Life of Antony

 He was content with what he found, and sought nothing more. After the death of his parents, he was left alone with one very young sister and he was a

 he signified love for one another and thus filled, he would return to his own place of the hermitage then he himself, gathering to himself the thing

 I undertook to tickle the young, and I have been called the spirit of fornication. How many who wished to be chaste have I deceived! How many who were

 to learn of the ascetic from the life of the great Elijah, as in a mirror his own life always. Thus, then, having strengthened himself, Antony departe

 he forgot the contest of Antony, but came to his aid. So, looking up, he saw the roof as if opening, and a certain ray of light coming down to him. An

 that these were at work, and they themselves, being afraid, called for Antony. But he listened more to these than he cared for those. And coming near

 the Scriptures are sufficient for teaching but it is good for us to exhort one another in the faith, and to anoint one another with words. And you, t

 In this the Lord is also a helper, as it is written: To everyone who chooses the good, God works with him for the good. And so that we may not be negl

 in the air about us, and they are not far from us and there is a great difference among them. And concerning their nature and their difference would

 enemy: Having pursued I will overtake and again by another: I will take the whole world in my hand, as a nest, and I will take it up as abandoned egg

 God said to the sinner: Why do you declare my 26.884 statutes, and take up my covenant in your mouth? For they do all things, and they speak, and make

 worlds from which they ought rather to be despised as weak. For the true angel, sent by the Lord against the Assyrians, had no need of crowds, nor of

 they themselves lied. So also concerning the river's water they sometimes babble for having seen many rains occurring in the parts of Ethiopia, and k

 God so granting. For the vision of the saints is not troubled. For he will not strive, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear their voice. But it hap

 is of our virtue and life but to cast out demons, this grace is of the Savior who gave it. Whence to those who boast not in virtue, but in signs, and

 long-nosed. Then as I was saying Why then are you here? he said Why do the monks, and all other Christians, blame me in vain? Why do they curse me e

 was cast out, and the conceit of others was stopped and all were persuaded to despise the demonic plotting, marveling at the grace given to Antony by

 zeal for he himself also prayed to be martyred, as I said before. He therefore seemed to be grieving, because he had not been martyred but the Lord

 and a few neglected palm trees. Antony, therefore, as if moved by God, loved the place for this was what he who had spoken to him by the banks of the

 you are hesitating, but depart 26.920 for I am a servant of Christ. As Antony said these things, they fled, as if pursued by the whip of his word. Th

 examine, and test yourselves. Therefore, let each one take account to himself day by day of his actions by day and by night and, if he has sinned, le

 and for them to enter, this indeed he did not permit, but said: Go, and you will find her, if she has not died, healed. For this is not my achievement

 Amoun had fallen asleep at the hour in which his old man saw his soul being carried up. And indeed both these and those marveled at the purity of Anto

 to hinder so that he might not pass through. But when his guides fought against them, they demanded an account, whether he was not subject to them. So

 he conversed for their benefit but he yielded to him in the matter of prayer, not being ashamed to learn himself. For he often inquired, and 26.940 a

 believing they were being helped. Indeed, so many became 26.944 Christians in those few days, as many as one might see become in a year. Then, when so

 that Christ was made manifest as a man whereas you, separating the soul from heaven, claim that it has wandered and fallen from the vault of the heav

 we understand by faith, this you attempt to construct through words and often you are not even able to express what we understand so that the operat

 but faith working through love for Christ which if you also should have, you will no longer seek proofs through words but you will consider faith in

 Arians act irrationally like beasts. And when he saw this vision, he exhorted those with him, saying: Do not be disheartened, children for just as th

 coming upon you Therefore cease persecuting Christians, lest at any time the wrath should seize you for it is already about to come upon you. But Ba

 we shall see one another again in this life. It is time for me at last to depart for I am nearly one hundred and five years old. So when they heard t

 Remember me as a father. Do not let anyone take my body to Egypt, lest they place it in their houses for it was for this reason that I went into the

 those who are hiding themselves, and are striving to withdraw, He makes manifest and renowned everywhere on account of both their own virtue and the b

he conversed for their benefit; but he yielded to him in the matter of prayer, not being ashamed to learn himself. For he often inquired, and 26.940 asked to hear from those who were with him; and he confessed that he was benefited, if anyone said something useful. And indeed his face had much and remarkable grace. He had this gift also from the Savior; for if he was present with the multitude of monks, and someone who did not know him before wished to see him, coming forward at once, he would pass over the others and run to him, as if drawn by his appearance. He did not differ from the others in height or in breadth, but in the composure of his character and the purity of his soul. For since his soul was untroubled, his outward senses were also undisturbed; so that from the joy of his soul his face was also cheerful, and from the movements of his body one could perceive and understand the state of his soul, according to what is written: When the heart is glad, the face blossoms; but when it is in sorrow, it is downcast. Thus Jacob perceived that Laban was plotting against him, and he says to his wives: The face of your father is not as it was yesterday and the day before; thus Samuel recognized David; for he had joyous eyes, and teeth as white as milk. Thus also was Antony recognized; for he was never disturbed, since his soul was calm; he was never downcast, since his mind was joyful. And in faith he was very admirable and devout. For he never had fellowship with the Meletian schismatics, knowing their wickedness and apostasy from the beginning; nor did he speak in a friendly way with Manichaeans or any other heretics, except only for the purpose of admonishing them to change to piety; considering and declaring that friendship and conversation with them was a harm and destruction of the soul. Thus, therefore, he also loathed the Arian heresy, and he commanded all neither to approach them, nor to hold their evil belief. So once, when some of the Ariomanites came to him, having questioned them and learned that they were impious, 26.941 he drove them from the mountain, saying that their words were worse than the venom of serpents. And when the Arians once falsely claimed that he thought the same things as they did, he was indignant and angry with them. Then, having been urged by both the bishops and all the brothers, he came down from the mountain; and having entered Alexandria, he denounced the Arians, saying that this was the utmost heresy, and the forerunner of the Antichrist. And he taught the people that the Son of God is not a creature, nor has he come into being out of nothing; but that he is the eternal Word and Wisdom of the Father's essence. Wherefore it is also impious to say, 'There was a time when he was not;' for the Word was always co-existing with the Father; therefore have no fellowship with the most impious Arians; for what fellowship has light with darkness? For you, being pious, are Christians; but they, saying that the Son of God and Word from the Father is a creature, differ in nothing from the heathens, worshipping the creature rather than God the creator. But believe that all creation itself is indignant with them, because they number the creator and Lord of all, in whom all things were made, with the created things. All the people, therefore, rejoiced to hear the Christ-fighting heresy being anathematized by such a man; and all those of the city ran together to see Antony. And Greeks, and even their so-called priests, came to the Lord's house, saying: We ask to see the man of God; for all called him so. For there also the Lord cleansed many through him from demons, and healed those who were injured in mind. And many Greeks also asked if they might only touch the old man,

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πρὸς ὠφέλειαν διελέγετο· τὰ δὲ τῆς εὐχῆς αὐτῷ παρεχώρει, οὐκ αἰδούμενος μαν θάνειν καὶ αὐτός. Καὶ γὰρ πολλάκις ἐπυνθάνετο, καὶ 26.940 ἠξίου παρὰ τῶν συνόντων ἀκούειν· καὶ ὡμολό γει ὠφελεῖσθαι, εἴ τι χρήσιμόν τις ἔλεγε. Καὶ μὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ χάριν εἶχε πολλὴν καὶ παρά δοξον. Εἶχε δὲ καὶ τοῦτο τὸ χάρισμα παρὰ τοῦ Σωτῆ ρος· εἰ γὰρ μετὰ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν μοναχῶν παρῆν, καὶ τοῦτον ἰδεῖν τις ἐβούλετο μὴ πρότερον γινώσκων, προσελθὼν εὐθὺς, τοὺς μὲν ἄλλους ὑπερέβαινε, πρὸς αὐτὸν δὲ ἔτρεχεν, ὡς ὑπὸ τῶν ὄψεων αὐτοῦ ἑλκόμενος. Οὐχ ὕψει δὲ, οὐδὲ τῷ πλάτει διέφερε τῶν ἄλλων, ἀλλὰ τῇ τῶν ἠθῶν καταστάσει, καὶ τῇ τῆς ψυχῆς καθαρό τητι. Ἀθορύβου γὰρ οὔσης τῆς ψυχῆς, ἀταράχους εἶχε καὶ τὰς ἔξωθεν αἰσθήσεις· ὡς ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς τῆς ψυχῆς ἱλαρὸν ἔχειν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τοῦ σώματος κινημάτων αἰσθέσθαι καὶ νοεῖν τὴν τῆς ψυ χῆς κατάστασιν, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον· Καρδίας εὐφραινομένης, θάλλει πρόσωπον· ἐν δὲ λύπαις οὔσης, σκυθρωπάζει. Οὕτως Ἰακὼβ ἐπέγνω τὸν Λάβαν ἐπιβουλὴν ἐνθυμούμενον, καί φησι πρὸς τὰς γυναῖκας· Οὐκ ἔστι τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν ὡς χθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν· οὕτως ὁ Σα μουὴλ ἐπέγνω τὸν ∆αβίδ· χαροποιοὺς γὰρ εἶχε τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς, καὶ τοὺς ὀδόντας ὡς γάλα λευκούς. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ Ἀντώνιος ἐπιγινώσκετο· οὐδέποτε γὰρ ἐταράττετο, γαληνιώσης αὐτοῦ τῆς ψυχῆς· οὐδέποτε σκυθρωπὸς ἐγίνετο, χαιρούσης αὐτοῦ τῆς διανοίας. Καὶ τῇ πίστει δὲ πάνυ θαυμαστὸς ἦν καὶ εὐ σεβής. Οὔτε γὰρ Μελετιανοῖς τοῖς σχισματικοῖς ποτε κεκοινώνηκεν, εἰδὼς αὐτῶν τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς πονηρίαν καὶ ἀποστασίαν· οὔτε Μανιχαίοις, ἢ ἄλλοις τισὶν αἱ ρετικοῖς ὡμίλησε φιλικὰ, ἢ μόνον ἄχρι νουθεσίας τῆς εἰς εὐσέβειαν μεταβολῆς· ἡγούμενος καὶ παρ αγγέλλων τὴν τούτων φιλίαν καὶ ὁμιλίαν βλάβην καὶ ἀπώλειαν εἶναι ψυχῆς. Οὕτω γοῦν καὶ τὴν τῶν Ἀρειανῶν αἵρεσιν ἐβδελύσσετο, παρήγγελλέ τε πᾶσι μήτε ἐγγίζειν αὐτοῖς, μήτε τὴν κακοπιστίαν αὐτῶν ἔχειν. Ἀπελθόντας γοῦν ποτέ τινας πρὸς αὐτὸν τῶν Ἀρειομανιτῶν, ἀνακρίνας καὶ μαθὼν ἀσεβοῦντας, 26.941 ἐδίωξεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὅρους, λέγων ὄφεων ἰοῦ χείρονας εἶ ναι τοὺς λόγους αὐτῶν. Καὶ ψευσαμένων δέ ποτε τῶν Ἀρειανῶν, ὡς ἐκείνοις τὰ αὐτὰ φρονοῦντος, ἠγανάκτει καὶ ἐθυμοῦτο κατ' ἐκείνων. Εἶτα παρακληθεὶς παρά τε τῶν ἐπι σκόπων καὶ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πάντων, κατῆλθεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους· καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν, τοὺς Ἀρειανοὺς ἀπεκήρυξεν· αἵρεσιν ἐσχάτην λέγων εἶναι ταύτην, καὶ πρόδρομον τοῦ Ἀντιχρίστου. Ἐδίδασκέ τε τὸν λαὸν μὴ εἶναι κτίσμα τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, μηδὲ ἐξ οὐκ ὄντων γεγενῆσθαι· ἀλλ' ὅτι ἀΐδιός ἐστι τῆς τοῦ Πατρὸς οὐσίας Λόγος καὶ Σοφία. ∆ι' ὃ καὶ ἀσεβές ἐστι λέγειν· Ἦν ὅτε οὐκ ἦν· ἦν γὰρ ἀεὶ ὁ Λόγος συνυπάρχων τῷ Πατρί· ὅθεν μηδὲ μίαν ἔχετε κοινωνίαν πρὸς τοὺς ἀσεβεστάτους Ἀρειανούς· Οὐδεμία γὰρ κοινωνία φωτὶ πρὸς σκότος. Ὑμεῖς μὲν γὰρ εὐσεβοῦντες Χριστιανοί ἐστε· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ, κτίσμα λέγοντες τὸν ἐκ τοῦ Πατρὸς Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Λόγον, οὐδὲν διαφέρουσιν ἐθνικῶν, λατρεύοντες τῇ κτίσει παρὰ τὸν κτίσαντα Θεόν. Πιστεύσατε δὲ, ὅτι καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ κτίσις πᾶσα ἀγανακτεῖ κατ' αὐτῶν· ὅτι τὸν κτίστην καὶ Κύριον τοῦ παντὸς, ἐν ᾧ τὰ πάντα γέγονε, τοῦτον τοῖς γενητοῖς συναριθμοῦσιν. Οἱ μὲν οὖν λαοὶ πάντες ἔχαιρον ἀκούοντες παρὰ τοῦ τοιούτου ἀνδρὸς ἀναθεματιζομένην τὴν χριστομάχον αἵρεσιν· οἱ δὲ τῆς πόλεως πάντες συν έτρεχον ἰδεῖν τὸν Ἀντώνιον. Ἕλληνές τε καὶ αὐτοὶ οἱ λεγόμενοι αὐτῶν ἱερεῖς, εἰς τὸ Κυριακὸν ἤρχοντο λέγοντες· Ἀξιοῦμεν ἰδεῖν τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἄνθρωπον· πάντες γὰρ αὐτὸν οὕτως ἐκάλουν. Καὶ γὰρ κἀκεῖ πολλοὺς δι' αὐτοῦ ἐκαθάρισεν ὁ Κύριος ἀπὸ δαιμό νων, καὶ βλαβέντας τὴν διάνοιαν ἰάσατο. Πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ Ἕλληνες ἠξίουν κἂν μόνον ἅπτεσθαι τοῦ γέρον τος,

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