Born into a wealthy Coptic family in the Egyptian town of Coma, Anthony was destined for a life far removed from material riches. When he turned twenty and lost both parents, he was left to care for his younger sister. One day in a church, he heard the Gospel’s words: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matt. 19:21). Shortly after, another verse struck him: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt. 6:34). Inspired to live by the Gospel, Anthony distributed his wealth to the poor and entrusted his sister to the care of consecrated virgins. He then retreated to the outskirts of Coma to live with an unknown elder. Eventually, he ventured into the wilderness of the Thebaid.

Initially, Anthony lived in burial caves near Coma and later moved to the ruins of a fort along the Nile, spending nearly twenty years there in solitude, receiving visitors only occasionally. During this time, he faced numerous demonic temptations but responded with stricter ascetic practices. When he reached his physical limits, Christ appeared to him, revealing that He had been by his side all along. The fame of Anthony’s asceticism spread, and many sought to follow his example. By 305 CE, Anthony ended his hermitage to establish the first Christian monastery, thus laying the foundations of organized monasticism.

During Emperor Maximilian’s persecution, Anthony visited Alexandria to support persecuted Christians. Later, he withdrew further into the desert, settling near the Red Sea, where he cultivated crops for sustenance. After 70 years, he encountered another hermit, Paul of Thebes, who informed him that the persecution had ended but warned of the new danger of Arianism. Anthony once again traveled to Alexandria, where he denounced Arius’s heresy and refuted claims that he himself was an Arian.

Exhausted, Anthony returned to the desert with two disciples, where he died at the age of 107. Following his wish, he was buried in an unknown location to prevent veneration of his relics. However, Emperor Justinian later uncovered his grave, transferring the relics to Alexandria and subsequently to Constantinople. Today, they rest in France.

Mykhailo Skop