St. Antony the Great The Founder of Monasticism (continued)
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By the late Reverend Father Menasseh Youhanna
(Extract from "The History of the Coptic Church," Third Century, Part 2)
At the request of St. Athanasius the Apostolic, Pope of Alexandria, St. Antony the Great decided to go to Alexandria; but before his arrival he was informed that the Patriarch had been exiled. So, on behalf of the nobles of Alexandria, he sent an epistle to Emperor Constantine to protest his opposition to the Orthodox, and even more, when he learned that the followers of Arius were so bold as to claim that St. Antony was in agreement with them, he returned to Alexandria with some of his monks and spoke to the believers, saying, "If I have come a second time from my solitude to be among you, it is to witness to the veracity of our holy faith. They were emboldened in defaming the Divinity of our Savior by saying that He is a simple created being. No, the Son of God was not created and did not come from naught, but He is from eternity because He is the Word and the Wisdom of the Father. Therefore, do not participate with the deceitful Arians, because there can be no unity between light and darkness. It is heretical to say that, for a time, there was no Word, because the Word is always with the Father."
"You are Christians because you are in the true righteousness and in the true faith. However, when the Arians say that the Word of the Father, the Son of God was created, they are no different from the pagans who worship the creation rather than the Creator. Believe then that all the creatures oppose them, for they count as a creature the Lord and Creator of all things; He who made all things by His own hands. Therefore avoid their company as you would avoid snakes and scorpions, for he who does not love Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, Maranatha."
To an Arian who persecuted the Orthodox, he wrote very severely, "The Son of God has placed the arrows of His wrath towards you in the arc of His justice, and He will hurl them on your head if you do not repent." When the heretic read the letter, he laughed in derision and threw it on the ground, spat on it, and treaded on it with his feet. It was said that three days later the Lord struck him and he died.
The news of the many miracles God performed through St. Antony in Alexandria reached the pagans, so they went to him to be blessed by touching his robe. They were so numerous that his disciples tried to stop them, but he rebuked them and ordered them to let those who want to come to him, to do so freely. He was able to baptize such a large number of pagans that one historian said, "Those who were baptized by him at that time were more than all those who were baptized in a year."
When he saw that the faith was revived, he decided to return to the monastery, but the people grieved for his departure and asked him to remain with them until the return of their shepherd. He answered, them saying, "The wax melts when it comes near the fire, and thus the virtues of the ascetic disappear when he is in proximity with the world." Then he established them in the faith, and comforted them for their separation from their noble shepherd and predicted his victorious return.
The Saint returned to his monastery and engaged in writing letters mostly to the monks. Some say that he wrote twenty epistles and others say that they were only seven. The Saint knew nothing about languages or the sciences, but he knew how to read and write the Egyptian language. It was said that when one of the wise philosophers asked him one day if he was discontent for not having the means for entertainment that others have in reading books, he answered, "I have a book in nature."
On another day, two philosophers came to him to test his knowledge, and he said to them, "Why do you trouble yourselves by coming to an idiot like me." They answered, "We come to you because we are convinced that you are a wise man." He said, "If I am wise, then be like me, because, to follow the example of the wise is a duty. I am a Christian, so likewise, be Christians." They were perplexed and kept silent, then they withdrew. Besides these, several other scientists came to test him. He asked them which was better, the mind or science; they answered, "The mind." He said to them, "Then, the one who has a sound mind does not need science." Then he asked them which is the best religion. After much discussion, he proposed to them to exorcise the demons from the possessed persons who were present at that time. When they failed, he approached and made the sign of the Cross on these people, and the demons departed.
When the news of his purity and his miracles filled the world, he was in his one hundred and fifth year and he felt that the end of his days was near. So he started visiting the monasteries and the monks, giving advice to his disciples, urging them to do their holy duties, and delivering homilies. He said to them, "I shall leave you shortly, my children. I shall not stop loving you, but I beg you to continue in your holy duties with steadfastness; do not be negligent, do not let your activity subside in the fulfillment of your duties. Put death before your eyes every day and carefully endeavor to keep yourselves pure, free from evil thoughts. Start your struggle by following the Saints and courageously take the path of truth. Beware from participating with heretics for you know the evil of their vile works. Keep away from the Arians as you would from the plague, for their heresy is known to all the people, Do not be only surprised if the governors of the states help them and defend their teachings, because this misleading authority will surely be annihilated, and this will prompt you to have the least connection with them. Keep the traditions of your fathers piously and establish yourselves in the faith of Jesus Christ, glory be unto Him, which we have learned in the Holy Bible and which I have constantly explained to you."
After saying these words, he hurried back to his cell for he felt ill and he called his disciples, Macarius (St. Macarius the Great) and Eumenius and said to them, "My children, I see that God is calling me to Him, and I am determined to follow everyone's path as it is written. Continue in righteousness as you have done and do not forsake the fruits of the holy works you have undertaken for many years, but struggle as though you are just starting and your zeal will increase. You know the wiles of Satan and his cruelty, however do not ignore his weakness and do not fear him, but trust in Jesus Christ and have no other desire except to serve Him."
"Live as though you expect to die every day, and be constantly vigilant over your souls. Remember the teachings and instructions I have given you and do not participate with the dissidents and the Arian heretics, because you well know how I always despised them because of their vile heresy. They have the audacity to fight Jesus Christ and His teachings. Seriously make every effort to first unite with Him, and then with the Saints so that they receive you with joy, as friends, in the heavenly kingdom. Engrave these things in your hearts, and if you wish to prove your love for me and consider me as your father, do not allow the transfer of my body to the city, for the fear that its people might keep it in their homes. It was for this reason that made me flee to die on this mountain. Bury me in the ground and reveal to no one the place of my burial, so that when the day of the resurrection comes, this body will be free from corruption to be received by Jesus Christ, the first fruit of the Resurrection."
"Distribute my clothing as follows: Give to Pope Athanasius one of the sheep skins, and the robe which was new when I received it from him Give to Bishop Serapion the other sheep skin and keep my sackcloth for yourselves. Farewell, my beloved children, I entrust you to God, and I, Antony, depart and leave you behind."
After he said these words, his disciples came near him and embraced as they wept. He laid on his bed and awaited death with joy. He never lost his sight or any of his teeth. His face radiated light and beauty to those who saw him; then he gave up the spirit in the hands of his Savior on the twenty second day of the month of Tobith, in the year 356 AD. His disciples prepared him for the burial and kept the secret of his grave as he had recommended. They distributed his belongings as he had directed them, and those who received them considered them more precious than pearls.
The body of this holy Saint was buried before the door of the Altar of the Church he had built in the name of the Holy Virgin and which was later named after him. The precious body is kept until this day in the great monastery which was built in the time of Abba Antony, near his cave in the Klysma Mountain in the Arabian Desert.
Copyright © 2004 Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. The above article may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A.
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