He Leaves the Fort, and the Desert Fills with Monks

So for nearly twenty years he went on training himself alone, never going out and only rarely seen by anyone. After this, many were eager and wanted to imitate his discipline, and his acquaintances came and began to break down and tear off the door by force. Then Antony came out, as from a shrine, initiated into the mysteries and filled with the Spirit of God. This was the first time he was seen outside the fort by those who came to see him. When they saw him, they were amazed at the sight. His body was in the same condition as before. He was neither fat, like a man who takes no exercise, nor thin from fasting and fighting with the demons; he was just the same as they had known him before he withdrew. His soul, too, was free from blemish. It was neither shrunk as if by grief, nor slackened by pleasure, nor taken over by laughter or gloom. He was not troubled when he saw the crowd, nor overjoyed at being greeted by so many people. He was entirely even-tempered, as one guided by reason and living in his natural state. Through him the Lord healed the bodily illnesses of many who were there, and cleansed others of evil spirits. And he gave Antony grace in speaking, so that he comforted many who were sorrowful and reconciled those who were quarreling, urging everyone to put the love of Christ before everything in the world. He urged and advised them to remember the good things to come, and the kindness of God toward us, “who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all”; and so he persuaded many to take up the solitary life. And so in the end cells sprang up even in the mountains, and the desert was settled by monks, who left their own people and enrolled themselves as citizens of heaven. [a]

Once he had to cross the Arsenoite Canal; the reason was a visit to the brothers. The canal was full of crocodiles. But simply by praying he went into it, and all who were with him did too, and they crossed over safely. When he had returned to his cell, he gave himself to the same noble and courageous exercises. By talking with them often, he increased the eagerness of those who were already monks and stirred up in most of the others a love of the discipline. Soon, drawn by his words, the cells multiplied, and he guided them all as a father. [b]