Saint Anthony the Great
On the 17th of January, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Anthony the Great. Saint Anthony was born in 251 AD in Egypt of pious parents. When he was 18 years old his parents died leaving him with his sister to look after the family affairs. One day as he attended the liturgy he heard the words of Jesus saying to the wealthy man, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me”(Matthew 19:21), and with this Anthony was so impressed that he did what the Lord had said to the wealthy man, selling farmland, giving money to the poor and he also placed his sister in a Christian home for virgins as there were no monasteries as of yet. Anthony wanting to live on his own built a cell, a short distance away from the city. Anthony followed the example of an old hermit who lived in the area by praying, meditating and fasting.
To further his spiritual struggle, he departed for the desert at the age of 35 where he found a fortress where he barricaded himself completely isolating himself.
One time while Saint Anthony was on his own in the fortress he became bored and restless, so he prayed to God to help him through his struggle. Suddenly a man appeared to him wearing a black robe with a cross, just like a monk. The man began to make a carpet out of straw. After a while the man got up and began to pray. He then stopped praying and went back to work and the man continued to do this all day. This man was an angel sent from God to comfort and strengthen Saint Anthony. The angel said to Saint Anthony to do this and he will never be bored or restless again.
From that day Saint Anthony began to dress the same way the angel had and he began to pray and work, just as the angel had instructed him.
Advice for those who get bored and restless, get up do something around the house, walk outside with the prayer rope in your hand and pray to God. God will help the faithful people.
As the years passed by many men would come to him expressing their desire to follow in his example and to live a life of a hermit. Saint Anthony taught these men to love the Lord above anything else. Saint Anthony was not well educated, yet through the grace of God his words were filled with divine wisdom and faith.
In time this became the first monastery, which was established in 305 AD and it is for this reason that Saint Anthony is known as the Father of Monasticism. From this many more brotherhoods were established, rules were put in place and were followed by all hermit monks.
In the year 325 AD Saint Anthony and his monks helped to defeat the Arian heretics in the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea.
Saint Anthony died in the year 356 AD at the age of 105.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
O Father Anthony, you imitated the zealous Elijah. You followed the straight paths of the Baptist and became a desert dweller. By prayer you confirmed the universe. Wherefore, intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
Forsaking the uproars of life O venerable one, you completed your life in quiet, fully imitating the Baptist. Therefore, we honour you with him, O Anthony, Father of Fathers.
Hymns adapted from:
http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=389
Saint Nicholas Youth
Religious Committee