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At this point, before continuing the narrative, it is appropriate to note what Derwas Chitty writes about this episode in The Desert A City:

It is at this point that the pioneer begins to break new ground, his old ascetic master refusing to go with him into the desert ‘for as yet there was no such custom’. Antony is now about thirty-five which brings us to the beginning of the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. Alone he crosses the Nile, and shuts himself in for twenty years of solitude in a deserted fort on the confines of the desert, where bread is brought to him twice a year. He enters this dark fort as an a)/duton [aduton - wÐsper e)n a)du/toij: as into a shrine]. And when after twenty years his friends break down the gate and he comes forth, he does so ‘as from some inmost shrine, initiate into the mysteries and God-borne’ wÐsper eÃk tinoj a)du/tou memustagwghme/noj kaiì qeoforou/menoj [hosper ek tinos adutou memystagogemenos kai theophoroumenos].

Of course Athanasius in writing this has his eye on the pagan world. Here is the true initiate of the mysteries, who in achieving his Gospel vocation to become – te/leoij ‘perfect’ is achieving an ideal which the pagan can understand he very word is common to Calvary and Eleusis. And while, primarily, Antony looked back to Elijah for his prototype, his way of life had also its praeparatio in Greek and Egyptian philosophy and religion NeoPlatonist, Pythagorean, Stoic, Cynic, etc. But Athanasius at once draws a distinctively Christian picture in this respectAntony’s body condition is not deteriorated but improved by his strange training. His friends marvel to see his body neither grown fat from lack of exercise, nor dried up from fasting and fighting with the demons. Physically and in disposition of soul he is ‘all balanced, as one governed by reason and standing in his natural condition’ ' oÀloj hÅn iãsoj, w¨j u(po\ tou= lo/gou kubernw¯menoj, kaiì e)n t%½ kata\ fu/sin e(stw¯j [holos en isos hupo tou logou kubernomenos, kai en to kata phusin estos].

We are reminded how Porphyry’s Life of Plotinus starts off in the first sentence by describing Plotinus as like a man ashamed of being in a body. [Porphyry, Vita Plotini, c. 1.] The contrast is quite clear. Against all types of dualism, pagan or para-Christian, Antony’s perfection is shown reflected in his bodily condition, retained right up to his death fifty years later, when he was still sound in all his senses and vigorous in his limbs, with even his teeth complete in number[...]

Derwas Chitty, The Desert A City ,Chapter 1 - The Call,
(Oxford: 1966; St. Vlad. Sem. 1977) ISBN: 0-913836-45-1, pp. 3-4.

This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 1990....x.... .

THUS tightening his grip on [ie mastering] himself, Antony left for the tombs that happened to be some distance from the village. And having asked one of his acquaintances to bring him bread at intervals of many days, he entered one of the tombs. [This friend] locked the door on him, and [Antony] remained alone inside.	8. OuÀtw dh\ ouÅn susfi¿gcaj e(auto\n o( ¹Antw¯nioj, a)ph/rxeto ei¹j ta\ makra\n th=j kw¯mhj tugxa/nonta mnh/mata, kaiì paraggei¿laj e(niì tw½n gnwri¿mwn di' h(merw½n pollw½n au)t%½ komi¿zein to\n aÃrton, au)to\j ei¹selqwÜn ei¹j eÁn tw½n mnhma/twn, kaiì klei¿santoj e)kei¿nou [26.856] kat' au)tou= th\n qu/ran, eÃmene mo/noj eÃndon.
The enemy could not endure this, for he was afraid that in a short time Antony would fill the desert with the ascetic discipline. So, coming one night with a great number of demons, he so lashed him with whips that he lay on the ground senseless from the terrible pain.	ãEnqa dh\ mh\ fe/rwn o( e)xqro\j, a)lla\ mh\n kaiì fobou/menoj, mh\ kat' o)li¿gon kaiì th\n eÃrhmon e)mplh/sv th=j a)skh/sewj: proselqwÜn e)n mi#= nuktiì meta\ plh/qouj daimo/nwn, tosou=ton au)to\n eÃkoye plhgaiÍj, w¨j kaiì aÃfwnon au)to\n a)po\ tw½n basa/nwn keiÍsqai xamai¿:
For he maintained that the pain had been so extreme that no blows inflicted by human beings could ever have cause such torture.	diebebaiou=to ga\r ouÀtw sfodrou\j gegenh=sqai tou\j po/nouj, w¨j le/gein mh\ du/nasqai ta\j para\ a)nqrw¯pwn plhga\j toiau/thn pote\ ba/sanon e)mpoih=sai.
But through God’s Providence (for the Lord never overlooks those who hope in Him) the next day his acquaintance came bringing the bread for him. And having opened the door and seeing him lying on the ground as if dead, he lifted [Antony] up and carried him to the parish church, where he laid him on the ground.	Qeou= de\ pronoi¿# ou) ga\r paror#= Ku/rioj tou\j e)lpi¿zontaj e)p' au)to\n, tv= e(ch=j paragi¿netai o( gnw¯rimoj, komi¿zwn tou\j aÃrtouj au)t%½: a)noi¿caj te th\n qu/ran, kaiì tou=ton i¹dwÜn xamaiì kei¿menon w¨j nekro\n, basta/saj eÃferen ei¹j to\ th=j kw¯mhj Kuriako\n, kaiì ti¿qhsin e)piì th=j gh=j.
Many of his kinsfolk and the villagers sat around Antony as around a corpse. But about midnight he came to himself and awoke. And when be saw that they were all asleep and that only his acquaintance was keeping watch, he motioned for him to approach, and asked him to carry him again to the tombs without awakening anyone.	Polloi¿ te tw½n suggenw½n, kaiì oi¸ a)po\ th=j kw¯mhj, parekaqe/zonto w¨j e)piì nekr%½ t%½ ¹Antwni¿%. Periì de\ to\ mesonu/ktion ei¹j e(auto\n e)lqwÜn o( ¹Antw¯nioj, kaiì diegerqeiìj, w¨j eiåde pa/ntaj koimwme/nouj, kaiì mo/non to\n gnw¯rimon grhgorou=nta, neu/saj hÀkein au)to\n pro\j au)to\n, h)ci¿ou pa/lin au)to\n basta/sai kaiì a)pofe/rein ei¹j ta\ mnh/mata, mhde/na e)cupni¿santa.
9. He was thus carried back by the man, and as was [now] his custom, when the door was shut he was again alone inside. And he was to weak to stand because of the beatings, so he prayed as he lay. And after he had prayed, he said with a shout, Here I am - Antony: I am not intimidated by your beatings, for even if you inflict more nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ (cf Rom 8:35). And then he sang, even if a camp is set against me, my heart will not fear (Ps 26:3).’ These were the thoughts and words of this ascetic. But the enemy, the hater of good, marvelling that after the beatings [Antony] dared to return, called his dogs together and bursting with anger said, “You see that neither by the spirit of sexual immorality nor by blows did we halt him; indeed, he challenges us, so let us go after him in a different way.	9. ¹Aphne/xqh ouÅn para\ tou= a)ndro\j, kaiì sunh/qwj th=j qu/raj kekleisme/nhj, eÃndon hÅn pa/lin mo/noj. Kaiì sth/kein me\n ou)k iãsxue dia\ ta\j plhga/j: a)nakei¿menoj de\ huÃxeto. Kaiì meta\ th\n eu)xh\n eÃlege meta\ kraugh=j: âWde/ ei¹mi e)gwÜ ¹Antw¯nioj: ou) feu/gw ta\j par' u(mw½n plhga/j. KaÄn ga\r plei¿onaj poih/shte, ou)de/n me xwri¿sei a)po\ th=j a)ga/phj tou= Xristou=. Eiåta kaiì eÃyallen: ¹Ea\n parata/chtai e)p' e)me\ parembolh\, ou) fobhqh/setai h( kardi¿a mou. ¸O me\n ouÅn a)skhth\j e)fro/nei kaiì eÃlege tau=ta: o( de\ miso/kaloj. e)xqro\j, qauma/saj, oÀti kaiì meta\ ta\j plhga\j e)qa/r)r(hsen e)lqeiÍn, sugkale/saj au)tou= tou\j ku/naj, kaiì diar)r(hgnu/menoj, eÃfh: ¸Ora=te oÀti ou) pneu/mati pornei¿aj, ou) plhgaiÍj e)pau/samen tou=ton: a)lla\ kaiì qrasu/netai kaq' h(mw½n: prose/lqwmen aÃllwj au)t%½.

But [different] forms of evil are easy for the devil. So during the night they made such an uproar that it was as if the whole place were shaken by an earthquake, and the demons seemed to be breaking the four walls of the dwelling, entering through through them, transformed into beasts and reptiles. And the place was suddenly filled with the phantasms of lions, bears, leopards, bulls, serpents, cobras, scorpions, and wolves. And and each of them moved according to its own form. The lion was roared, wishing to attack, the bull appeared to threaten to charge with its horns, the serpent writhed but unable to approach; and the wolf rushed straight towards him. The simultaneous noises of all the the apparitions were terrifying and their raging was furious.	EuÃkolon [26.857] de\ t%½ diabo/l% ta\ ei¹j kaki¿an sxh/mata. To/te dh\ ouÅn e)n tv= nuktiì ktu/pon me\n toiou=ton poiou=sin, w¨j dokeiÍn pa/nta to\n to/pon e)keiÍnon sei¿esqai: tou\j de\ tou= oi¹ki¿skou te/ssaraj toi¿xouj wÐsper r(h/cantej oi¸ dai¿monej, eÃdocan di' au)tw½n e)peise/rxesqai, metasxhmatisqe/ntej ei¹j qhri¿wn kaiì e(rpetw½n fantasi¿an: kaiì hÅn o( to/poj eu)qu\j peplhrwme/noj fantasi¿aj leo/ntwn, aÃrktwn, leopa/rdwn, tau/rwn, kaiì oÃfewn, a)spi¿dwn, kaiì skorpi¿wn, kaiì lu/kwn. Kaiì eÀkaston me\n tou/twn e)ki¿nei kata\ to\ iãdion sxh=ma. ¸O le/wn eÃbruxe, qe/lwn e)pelqeiÍn, o( tau=roj e)do/kei kerati¿zein, o( oÃfij eÀrpwn ou)k eÃfqane, kaiì o( lu/koj o(rmw½n e)pei¿xeto: kaiì oÀlwj pa/ntwn o(mou= hÅsan tw½n fainome/nwn oi¸ yo/foi deinoiì, kaiì oi¸ qumoiì xalepoi¿.
But Antony, injured and stabbed by them, felt even worse bodily pains. Yet he lay unshaken, ever more vigilant in soul, although groaning from bodily pain; but his mind was sober, and as in mockery he said, “If there had been any power in you, it would have been enough for one of you come, but since the Lord has made you weak you try to terrify me by [your] numbers. And a proof of your weakness is that you imitate the forms of brute beasts.”	¸O de\ ¹Antw¯nioj, mastizo/menoj kaiì kentou/menoj par' au)tw½n, vÃsqeto me\n deinote/rou po/nou swmatikou=. ¹Atre/maj kaiì ma=llon tv= yuxv= grhgorw½n a)ne/keito: kaiì eÃstene me\n dia\ to\n tou= sw¯matoj po/non: nh/fwn de\ tv= dianoi¿# kaiì wÐsper xleua/zwn, eÃlegen: Ei¹ du/nami¿j tij hÅn e)n u(miÍn, hÃrkei kaiì mo/non eÀna e)c u(mw½n e)lqeiÍn: e)peidh\ de\ e)ceneu/rwsen u(ma=j o( Ku/rioj, dia\ tou=to kaÄn t%½ plh/qei peira/zete/ pwj e)kfobeiÍn: gnw¯risma th=j a)sqenei¿aj u(mw½n to\ ta\j a)lo/gwn u(ma=j mimeiÍsqai morfa/j.
And boldly he again said, “If you are able, and have been given power against me, do not wait to attack; but if you are unable, why do you make such trouble in vain ? For faith in our Lord is a seal and a wall of safety to us.” So after many attempts they gnashed their teeth against him, because they were mocking themselves rather than him.	Qar)r(w½n gou=n pa/lin eÃlegen: Ei¹ du/nasqe kaiì e)cousi¿an e)la/bete kat' e)mou=, mh\ me/llete, a)ll' e)pi¿bhte: ei¹ de\ mh\ du/nasqe, ti¿ ma/thn tara/ssesqe; Sfragiìj ga\r h(miÍn kaiì teiÍxoj ei¹j a)sfa/leian h( ei¹j to\n Ku/rion h(mw½n pi¿stij. Polla\ toi¿nun e)pixeirh/santej, eÃtrizon kat' au)tou= tou\j o)do/ntaj, oÀti ma=llon eÃpaizon e(autou\j, kaiì ou)k e)keiÍnon.
10. And in all this the Lord was not forgetful of Antony’s wrestling, but was at hand to assist him. For looking up he saw, as it were, the roof opening and a ray of light descending to him. The demons suddenly vanished, his bodily pain immediately ceased, and the building was again made whole. But Antony, sensing the assistance, getting his breath again and freed from pain, inquired of the vision that appeared to him, saying, “Where were you? Why did you not appear at the beginning to make my pains cease?”	^[26.860]10. ¸O de\ Ku/rioj ou)de\ e)n tou/t% e)pela/qeto th=j a)qlh/sewj ¹Antwni¿ou, a)ll' ei¹j a)nti¿lhyin au)tou= parage/gonen. ¹Anable/yaj gou=n, eiåde th\n ste/ghn wÐsper dianoigome/nhn, kaiì a)ktiÍna/ tina fwto\j katerxome/nhn pro\j au)to/n. Kaiì oi¸ me\n dai¿monej e)cai¿fnhj aÃfantoi gego/nasin: o( de\ po/noj tou= sw¯matoj eu)qu\j e)pe/pauto, kaiì o( oiåkoj pa/lin hÅn o(lo/klhroj. ¸O de\ ¹Antw¯nioj, ai¹sqo/menoj th=j a)ntilh/yewj, kaiì ple/on a)napneu/saj, koufisqei¿j te tw½n po/nwn, e)de/eto th=j fanei¿shj o)ptasi¿aj, le/gwn: Pou= hÅj; dia\ ti¿ mh\ e)c a)rxh=j e)fa/nhj, iàna mou ta\j o)du/naj pau/svj;
And a voice came to him, “Antony, I was here, but I waited to see you fight your best. And since you have patiently endured and not surrendered, Iwill always be your helper and will make your name known everywhere.”	Kaiì fwnh\ ge/gone pro\j au)to/n: ¹Antw¯nie, wÒde hÃmhn, a)lla\ perie/menon i¹deiÍn to\ so\n a)gw¯nisma. ¹Epeiì ouÅn u(pe/meinaj, kaiì ou)x h(tth/qhj, eÃsomai¿ soi a)eiì bohqo\j, kaiì poih/sw se o)nomasto\n pantaxou= gene/sqai.
Having heard this, Antony arose and prayed, and received such strength that he sensed he had more power in his body than before. And he was then about thirty-five years old.	Tau=ta a)kou/saj, a)nasta\j huÃxeto: kaiì tosou=ton iãsxusen, w¨j ai¹sqe/sqai au)to\n, oÀti plei¿ona du/namin eÃsxen e)n t%½ sw¯mati ma=llon, hÂj eiåxe to\ pro/teron. åHn de\ to/te loipo\n e)ggu\j tria/konta kaiì pe/nte e)tw½n.

11. On the following day he went out even more eager for the service of God. And meeting the previously-mentioned old man, he pleaded with him to dwell in the desert with him. But when the other declined on account of his great age and because there was as yet no such custom, [Antony] himself immediately set off for the mountain. [he is tempted by images of silver and gold]	11. Tv= de\ e(ch=j proelqwÜn, eÃti ma=llon proqumo/teroj hÅn ei¹j th\n qeose/beian, kaiì geno/menoj pro\j to\n ge/ronta to\n palaio\n e)keiÍnon, h)ci¿ou th\n eÃrhmon oi¹kh=sai su\n au)t%½. Tou= de\ paraithsame/nou dia/ te th\n h(liki¿an, kaiì dia\ to\ mhde/pw eiånai toiau/thn sunh/qeian, eu)qu\j au)to\j wÐrmhsen ei¹j to\ oÃroj.
12. […] And so, more and more strengthened in his purpose, he hurried to the mountain and, having found a fort on the other side of the [Nile] river so long deserted that it was full of reptiles, he crossed over to it and made it his home. The reptiles immediately withdrew from the place as though some one were chasing them. But he built up the entrance completely, having stored up [enough] bread for six months: this is a custom of the Thebans; and the loaves often remain fresh for a whole year. And finding water within, he descended as into a shrine; and in solidude [monon] he abode within, never going forth nor looking at any one who came. Thus he undertook a long period of ascetic[al training], receiving loaves only twice a the year, let down from a house above.	Ma=llon ouÅn kaiì ma=llon e)pitei¿naj th\n pro/qesin, wÐrmhsen ei¹j to\ oÃroj. Kaiì parembolh\n eÃrhmon, kaiì dia\ to\n xro/non mesth\n e(rpetw½n eu(rwÜn ei¹j to\ pe/ran tou= potamou=, e)keiÍ mete/qhken e(auto\n, kaiì %Ókhsen e)n au)tv=. Ta\ me\n ouÅn e(rpeta\, wÐsper tino\j diw¯kontoj, eu)qu\j a)nexw¯rhsan: au)to\j de\, th\n eiãsodon a)nafra/caj, kaiì aÃrtouj ei¹j mh=naj eÄc a)poqe/menoj žpoiou=si de\ tou=to QhbaiÍoi, kaiì polla/kij me/nousi kaiì oÀlon e)niauto\n a)blabeiÍjŸ, eÃxwn eÃndon uÀdwr, wÐsper e)n a)du/toij e)gkataduo/menoj mo/noj eÃmenen eÃndon, mh/te au)to\j proi+wÜn, mh/te tina\ tw½n e)rxome/nwn ble/pwn. Au)to\j me\n ouÅn polu\n xro/non ouÀtw sunh=yen a)skou/menoj: kat' e)niauto\n mo/non aÃnwqen a)po\ tou= dw¯matoj deu/teron dexo/menoj tou\j aÃrtouj
13. But his acquaintances came to him: and since he did not permit them to enter, they often used to spend days and nights outside, where they hear what sounded like rioting noisy crowds inside, crying in wailing, piteous voices, ‘Go away from what belongs to us! What do you have to do with the desert? You vannot withstand our attack.’ So at first those outside thought there were men fighting with him and that they had entered by ladders; but when they bent down and saw through a hole that there was no one, they presumed them to be demons, they were afraid, and they called to Antony. But upon hearing them he was more concerned for their [sakes] that he was to give any thought to the demons. And so, coming to the door he advised them to withdraw and not be afraid: “For the demons,” he said “summon fantasies only against the fearful. Sign yourselves therefore with the cross and depart boldly; and let these make themselves foolish.”	13. Oi¸ de\ pro\j au)to\n e)rxo/menoi tw½n gnwri¿mwn, e)peiì mh\ sunexw¯rei tou/touj ei¹selqeiÍn, eÃcw polla/kij h(me/raj kaiì nu/ktaj poiou=ntej, hÃkouon w¨j oÃxlwn eÃndon qorubou/ntwn, ktupou/ntwn, fwna\j a)fie/ntwn oi¹ktra\j, kaiì krazo/ntwn: ¹Apo/sta tw½n h(mete/rwn: ti¿ soiì kaiì tv= e)rh/m%; ou) fe/reij h(mw½n th\n e)piboulh/n. Th\n me\n ouÅn a)rxh\n eiånai¿ tinaj su\n au)t%½ maxome/nouj a)nqrw¯pouj, kaiì tou/touj dia\ klima/kwn ei¹selhluqe/nai pro\j au)to\n e)no/mizon oi¸ eÃcwqen: w¨j de\ dia/ tinoj trumalia=j paraku/yantej, ou)de/na eÃblepon, to/te [26.864] dh\ logisa/menoi dai¿monaj eiånai tou/touj, kaiì fobhqe/ntej au)toiì, to\n ¹Antw¯nion e)ka/loun. ¸O de\ ma=llon tou/twn hÃkouen, hÄ e)kei¿nwn e)fro/ntize. Kaiì proselqwÜn e)ggu\j th=j qu/raj, pareka/lei tou\j a)nqrw¯pouj a)naxwreiÍn kaiì mh\ fobeiÍsqai: ouÀtw ga\r eÃlege tou\j dai¿monaj fantasi¿aj poieiÍn kata\ tw½n deiliw¯ntwn. ¸UmeiÍj ouÅn sfragi¿sate e(autou\j, kaiì aÃpite qar)r(ou=ntej: kaiì tou/touj aÃfete pai¿zein e(autoiÍj.
So they departed, fortified with the sign of the Cross. But he remained, not harmed in any way by the evil spirits, nor wearied by the contest: for there came to his aid contemplative visions from above; and the weakness of the enemies relieved him of many pains and armed him with greater enthusiasm. For his acquaintances would often come, expecting to find him dead, and would hear him singing; Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered, let those who hate him flee before his face. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; as wax melts before the face of fire, so let the sinners perish from the face of God ; (Ps 67:2 f.) and again, All nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I repelled them (Ps 117:10).	Oi¸ me\n ouÅn a)ph/rxonto teteixisme/noi t%½ shmei¿% tou= staurou=. ¸O de\ eÃmene, kaiì ou)de\n e)bla/pteto par' au)tw½n: a)ll' ou)de\ eÃkamnen a)gwnizo/menoj: h( ga\r prosqh/kh tw½n ginome/nwn au)t%½ tw½n aÃnw qewrhma/twn, kaiì h( tw½n e)xqrw½n a)sqe/neia, pollh\n au)t%½ tw½n po/nwn a)na/paulan parei¿xeto, kaiì ei¹j plei¿ona proqumi¿an pareskeu/aze. Kaiì ga\r sunexw½j pare/ballon oi¸ gnw¯rimoi, nomi¿zontej eu(ri¿skein au)to\n nekro\n, kaiì hÃkouon au)tou= ya/llontoj: ¹Anasth/tw, o( Qeo\j, kaiì diaskorpisqh/twsan oi¸ e)xqroiì au)tou=, kaiì fuge/twsan a)po\ prosw¯pou au)tou= oi¸ misou=ntej au)to/n. ¸Wj e)klei¿pei kapno\j, e)kleipe/twsan: w¨j th/ketai khro\j a)po\ prosw¯pou puro\j, ouÀtwj a)po/lointo oi¸ a(martwloiì a)po\ prosw¯pou tou= Qeou=: kaiì pa/lin: Pa/nta ta\ eÃqnh e)ku/klwsa/n me, kaiì t%½ o)no/mati Kuri¿ou h)muna/mhn au)tou/j.

Antony came forth as if from a shrine, like one initiated in sacred mysteries and filled with the Spirit of God. And this was the first time he was seen outside the fort by those who came to see him. And when they saw him, they were amazed at the sight: for his body had its habit[ual appearance], neither fat from lack of exercise, nor withered from fasting and fighting with demons: for he was as he had been before his withdrawal [into solitude].	proh=lqen o( ¹Antw¯nioj wÐsper eÃk tinoj a)du/tou memustagwghme/noj kaiì qeoforou/menoj: kaiì to/te prw½ton a)po\ th=j parembolh=j e)fa/nh toiÍj e)lqou=si pro\j au)to/n. ¹EkeiÍnoi me\n ouÅn, w¨j eiådon, e)qau/mazon o(rw½ntej au)tou= to/ te sw½ma th\n au)th\n eÀcin eÃxon, kaiì mh/te pianqe\n, w¨j a)gu/mnaston, mh/te i¹sxnwqe\n w¨j a)po\ nhsteiw½n kaiì ma/xhj ^[26.865] daimo/nwn: toiou=toj ga\r hÅn, oiåon kaiì pro\ th=j a)naxwrh/sewj vÃdeisan au)to/n: th=j de\ yuxh=j pa/lin kaqaro\n to\ hÅqoj:
For again the state of his soul was pure: for it was neither contracted as if by grief, nor relaxed by pleasure; possessed by neither laughter nor dejection. For he was not troubled when he saw the crowd, nor ecstatic at being acclaimed by so many. Instead he was wholly balanced, as if governed by reason, and established in accordance with nature.	ouÃte ga\r w¨j u(po\ a)ni¿aj sunestalme/non hÅn, ouÃte u(f' h(donh=j diakexume/non, ouÃte u(po\ ge/lwtoj hÄ kathfei¿aj sunexo/menon: ouÃte ga\r e(wrakwÜj to\n oÃxlon e)tara/xqh, ouÃte w¨j u(po\ tosou/twn kataspazo/menoj e)gegh/qei: a)ll' oÀloj hÅn iãsoj, w¨j u(po\ tou= lo/gou kubernw¯menoj, kaiì e)n t%½ kata\ fu/sin e(stw¯j.
Through him the Lord healed the bodily ailments of many present and cleansed others from demons. And he gave Antony grace in speaking, so that he consoled many who were sorrowful, and those who were fighting he made into friends; and he exhorted all to prefer nothing in the world to the love of Christ. And by thus exhorting and advising them to remember the good things to come and God’s love of humankind offered towards, Who did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all (Rom 8:32), he persuaded many to embrace the solitary life. And so it came to pass that monasteries arose even in the mountains, and the desert was made a city by monks, who left their own people, and enrolled themselves for citizenship in the Heavens. (cf Heb 3:20, 12:23)	Pollou\j gou=n tw½n paro/ntwn ta\ sw¯mata pa/sxontaj e)qera/peusen o( Ku/rioj di' au)tou=: kaiì aÃllouj a)po\ daimo/nwn e)kaqa/rise. Xa/rin te e)n t%½ laleiÍn e)di¿dou t%½ ¹Antwni¿%: kaiì ouÀtw pollou\j me\n lupoume/nouj paremuqeiÍto, aÃllouj de\ maxome/nouj dih/llatten ei¹j fili¿an: pa=sin e)pile/gwn mhde\n tw½n e)n t%½ ko/sm% prokri¿nein th=j ei¹j Xristo\n a)ga/phj.^[3] Dialego/menoj de\ kaiì parainw½n mnhmoneu/ein periì tw½n mello/ntwn a)gaqw½n kaiì th=j ei¹j h(ma=j genome/nhj tou= Qeou= filanqrwpi¿aj, oÁj ou)k e)fei¿sato tou= i¹di¿ou Ui¸ou=, a)ll' u(pe\r h(mw½n pa/ntwn pare/dwken au)to/n: eÃpeise pollou\j ai¸rh/sasqai to\n monh/rh bi¿on: kaiì ouÀtw loipo\n ge/gone kaiì e)n toiÍj oÃresi monasth/ria, kaiì h( eÃrhmoj e)poli¿sqh u(po\ monaxw½n, e)celqo/ntwn a)po\ tw½n i¹di¿wn, kaiì a)pograyame/nwn th\n e)n toiÍj ou)ranoiÍj politei¿an.
15. When [on one occasion] it was necessary for him to cross the Canal of Arsinoë, the occasion being a visitation of the brethren, the canal was full of crocodiles. And simply by praying he entered it, together with all those with him, and passed through it unharmed. And returning to his monastery, he applied himself to the same pious and vigorous efforts. Through continuous conversations [ conferences] he increased the eagerness of those who were already monks, and kindled in most of the rest love of asceticism. And rapidly, through the attractive power of his word, monasteries multiplied; and he directed them all as a father.[…]	15. Xrei¿aj de\ genome/nhj dielqeiÍn au)to\n th\n tou= ¹Arsenoi¿+tou diw¯ruga žxrei¿a de\ hÅn h( tw½n a)delfw½n e)pi¿skeyijŸ, plh/rhj hÅn h( diw¯ruc krokodei¿lwn. Kaiì mo/non eu)ca/menoj, e)ne/bh au)to/j te kaiì pa/ntej oi¸ su\n au)t%½, kaiì dih=lqon a)blabeiÍj. ¸Upostre/yaj de\ ei¹j to\ monasth/rion, tw½n au)tw½n eiãxeto semnw½n kaiì neanikw½n po/nwn. Dialego/meno/j te sunexw½j, tw½n me\n hÃdh monaxw½n th\n proqumi¿an huÃcane, tw½n de\ aÃllwn tou\j plei¿stouj ei¹j eÃrwta th=j a)skh/sewj e)ki¿nei, kaiì taxe/wj, eÀlkontoj tou= lo/gou, pleiÍsta ge/gone monasth/ria, kaiì pa/ntwn au)tw½n w¨j path\r kaqhgeiÍto.

49. But when he saw himself beset by many, and not allowed to withdraw [into solitude] according to his intention as he wished, concerned [too,] that because of what the Lord was doing through him (cf 2Cor 12:4) either he would become arrogant, or another might think more of him than he ought, he looked about and set off to go into the upper Thebaid, among those to whom he was unknown. And having received loaves from the brethren, he sat down by the bank of the river to see whether a boat would go by; so that having embarked he might go up [the river] with them. While he was considering these things, a voice came to him from above, “Antony, where are you going, and why?”	49. ¸Wj de\ eiåden e(auto\n o)xlou/menon u(po\ pollw½n kaiì mh\ a)fie/menon kata\ gnw¯mhn a)naxwreiÍn, w¨j bou/letai: eu)labhqeiìj mh\ e)c wÒn o( Ku/rioj poieiÍ di' au)tou=, hÄ au)to\j e)parqv=, hÄ aÃlloj tij u(pe\r oÀ e)sti logi¿shtai periì au)tou=, e)ske/yato kaiì wÐrmhsen a)nelqeiÍn ei¹j th\n aÃnw Qhbai¿+da pro\j tou\j a)gnoou=ntaj au)to/n. Kaiì dh\ para\ tw½n a)delfw½n deca/menoj aÃrtouj, e)ka/qhto para\ ta\j oÃxqaj tou= potamou=, skopw½n ei¹ aÃra pare/lqoi ploiÍon, iàna e)mba\j a)ne/lqv met' au)tw½n. Tau=ta de\ au)tou= skeptome/nou, fwnh/ tij aÃnwqen ge/gone pro\j au)to/n: ¹Antw¯nie, pou= poreu/v, kaiì dia\ ti¿;
But he was not disturbed, for he had become accustomed to often being called this way; and having listened he answered, saying: “Since the crowds do not allow me any tranquility, I wish to go into the upper Thebaid on account of the many annoyances that come upon me here; and especially because they demand of me things beyond my power.” But the voice said unto him, “Even if you were to go into the Thebaid, or as you have it in mind to do, to go down to Bucolia [the pastures], you will have to endure more; even, twice the trouble [you now have]. But if you truly wish tranquility, depart now up into the inner desert.”	¸O de\ mh\ taraxqeiìj, a)ll' w¨j ei¹wqwÜj kaleiÍsqai polla/kij ouÀtwj, e)pakou/saj, a)pekri¿nato, le/gwn: ¹Epeidh\ ou)k e)pitre/pousi¿ moi h)remeiÍn oi¸ oÃxloi, dia\ tou=to bou/lomai a)nelqeiÍn ei¹j th\n aÃnw Qhbai¿+da, dia\ ta\j polla\j tw½n wÒde/ moi ginome/naj e)noxlh/seij, kaiì ma/lista dia\ to\ a)paiteiÍsqai¿ me par' au)tw½n ta\ u(pe\r th\n e)mh\n du/namin. ¸H de\ pro\j au)to\n eÃfh: KaÄn ei¹j th\n Qhbai¿+da a)ne/lqvj, kaÄn, w¨j e)nqumv=, kate/lqvj ei¹j ta\ bouko/lia, plei¿w kaiì diplasi¿ona to\n ka/maton eÃxeij u(pome/nein. Ei¹ de\ qe/leij oÃntwj h)remeiÍn, aÃnelqe nu=n ei¹j th\n e)ndo ^[26.916] te/ran eÃrhmon. Tou= de\ ¹Antwni¿ou le/gontoj:
And when Antony said, “Who will show me the way for I do not know it?” [the voice] immediately indicated to him Saracens about to go that way. So [Antony] approached, and drew near them, and asked to go with them into the desert. And they received him gladly, as if commanded by providence to do so. And having journeyed three days and three nights with them, he came to a very high mountain; and at the base of the mountain ran a clear spring, whose waters were sweet and very cold. Extending out there was a plain and a few uncared-for palm trees.	Kaiì ti¿j dei¿cei moi th\n o(do/n; aÃpeiroj ga/r ei¹mi tau/thj: eu)qu\j eÃdeicen au)t%½ Sarakhnou\j me/llontaj o(deu/ein th\n o(do\n e)kei¿nhn. ProselqwÜn toi¿nun, kaiì e)ggi¿saj au)toiÍj o( ¹Antw¯nioj, h)ci¿ou su\n au)toiÍj ei¹j th\n eÃrhmon a)pelqeiÍn. Oi¸ de\, wÐsper e)c e)pita/gmatoj th=j Pronoi¿aj, proqu/mwj au)to\n e)de/canto: kaiì o(deu/saj treiÍj h(me/raj kaiì treiÍj nu/ktaj met' au)tw½n, hÅlqen ei¹j oÃroj u(yhlo\n li¿an: kaiì uÀdwr me\n hÅn u(po\ to\ oÃroj dieide/staton, gluku\, kaiì ma/la yuxro/n. Pedia\j de\ eÃcwqen, kaiì foi¿nikej a)melhqe/ntej o)li¿goi.


*The fort at Pispir and the Inner Mountain* on the Red Sea**	The Monastery of St. Antony on the Red Sea, the site of Antony's Inner Mountain