Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume IV/Life of Antony/Vita Antoni/Prologue

Life of Antony.

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&#167;&#167;1, 2. Birth and beginnings of Antony.

&#167;&#167;3, 4. His early ascetic life.

&#167;&#167;5, 6. Early conflicts with the devil.

&#167;7. Details of his life at this time (271&#8211;285?)

&#167;&#167;8&#8211;10. His life in the tombs, and combats with demons there.

&#167;11. He goes to the desert and overcomes temptations on the way.

&#167;&#167;12, 13. How Antony took up his abode in a ruined fort across the Nile, and how he defeated the demons. His twenty years&#8217; sojourn there.

&#167;&#167;14, 15. How he left the fort, and how monasticism began to flourish in Egypt. Antony its leader.

&#167;&#167;16&#8211;43. His address to monks, rendered from Coptic, exhorting them to perseverance, and encouraging them against the wiles of Satan.

&#167;44. The growth of the monastic life at this time (about A.D. 305).

&#167;45. How Antony renewed his ascetic endeavours at this time.

&#167;46. How he sought martyrdom at Alexandria during the Persecution (311).

&#167;47. How he lived at this time.

&#167;48. How he delivered a woman from an evil spirit.

&#167;&#167;49, 50. How at this time he betook himself to his &#8216;inner mountain.&#8217;

&#167;&#167;51&#8211;53. How he there combated the demons.

&#167;54. Of the miraculous spring, and how he edified the monks of the &#8216;outer&#8217; mountain, and of Antony&#8217;s sister.

&#167;&#167;55, 56. How humanely he counselled those who resorted to him.

&#167;57. Of the case of Fronto, healed by faith and prayer.

&#167;58. Of a certain virgin, and of Paphnutius the confessor.

&#167;59. Of the two brethren, and how one perished of thirst.

&#167;60. Of the death of Amun, and Antony&#8217;s vision thereof.

&#167;61, 62. Of Count Archelaus and the virgin Polycration.

&#167;&#167;63, 64. Strange tales of the casting out of demons.

&#167;65. Of Antony&#8217;s vision concerning the forgiveness of his sins.

&#167;66. Of the passage of souls, and how some were hindered of Satan.

&#167;67. How Antony reverenced all ordained persons.

&#167;68. How he rejected the schism of Meletius and the heresies of Manes and Arius.

&#167;69. How he confuted the Arians.

&#167;&#167;70, 71. How he visited Alexandria, and healed and converted many, and how Athanasius escorted him from the city.

&#167;&#167;72&#8211;79. How he reasoned with divers Greeks and philosophers at the &#8216;outer&#8217; mountain.

&#167;80. How he confuted the philosophers by healing certain vexed with demons.

&#167;81. How the Emperors wrote to Antony, and of his answer.

&#167;82. How he saw in a vision the present doings of the Arians.

&#167;&#167;83, 84. That his healings were done by Christ alone, through prayer.

&#167;85. How wisely he answered a certain duke.

&#167;86. Of the Duke Balacius, and how, warned by Antony, he met with a miserable end.

&#167;87. How he bore the infirmities of the weak, and of his great benefits to all Egypt.

&#167;88. Of his discernment, and how he was a counsellor to all.

&#167;&#167;89, 90. How, when now 105 years old, he counselled the monks, and gave advice concerning burial.

&#167;91. Of his sickness and his last will.

&#167;92. Of Antony&#8217;s death.

&#167;93. How Antony remained hale until his death, and how the fame of him filled all the world.

&#167;94. The end.

[Antony&#8217;s answers to a philosopher, and to Didymus, are given by Socrates IV. 23, 25: the following is from Hanmer&#8217;s translation of Socr. I. 21: &#8220;The same time lived Antony the monk in the deserts of &#198;gypt. But inasmuch as Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, hath lately set forth in a several volume, intituled of his life, his manners and converasiton, how openly he buckled with divils, how he over-reached their slights and subtle combats, and wrought many marvellous and strange miracles, I think it superfluous on my part to intreat thereof.&#8217;]

For the translation of the text I am indebted to my friend and colleague the Rev. H. Ellershaw, jun.