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

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 this, they wept, and embraced and kissed the old man. But he, as though departing from a foreign city to his own, spoke with joy; and he exhorted them not to be negligent in their labors, nor to faint in their ascetic practice; but to live as though dying daily; and as I have said before, to be zealous to guard the soul from unclean thoughts; and to have zeal for the saints, but not to draw near the Meletian schismatics; for you know their wicked and profane purpose; nor have any fellowship with the Arians; for their impiety is manifest to all. And if you should see the magistrates supporting them, do not be troubled; for it will cease, and their pomp is mortal and for a short time. Therefore, keep yourselves pure from these, and observe the tradition of the Fathers, and above all the pious faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which you have learned from the Scriptures, and of which you have often been reminded by me. But when the brothers urged him to remain with them, and there to die, he would not consent for many reasons, as he indicated even by his silence, but especially for this one: the Egyptians are accustomed to preparing for burial the bodies of the worthy dead, and especially of the holy martyrs, and wrapping them in linens; not to hide 26.969 them under the earth, but to place them on couches, and to keep them indoors with them; thinking in this to honor the departed. But Antony had often asked the bishops to exhort the people concerning this; likewise he admonished laymen, and rebuked women, saying that this was neither lawful nor at all holy. For the bodies of the patriarchs and prophets are preserved in tombs to this day; and the very body of the Lord was laid in a sepulchre, and a stone placed on it hid it, until He rose on the third day. And saying these things, he showed that one who does not hide the bodies of the dead after death transgresses the law, even if they be holy. For what is greater or holier than the Lord's body? Many therefore, having heard, henceforth hid them under the earth, and gave thanks to the Lord, having been well taught. But he, knowing this, and fearing that they might do the same with his body, hastened himself away, having taken leave of the monks on the outer mountain; and having entered into the inner mountain, where he was accustomed to stay, after a few months he fell sick; and having called those who were with him (there were two, who had also remained within, practicing for fifteen years, and ministering to him because of his old age), he said to them: I, as it is written, am going the way of the fathers; for I see myself being called by the Lord. But you, be sober, and do not lose your long-practiced discipline; but as though now beginning, be zealous to keep your eagerness. You know the plotting demons, you know how they are fierce, but weak in power. Therefore do not fear them, but rather always breathe Christ, and trust in Him; and live as though dying daily, taking heed to yourselves, and remembering the exhortations you have heard from me. And let there be no fellowship for you with the schismatics, nor at all with the heretical Arians. For you know 26.972 how I too turned away from them because of their Christ-fighting and heterodox heresy. But rather be zealous yourselves always to join yourselves, first to the Lord, and then to the saints; so that after death they also may receive you into the eternal tabernacles, as friends and acquaintances. Consider these things, think on these things; and if you care for me, and

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πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς ἐν τῷ βίῳ τούτῳ θεωρήσομεν. Καιρός ἐστι κἀμὲ λοιπὸν ἀναλῦσαι· εἰμὶ γὰρ ἐγγὺς ἐτῶν πέντε καὶ ἑκατόν. Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἀκούσαντες, ἔκλαιον, καὶ περιεπτύσσοντο καὶ κατ εφίλουν τὸν γέροντα· ὁ δὲ, ὡς ἀπὸ ἀλλοτρίας εἰς ἰδίαν ἀπαίρων πόλιν, χαίρων διελέγετο· καὶ παρήγ γελλεν αὐτοῖς μὴ ὀλιγωρεῖν ἐν τοῖς πόνοις, μηδὲ ἐκκακεῖν ἐν τῇ ἀσκήσει· ἀλλ' ὡς καθ' ἡμέραν ἀποθνήσκοντας ζῇν· καὶ καθὰ προεῖπον σπουδάζειν τὴν ψυχὴν φυλάττειν ἀπὸ ῥυπαρῶν λογισμῶν· καὶ τὸν ζῆλον ἔχειν πρὸς τοὺς ἁγίους, μὴ ἐγγίζειν δὲ Μελετιανοῖς τοῖς σχισματικοῖς· οἴδατε γὰρ αὐ τῶν τὴν πονηρὰν καὶ βέβηλον προαίρεσιν· μηδὲ κοι νωνίαν ἔχειν τινὰ πρὸς τοὺς Ἀρειανούς· καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἡ τούτων ἀσέβεια πᾶσιν ἔκδηλός ἐστι. Μηδ' ἂν θεωρήσητε προϊσταμένους αὐτῶν τοὺς δικαστὰς, τα ράττεσθε· παύσεται γὰρ, καὶ θνητὴ καὶ πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐστὶν αὐτῶν ἡ φαντασία. Καθαροὺς οὖν ἑαυτοὺς μᾶλλον ἀπὸ τούτων φυλάττετε, καὶ τηρεῖτε τήν τε τῶν Πατέρων παράδοσιν, καὶ προηγουμένως τὴν εἰς τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν εὐσεβῆ πίστιν, ἣν ἐκ τῶν Γραφῶν μὲν μεμαθήκατε, παρ' ἐμοῦ δὲ πολ λάκις ὑπεμνήσθητε. Τῶν δὲ ἀδελφῶν βιαζομένων μεῖναι αὐτὸν παρ' αὐτοῖς, κἀκεῖ τελειωθῆναι, οὐκ ἠνέσχετο διὰ πολλὰ μὲν, ὡς αὐτὸς καὶ σιωπῶν ἐνέφαινε, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο δὲ μάλιστα· οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι τὰ τῶν τελευτώντων σπουδαίων σώματα, καὶ μάλιστα τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων, φιλοῦσι μὲν θάπτειν καὶ περιελίσσειν ὀθονίοις· μὴ κρύ 26.969 πτειν δὲ ὑπὸ γῆν, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ σκιμποδίων τιθέναι, καὶ φυλάττειν ἔνδον παρ' ἑαυτοῖς· νομίζοντες ἐν τούτῳ τιμᾷν τοὺς ἀπελθόντας. Ὁ δὲ Ἀντώνιος πολλάκις περὶ τούτου καὶ ἐπισκόπους ἠξίου παραγγέλλειν τοῖς λαοῖς· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ λαϊκοὺς ἐνέτρεπε, καὶ γυναιξὶν ἐπέπληττε, λέγων, μήτε νόμιμον, μήτε ὅλως ὅσιον εἶναι τοῦτο. Καὶ γὰρ τὰ τῶν πατριαρχῶν καὶ τὰ τῶν προφητῶν σώματα μέχρι νῦν σώζεται εἰς μνήματα· καὶ αὐτὸ δὲ τὸ τοῦ Κυρίου σῶμα εἰς μνημεῖον ἐτέθη, λίθος τε ἐπιτεθεὶς ἔκρυψεν αὐτὸ, ἕως ἀνέστη τρι ήμερον. Καὶ ταῦτα λέγων, ἐδείκνυε παρανομεῖν τὸν μετὰ θάνατον μὴ κρύπτοντα τὰ σώματα τῶν τελευ τώντων, κἂν ἅγια τυγχάνῃ. Τί γὰρ μεῖζον ἢ ἁγιώ τερον τοῦ Κυριακοῦ σώματος; Πολλοὶ οὖν, ἀκούσαν τες, ἔκρυψαν ὑπὸ γῆν λοιπὸν, καὶ ηὐχαρίστουν τῷ Κυρίῳ, καλῶς διδαχθέντες. Αὐτὸς δὲ, τοῦτο γινώσκων, καὶ φοβούμενος μὴ καὶ τὸ αὐτοῦ ποιήσωσιν οὕτως σῶμα, ἤπειξεν ἑαυ τὸν, συνταξάμενος τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἔξω ὄρει μοναχοῖς· καὶ εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ ἔνδον ὄρος, ἔνθα καὶ μένειν εἰώθει, μετὰ μῆνας ὀλίγους ἐνόσησε· καὶ καλέσας τοὺς συνόντας αὐτῷ (δύο δὲ ἦσαν, οἵτινες καὶ ἔμει ναν ἔνδον, δέκα καὶ πέντε ἔτη ἀσκούμενοι, καὶ ὑπ ηρετοῦντες αὐτῷ διὰ τὸ γῆρας), ἔλεγε πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἐγὼ μὲν, ὡς γέγραπται, τὴν ὁδὸν τῶν πατέρων πο ρεύομαι· ὁρῶ γὰρ ἐμαυτὸν καλούμενον ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυ ρίου· ὑμεῖς δὲ νήφετε, καὶ τὴν πολυχρόνιον ὑμῶν ἄσκησιν μὴ ἀπολέσητε· ἀλλ' ὡς νῦν ἀρχὴν ἔχοντες, σπουδάσατε τηρεῖν τὴν προθυμίαν ἑαυτῶν. Οἴδατε τοὺς ἐπιβουλεύοντας δαίμονας, οἴδατε πῶς ἄγριοι μὲν εἰσὶν, ἀσθενεῖς δὲ τῇ δυνάμει. Μὴ οὖν φοβηθῆτε αὐτοὺς, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὸν Χριστὸν ἀεὶ ἀναπνέετε, καὶ τούτῳ πιστεύετε· καὶ ὡς καθ' ἡμέραν ἀποθνήσκον τες ζήσατε, προσέχοντες ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ μνημονεύοντες ὧν ἠκούσατε παρ' ἐμοῦ παραινέσεων. Καὶ μηδεμία ἔστω ὑμῖν κοινωνία πρὸς τοὺς σχισματικοὺς, μήθ' ὅλως πρὸς τοὺς αἱρετικοὺς Ἀρειανούς. Οἴδατε γὰρ 26.972 πῶς κἀγὼ τούτους ἐξετρεπόμην διὰ τὴν χριστομά χον αὐτῶν καὶ ἑτερόδοξον αἵρεσιν. Σπουδάσατε δὲ μᾶλλον καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀεὶ συνάπτειν ἑαυτοὺς, προηγου μένως μὲν τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἔπειτα δὲ τοῖς ἁγίοις· ἵνα μετὰ θάνατον ὑμᾶς εἰς τὰς αἰωνίους σκηνὰς, ὡς φί λους καὶ γνωρίμους, δέξωνται καὶ αὐτοί. Ταῦτα λο γίζεσθε, ταῦτα φρονεῖτε· καὶ εἰ μέλει ὑμῖν περὶ ἐμοῦ, καὶ

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