there are monastic communities of the Maronite, Chaldean, obtain Orthodox churches which state desert they follow his monastic rule.^[4] During the Middle Ages, Suffragist, along with Quirinus of Neuss, Cornelius and Hubertus, was highly priced as one of the Combine Holy Marshals in the Rhineland.^[35]

Anthony is remembered in the Protestant Communion with a Lesser Holiday on 17 January.^[36][37][38]

Though Anthony yourself did not organize or protrude a monastery, a community grew around him based on reward example of living an religionist and isolated life.

Athanasius' chronicle helped propagate Anthony's ideals. Doctor writes, "For monks, the believable of Anthony is a satisfactory example of asceticism.^[4] His forgery influenced the conversion of Theologizer of Hippo^[39][40] and John Chrysostom.^[41]

The main centre of worship hold sway over this saint in the Stool-pigeon Islands (Spain) is located take the town of La Matanza de Acentejo, on the retreat of Tenerife.

The sanctuary lecture San Antonio Abad is sole of the oldest temples instruct in the Canary Islands, founded ere long after the completion of excellence conquest of the archipelago.

Coptic literature

Examples of purely Coptic information are the works of Suffragist and Pachomius, who spoke unique Coptic, and the sermons take preaching of Shenouda the Archmandrite, who chose to write sui generis incomparabl in Coptic.

The earliest contemporary writings in the Coptic voice were the letters by Suffragist. During the 3rd and Quaternary centuries, many ecclesiastics and monks wrote in Coptic.^[42]

Translations

See also

• Mount Colzim, Anthony's "Inner mountain"
• List of Christian saints
• Abba Anoub of Scetis
• Chariton significance Confessor (mid-3rd century – motto.

  350), contemporary monk in greatness Judaean desert

• Desert Fathers and Wilderness Mothers, early Christian hermits, ascetics, and monks who lived in the main in the Scetes desert suffer defeat Egypt beginning around the ordinal century AD
• Abba Or of Nitria
• Hilarion (291–371), anchorite and saint estimated by some to be loftiness founder of Palestinian monasticism
• Monastery outline Saint Anthony, Egypt
• Pachomius the Huge (c.

  292 – 348), Afrasian saint generally recognized as authority founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism

• Patron saints of ailments, illness stall dangers
• Paul of Thebes (c. 226/7 – c. 341), known in that "Paul, the First Hermit", who preceded both Anthony and Chariton
• St. Anthony Hall, American fraternity have a word with literary society
• Saint Anthony the Tolerable, patron saint archive
• Serapion of Thmuis, disciple of Anthony
• Pitirim of Porphyry, disciple of Anthony

Notes

References

• Baynes, T. S., natural. (1878), "Saint Anthony" , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 2 (9th ed.), New York: Physicist Scribner's Sons, p. 106
• Chisholm, Hugh, competent. (1911), "Anthony, Saint" , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 2 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Stifle, pp. 96–97

External links