The Life of Saint Anthony

Saint Anthony, called the Egyptian is also known as the the monks’ father.

Born in 251 in an Egyptian village, he died in 356 at the age of 105. His last days were spent in a grotto on Mount Qolzum by the banks of the Red Sea. Anthony led the life of a hermit and passed many years in the desert to fight the demons that were persecuting him and making him endure unbearable suffering.

Throughout the whole of his life he tended for many sick.

The miracles he accomplished glorified hime with Saintliness. Antoiny journeeyed to Alexandria in 311 to help perescuted Christians and later in 338 to strive against the paganism and heresy brought on by the Arians.

He became an orphan at the age of 18. At this point, he sold all his belongings and took refuge in a hermitage in pursuit of perfection.

From the start of his ascetic life he was tempted by the Devil who tried to kindle unholy desires in Anthony by appaearing before him in different forms - as a woman, a child or as terrifying manifestations of wild beasts.

Saint Anthony triumphed over these diabolical taunts and overcame Satan's “temptations” by fasting and prayer. He withdrew into an existence of utmost asceticism.

Anthony died in 356.

The Life of Saint Anthony	III^rd c.
Relics in the Dauphiné	1070
The construction of the abbey	1080
Saint Anthony's fire	1297
The golden age	1300-1400
The wars of religion	1500
Reconstruction	1600
The Order of Malta	1775
Historic monument	1840