Antony of Egypt, the son of Christian parents, inherited a large estate. On his way to church one day, he found himself meditating on the text:

"Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and come follow me."- Matthew 19-21.

Then the preacher spoke on that very text. He took this as a message for him. He provided for the care of his sister, then gave his land to the tenants who lived on it, and his other wealth to the poor. He became a hermit, living alone for 20 years, praying, reading, and doing manual labour.

A movement toward a more pure, simple lifestyle had gained favour from the popular teachings of Plato, which valued things of the mind and spirit more highly than the body, which must be subject to the soul. Athanasius popularised this in his "Life of Antony". He presents the anchorite as a hero of Christian life, in triumphant battle with evil, and in the integration of life, brought about when the body is truly disciplined to serve the purposes of the soul devoted to God.

People began journeying out into the desert to see Antony. So he went further into the desert. His advice to people was simple yet profound, direct, refreshingly brief and full of common-sense.

In 305, he gave up his solitude to become the head of a group of monks, living in a cluster of huts or cells, devoting themselves to communal singing, worship, prayer, study and manual labour under his direction. They did not simply renounce the world, but were diligent in prayer for their fellow Christians. They worked with their hands, giving their earnings as alms. They preached and gave personal counselling to those who sought them out. He withdraw again to the desert from about 310.

In 321, Christians in Alexandria were being persecuted by the Emperor Maximinus (the rule of Constantine was not yet universal). Antony visited Alexandria to encourage those facing the possibility of martyrdom. He made a return visit there at age 90, to give support to his friend Athanasius, in the theological arguments over the Trinity.

Antony is described as balanced, gentle, caring, and radiant with God’s love. Solitude made him compassionate and gave him a “serenity of manner”. “He was a man of grace and urbanity. His speech was seasoned with divine wisdom.” He asked to be buried in a place known to no-one. He died peacefully.

BORN: 12 January 251 AD, Egypt.

DIED: 17 January 356 AD, Egypt.