Renewal in Christ: Athanasius on the Christian Life

Appendix 1: The Life of Antony

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the tombs, and the other having shut the door on him, he remained within alone. And when the enemy could not endure it, but was even fearful that in a short time Antony would fill the desert with the discipline, coming one night with a multitude of demons, he so cut him with stripes that he lay on the ground speechless from the excessive pain. For he affirmed that the torture had been so excessive that no blows inflicted by a person could ever have caused him such torment. But by the providence of God—for the Lord never overlooks them that hope in him—the next day his friend came bringing him the loaves. And having opened the door and seeing him lying on the ground as though dead, he lifted him up and carried him to the church in the village, and laid him upon the ground. And many of his family and the villagers sat around Antony as around a corpse. But about midnight he came to himself and arose, and when he saw them all asleep and his friend alone watching,* he motioned with his head for him to approach, and asked him to carry him again to the tombs without waking anybody. §9 – Under Attack but Faithful He was carried therefore by the man, and as was his practice, when the door was shut, he was within alone. And he could not stand up on account of the blows, but he prayed as he lay. And after he had prayed, he said with a shout, “Here am I, Antony; I flee not from your beatings, for even if you inflict more, nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ” (Rom 8:35). And then he sang, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear” (Ps 27:3). These were the thoughts and words of this ascetic.* But the enemy, who hates good, marveling that after the blows he dared to return, called together his hounds and burst forth,