Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.)
NPNF2-04. Athanasius: Select Works and Letters
Contents (46 chapters)
Life of Antony. (Vita Antoni.)
- 1. Prologue.
- 2. Preface.
- 3. Birth and beginnings of Antony.
- 4. His early ascetic life.
- 5. Early conflicts with the devil.
- 6. Details of his life at this time (271-285?)
- 7. His life in the tombs, and combats with demons there.
- 8. He goes to the desert and overcomes temptations on the way.
- 9. How Antony took up his abode in a ruined fort across the Nile, and how he defeated the demons. His twenty years' sojourn there.
- 10. How he left the fort, and how monasticism began to flourish in Egypt. Antony its leader.
- 11. His address to monks, rendered from Coptic, exhorting them to perseverance, and encouraging them against the wiles of Satan.
- 12. The growth of the monastic life at this time (about A.D. 305).
- 13. How Antony renewed his ascetic endeavours at this time.
- 14. How he sought martyrdom at Alexandria during the Persecution (311).
- 15. How he lived at this time.
- 16. How he delivered a woman from an evil spirit.
- 17. How at this time he betook himself to his 'inner mountain.'
- 18. How he there combated the demons.
- 19. Of the miraculous spring, and how he edified the monks of the 'outer' mountain, and of Antony's sister.
- 20. How humanely he counselled those who resorted to him.
- 21. Of the case of Fronto, healed by faith and prayer.
- 22. Of a certain virgin, and of Paphnutius the confessor.
- 23. Of the two brethren, and how one perished of thirst.
- 24. Of the death of Amun, and Antony's vision thereof.
- 25. Of Count Archelaus and the virgin Polycration.
- 26. Strange tales of the casting out of demons.
- 27. Of Antony's vision concerning the forgiveness of his sins.
- 28. Of the passage of souls, and how some were hindered of Satan.
- 29. How Antony reverenced all ordained persons.
- 30. How he rejected the schism of Meletius and the heresies of Manes and Arius.
- 31. How he confuted the Arians.
- 32. How he visited Alexandria, and healed and converted many, and how Athanasius escorted him from the city.
- 33. How he reasoned with divers Greeks and philosophers at the 'outer' mountain.
- 34. How he confuted the philosophers by healing certain vexed with demons.
- 35. How the Emperors wrote to Antony, and of his answer.
- 36. How he saw in a vision the present doings of the Arians.
- 37. That his healings were done by Christ alone, through prayer.
- 38. How wisely he answered a certain duke.
- 39. Of the Duke Balacius, and how, warned by Antony, he met with a miserable end.
- 40. How he bore the infirmities of the weak, and of his great benefits to all Egypt.
- 41. Of his discernment, and how he was a counsellor to all.
- 42. How, when now 105 years old, he counselled the monks, and gave advice concerning burial.
- 43. Of his sickness and his last will.
- 44. Of Antony's death.
- 45. How Antony remained hale until his death, and how the fame of him filled all the world.
- 46. The end.
Source: CCEL