The Life of Antony
St. Athanasius of Alexandria · Desert Fathers
NPNF Series II, Vol. 4
Athanasius's biography of Antony the Great, the father of Christian monasticism.
Contents
The Life of Antony
- Prologue
- Birth and beginnings of Antony.
- His early ascetic life.
- Early conflicts with the devil.
- Details of his life at this time (271-285?)
- His life in the tombs, and combats with demonsthere.
- He goes to the desert and overcomes temptations on the way.
- How Antony took up his abode in a ruined fort across the Nile, and how he defeated the demons. His twenty years' sojourn there.
- How he left the fort, and how monasticism began to flourish in Egypt. Antony its leader.
- His address to monks, rendered from Coptic, exhorting them to perseverance, and encouraging them against the wiles of Satan.
- The growth of the monastic life at this time (about A.D. 305).
- How Antony renewed his ascetic endeavours at this time.
- How he sought martyrdom at Alexandria during the Persecution (311).
- How he lived at this time.
- How he delivered a woman from an evil spirit.
- How at this time he betook himself to his 'inner mountain.'
- How he there combated the demons.
- Of the miraculous spring, and how he edified the monks of the 'outer' mountain, and of Antony's sister.
- How humanely he counselled those who resorted to him.
- Of the case of Fronto, healed by faithand prayer.
- Of a certain virgin, and of Paphnutius the confessor.
- Of the two brethren, and how one perished of thirst.
- Of the death of Amun, and Antony's vision thereof.
- Of Count Archelaus and the virgin Polycration.
- Strange tales of the casting out of demons.
- Of Antony's vision concerning the forgiveness of his sins.
- Of the passage of souls, and how some were hindered of Satan.
- How Antony reverenced all ordained persons.
- How he rejected the schism of Meletius and the heresies of Manes and Arius.
- How he confuted the Arians.
- How he visited Alexandria, and healed and converted many, and how Athanasius escorted him from the city.
- How he reasoned with divers Greeks and philosophers at the 'outer' mountain.
- How he confuted the philosophers by healing certain vexed with demons.
- How the Emperors wrote to Antony, and of his answer.
- How he saw in a vision the present doings of the Arians.
- That his healings were done by Christ alone, through prayer.
- How wisely he answered a certain duke.
- Of the Duke Balacius, and how, warned by Antony, he met with a miserable end.
- How he bore the infirmities of the weak, and of his great benefits to all Egypt.
- Of his discernment, and how he was a counsellor to all.
- How, when now 105 years old, he counselled the monks, and gave advice concerning burial.
- Of his sickness and his last will.
- Of Antony's death.
- How Antony remained hale until his death, and how the fame of him filled all the world.
- The end.