Renewal in Christ: Athanasius on the Christian Life

Appendix 1: The Life of Antony

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roof, as it were, opened, and a ray of light descending to him. The demons suddenly vanished, the pain of his body immediately ceased, and the building was again whole. But Antony, feeling the help, getting his breath again, and being freed from pain, asked the vision which had appeared to him, “Where were you? Why did you not appear at the beginning to stop my pains?” And a voice came to him, “Antony, I was here, but I waited to see you fight; and since you have endured, and have not been defeated, I will ever be a comfort to you, and will make your name known everywhere.” Having heard this, Antony arose and prayed, and received such strength that he perceived that he had more power in his body than formerly. And he was then about thirty-five years old. §11 – Seeking Community And on the following day he went forth still more eagerly bent on the service of God, and having fallen in with the old man he had met previously, he asked him to dwell with him in the desert. But when the other declined on account of his great age, and because as yet there was no such custom, Antony himself set off immediately to the mountain. And yet again the enemy, seeing his zeal and wishing to stop it, cast in his way what seemed to be a great silver dish. But Antony, seeing the deceit of the evil one, stood, and having looked at the dish, he put the devil in it to shame, saying, “Where does a dish come from in the desert? This road is not well-worn, nor is there here a trace of any traveler; it could not have fallen without being missed on account of its size; and he who had lost it having turned back, to seek it, would have found it, for it is a desert place. This is some trick of the devil. Oh, you evil one, not with this will you stop my purpose; let it go