The timeless wisdom of the great Egyptian monk and founder of Orthodox monasticism: Abba Anthony the Great.
As St. John Chrysostom said, “Look earnestly into what is written in this book, and you will learn everything exactly regarding the life of virtue.”
📖 The 38 Sayings of St. Anthony the Great
https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/01/the-38-beneficial-sayings-of-saint.html
📖 From _The Sayings of the Desert Fathers_ translated by Benedicta Ward
https://archive.org/details/httpwww.g4er.tkbookssayings-of-the-desert-fathers.pdf/page/8/mode/2up
📖 The Life of St. Anthony the Great by St. Athanasius of Alexandria
https://easternchristiansupply.biz/index.php/cse/saint-anthony-the-great.html
https://archangelsbooks.com/products/saint-anthony-the-great-lives-of-saints-book
⛪ FIND an Orthodox parish and monastery:
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6. Abba Pambo asked Abba Anthony, "What ought I to do?" and the old man said to him, "Do not
trust in your own righteousness, do not worry about the past, but control your tongue and your
stomach."
13. A hunter in the desert saw Abba Anthony enjoying himself with the brethren and he was shocked. Wanting to show him that it was necessary sometimes to meet the needs of the brethren, the old man said to him, "Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it." So he did. The old man then said, "Shoot another," and he did so. Then the old man said, "Shoot yet again," and the hunter replied: "If I bend my bow so much I will break it." Then the old man said to him, "It is the same with the work of God. If we stretch the brethren beyond measure they will soon break. Sometimes it is necessary to come down to meet their needs." When he heard these words the hunter was pierced by compunction and, greatly edified by the old man, he went away. As for the brethren, they went home strengthened.
17. One day some old men came to see Abba Anthony. In the midst of them was Abba Joseph. Wanting to test them, the old man suggested a text from the Scriptures, and, beginning with the youngest, he asked them what it meant. Each gave his opinion as he was able. But to each one the old man said, "You have not understood it." Last of all he said to Abba Joseph, "How would you explain this saying?" and he replied, "I do not know." Then Abba Anthony said, "Indeed, Abba Joseph has found the way, for he has said: 'I do not know.'"
25. Abba Anthony said, "A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, 'You are mad, you are not like us.'"
32. Abba Anthony said, "I no longer fear God, but I love Him. For love casts out fear." (John 4:18)
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