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Audiobook edition · 2 h 37 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · 84 pagesHardcover · 6 × 9 in · 84 pagesAbout this book
What draws a young man from inherited land into tombs, a ruined fort, and a life of prayer?
In The Life of Saint Antony, Athanasius of Alexandria follows a young Egyptian who gives away his inheritance to live by the gospel. Antony learns from an older solitary before seeking greater isolation. According to the text, his retreat becomes a struggle with demons that test his faith through fear, visions, and physical torment.
Written by a friend and admirer, this Christian biography presents Antony as a pattern for monastic life. Solitude does not keep others away: monks seek his teaching, philosophers challenge him, and emperors write to him. Through these encounters, Athanasius explores what it means to carry religious commitment into daily discipline, public conflict, and service to others.
What you’ll discover
- The choice to leave Follow Antony as he gives up his inheritance and seeks a life shaped by the gospel.
- Fear in the wilderness Enter the tombs and ruined fort where Athanasius portrays Antony's encounters with threatening spirits.
- Discipline day by day Hear Antony's advice to monks on perseverance, temptation, and the demands of the ascetic life.
- A hermit among others Discover why a man seeking solitude becomes a teacher whom monks and emperors approach.
- Faith beyond the desert Follow Antony to Alexandria, where the narrative places him alongside Christians suffering persecution.
Who will love it
This is for readers who love saints' lives, desert stories and early Christian history, and for anyone curious how one quiet farmer's son shaped monastic life and the struggle with fear.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- One Gospel line sends a young man out
- The devil tests the young man in many ways
- In the tombs, he refuses to run
- He walks past gold and into the fort
- Antony teaches the monks how demons work
- On the inner mountain, healing comes through prayer
- Philosophers, emperors and Arians meet the unlettered man
- What the story is about, and how it is told
Who’s who
- AntonyA young Egyptian who gives away his land and seeks God in the desert, and becomes a teacher to many.
- AthanasiusThe bishop of Alexandria who writes the account as a friend of Antony and a defender of the Church.
- The devil and his demonsThe enemies who try to turn Antony back with thoughts, visions, beasts and noise.
- Antony's sisterThe little sister he places with consecrated women, who later grows old as the leader of other virgins.
- The Greek philosophersLearned visitors who come to test or mock Antony and leave amazed at his reasoning.
- BalaciusA general and persecutor who supports the Arians and scorns Antony's warning.
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The Life of Saint Antony
by Attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria · 360
A farmer's son hears one Gospel line, gives away three hundred acres and walks into the tombs.
Challenging2–5 hours to readItaliano
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In short
What would you do if one sentence read aloud in church seemed meant for you alone? For a young Egyptian named Antony, newly orphaned, that sentence tells a rich man to sell what he has, give to the poor and follow.
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Listen freeOr hold it in print: paperback, hardcover or large print, at costFrom the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
One Gospel line sends a young man out
Antony is born to a wealthy Christian family in Egypt. As a boy he goes to church with his parents, listens closely and keeps in his heart whatever seems useful. He never asks for rich food.
Then his parents die, and he is left with a little sister and the care of the house. Less than six months later he walks to church thinking of how the apostles left everything and followed the Savior. The Gospel being read tells anyone who wants to be perfect to sell what he has, give to the poor and follow. Antony takes it as spoken to him.
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A farmer's son hears one Gospel line, gives away three hundred acres and walks into the tombs.
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Details
- First published
- 360
- Language
- Italiano
- Listening time
- 2 h 37 min
- Level
- Challenging
- Paperback
- 84 pages · 6 × 9 in
- Hardcover
- 84 pages · 6 × 9 in
- Large print paperback
- 132 pages · 8.5 × 11 in
- Large print hardcover
- 132 pages · 8.5 × 11 in
- Delivery and returns
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Cite this edition
Athanasius of Alexandria. The Life of Saint Antony. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-the-life-of-saint-antony.
Athanasius of Alexandria. (2026). The life of Saint Antony. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-the-life-of-saint-antony (Original work published ca. 360)
Athanasius of Alexandria. The Life of Saint Antony. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-the-life-of-saint-antony.
@book{athanasiusofalexandria2026life,
author = {Athanasius of Alexandria},
title = {The Life of Saint Antony},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/loa-the-life-of-saint-antony},
note = {First published ca. 360}
}
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What is The Life of Saint Antony about?
It tells the life of Antony of Egypt, who gives away his family land, lives alone in tombs, an old fort and a far mountain, faces demons, teaches monks, answers philosophers and becomes a spiritual father to many.
Who wrote The Life of Saint Antony and when?
It is traditionally ascribed to Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, who knew Antony. It was written in Greek in the middle of the fourth century and was soon translated into Latin.
Why did Antony go into the desert?
After hearing a Gospel reading about the rich man, Antony takes it as spoken to him, gives away his property and withdraws to pray, to train himself and to perfect his discipline.
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