Contents of the Life

Sections 1 and 2. The birth and beginnings of Antony. [a] Sections 3 and 4. His early life of discipline. Sections 5 and 6. His early struggles with the devil. Section 7. Details of his life at this time, about the years 271 to 285, though the dates are uncertain. Sections 8 to 10. His life in the tombs, and his fights with the demons there. Section 11. He goes to the desert and overcomes temptations on the way. Sections 12 and 13. How Antony made his home in a ruined fort across the Nile, and how he defeated the demons. His twenty years there. Sections 14 and 15. How he left the fort, and how the monastic life began to flourish in Egypt, with Antony as its leader. Sections 16 to 43. His address to the monks, translated from Coptic, urging them to persevere and encouraging them against the tricks of Satan. Section 44. The growth of the monastic life at this time, about the year 305.

Section 45. How Antony renewed his efforts in the discipline at this time. Section 46. How he sought martyrdom at Alexandria during the persecution, in the year 311. [b] Section 47. How he lived at this time. Section 48. How he freed a woman from an evil spirit. Sections 49 and 50. How at this time he went away to his “inner mountain.” Sections 51 to 53. How he fought the demons there. Section 54. Of the miraculous spring; how he built up the monks of the “outer” mountain; and of Antony’s sister. Sections 55 and 56. How kindly he counseled those who came to him. Section 57. Of the case of Fronto, healed by faith and prayer. Section 58. Of a certain virgin, and of Paphnutius the confessor. [c] Section 59. Of the two brothers, and how one died of thirst. Section 60. Of the death of Amun, and Antony’s vision of it.

Sections 61 and 62. Of Count Archelaus and the virgin Polycratia. Sections 63 and 64. Strange stories of the casting out of demons. Section 65. Of Antony’s vision concerning the forgiveness of his sins. Section 66. Of the passing of souls, and how some were held back by Satan. Section 67. How Antony honored all ordained persons. Section 68. How he rejected the schism of Melitius and the heresies of Mani and Arius. [d] Section 69. How he refuted the Arians. Sections 70 and 71. How he visited Alexandria, and healed and converted many, and how Athanasius escorted him out of the city. Sections 72 to 79. How he reasoned with various Greeks and philosophers at the “outer” mountain. [e] Section 80. How he refuted the philosophers by healing some who were tormented by demons. Section 81. How the emperors wrote to Antony, and of his answer. Section 82. How he saw in a vision what the Arians were then doing.

Sections 83 and 84. That his healings were done by Christ alone, through prayer. Section 85. How wisely he answered a certain duke. [f] Section 86. Of Balacius the duke, and how, after Antony warned him, he came to a miserable end. Section 87. How he bore the weaknesses of the weak, and of the great good he did for all Egypt. Section 88. Of his discernment, and how he was a counselor to everyone. Sections 89 and 90. How, when he was a hundred and five years old, he counseled the monks and gave advice about burial. Section 91. Of his sickness and his last will. Section 92. Of Antony’s death. Section 93. How Antony stayed healthy until his death, and how his fame filled the whole world. Section 94. The end.

Antony’s answers to a philosopher and to Didymus are given by Socrates in his Church History, Book 4, chapters 23 and 25. The following is from Hanmer’s translation of Socrates, Book 1, chapter 21: “At the same time Antony the monk lived in the deserts of Egypt. But since Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, has lately published a separate volume about his life, his manners and his way of living, telling how openly he grappled with demons, how he outwitted their tricks and cunning attacks, and how he worked many marvelous and strange miracles, I think it unnecessary on my part to write about it.” [g]

For the translation of the text I am indebted to my friend and colleague the Reverend H. Ellershaw, Junior. [h]