Icon of St. Anthony the Great - 00STAG01

Feast Day/Commemorated: January 17

Saint Anthony the Great, born in Egypt in 251, is revered as the Father of monasticism. At twenty, orphaned and responsible for his sister, he heard the Gospel call to sell possessions and give to the poor, which he immediately obeyed. He entrusted his sister to a convent and began an ascetic life in a hut near his village, supporting himself and the poor through manual labor. During this early period, he faced intense demonic temptations, battling thoughts of his former life, doubts, and carnal desires, but he overcame them through prayer, meditation on Christ, and contemplation of eternal punishment.

Seeking greater solitude, Saint Anthony moved to a graveyard and later to an abandoned fort in the desert, enduring twenty years of complete isolation and constant struggle with demons. Through divine intervention and his unwavering resolve, he emerged spiritually strengthened and achieved perfect calm. His profound spiritual experience drew many seeking guidance, leading to the formation of several monasteries around his cell. Saint Anthony became a revered spiritual father, instructing monks and inspiring others with a love for asceticism, urging them to repel demonic assaults with the power of the Cross.

During the persecution of Christians in 311, Saint Anthony left the desert to minister to martyrs in Alexandria, though he was providentially preserved from martyrdom. He later returned to the desert, where the Lord granted him the gift of wonderworking, healing the sick and casting out demons. He also left the desert to defend Orthodox Christianity against heresies in Alexandria, converting many pagans. Even emperors sought his counsel. He spent eighty-five years in the solitary desert, and before his peaceful repose at 105 in 356, he instructed his disciples to bury him secretly and left his monastic mantles to Saints Athanasius and Serapion. His renowned Life, written by Saint Athanasius, is considered the first biography of a non-martyr saint and is highly recommended for all Christians. His relics were later transferred to Alexandria, Constantinople, and eventually to France.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):