Saint Anthony of Egypt, abbot

St. Anthony is considered the founder of Christian monasticism, a significant movement within the Catholic Church. The primary source of information about St. Anthony's life is a Greek Life attributed to St. Athanasius, which is widely accepted as a substantially historical record. Additional information can be found in secondary sources such as the "Apophthegmata" and writings by Cassian and Palladius.

Early Life and Call to Asceticism

St. Anthony was born in Coma, Egypt, around the middle of the third century. After the death of his parents, he felt called to imitate the lives of the Apostles and early Christians. Inspired by the Gospel words, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all thou hast," he sold all his possessions and dedicated himself to a life of religious exercises.

Asceticism and Withdrawal from the World

Although asceticism was practiced by Christians before St. Anthony, he was among the first to withdraw completely from society. Initially, he practiced asceticism in his native village, learning from other ascetics. Later, he settled in a tomb near his village, encountering conflicts with demons in the form of wild beasts. After fifteen years, he decided to retreat into absolute solitude.

Life in Solitude

St. Anthony crossed the Nile and found an old fort on a mountain called Pispir, where he lived in seclusion for twenty years. Visitors brought him food, but he refused to see them. Eventually, a community of disciples formed around him, and he emerged from his solitude to guide and instruct them. After several years, he returned to the inner desert and settled on a mountain near the Red Sea.

Teaching and Influence

St. Anthony spent the last forty-five years of his life in seclusion and crossed the desert occasionally to visit Pispir. He is believed to have died around the age of a hundred and five. St. Anthony's teachings and discourses on the spiritual life are primarily found in the Life attributed to St. Athanasius. While some writings attributed to him may be spurious (inauthentic), his teaching on asceticism, the spiritual combat against demons, and the importance of discretion are considered authentic.

Legacy and Influence on Monasticism

St. Anthony's commanding personality and high character led to him being recognized as the father of Christian monasticism. His form of monasticism, which emphasized semi-eremetical living, coming together only occasionally for church services, became prevalent in northern Egypt. The monasticism established under St. Anthony's influence is known as the Lauras and has persisted alongside other monastic traditions. St. Anthony's impact on Christian history is profound, and his influence on religious life in various forms is widespread and enduring.

Controversy and Historical Authenticity

In the late 19th century, some scholars questioned the historical authenticity of the Life and St. Anthony. However, these theories were widely discredited, and the Life is now considered substantially historical and likely written by Athanasius. The controversy serves as an example of a theory that gained widespread acceptance, but was subsequently abandoned, all in a single generation.