Saints
A

Saint · Early Church

Saint Anthony the Great

Period
3rd–4th century (died c. 356)
Feast day
17 January
Associated region
Lower Egypt and the Eastern Desert

Egyptian hermit remembered as a father of Christian monasticism.

Key timeline

View full timeline (4)
  1. c. 270Traditional

    Withdraws to ascetic life

  2. Early 4th centuryTraditional

    Disciples gather

    Communities of hermits form around him.

  3. c. 356Approximate

    Death

Anthony gave away his inheritance and withdrew into the desert as a young man. Disciples gathered around him, and Athanasius’s Life made his way of life famous across the Roman world. He did not invent monasticism, but he became its model.

Principal written sources

  • Athanasius, Life of Antony
  • Letters attributed to Antony
  • Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Full timeline

  1. c. 270Traditional

    Withdraws to ascetic life

  2. Early 4th centuryTraditional

    Disciples gather

    Communities of hermits form around him.

  3. c. 356Approximate

    Death

  4. c. 360

    Life of Antony written

Feast day
  • 17 January
Venerated in (starting dataset)
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican.
Patronage and roles (starting dataset)
Monks, Skin Diseases, Hospitallers
Places
Coma (Qiman al-Arus) · Pispir · Mount Qulzum

Accounts in the starting dataset

The source workbook lists these under “Confirmed Miracle / Key Event”. The Atlas does not treat them as confirmed: each is labelled by the kind of evidence behind it.

  • TraditionalHagiography

    “Surviving physical demon attacks in desert tombs through prayer”

    Recounted in Athanasius’s Life of Antony.

  • UnverifiedUnsourced claim

    “Multiplication of bread and water for monks in dry wilderness”

    Not traced to the Life of Antony; needs a source.

About the image · Editorial design

Editorial initial. No likeness of Anthony survives.

Editorial status

Editorial draft. Built from the starting workbook with editorial corrections and framing. It has not yet been checked against independent sources.

References

  • Workbook linkNot yet checked

    copticorthodox.church

    Link supplied in the source workbook (“Top 100 Saints”, row 34). It has not been checked to confirm that it supports every claim in that row.

Original workbook record

Imported unchanged from “Top 100 Saints”, row 34. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.

#
26
Saint / Title
Saint Anthony the Great
Primary Traditions Veneration
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican
Feast Day(s)
Jan 17
Era / Lived
251 – 356 AD
Origin / Region
Lower Egypt
Patronage & Major Roles
Monks, Skin Diseases, Hospitallers
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1
Surviving physical demon attacks in desert tombs through prayer
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2
Multiplication of bread and water for monks in dry wilderness
Key Contribution / Historical Significance
Father of Christian Monasticism; pioneered solitary desert ascetical life.
Reference Link
https://copticorthodox.church

Editorial notes on this record

  • Era / Lived: 251–356 are traditional dates from the Life of Antony.
  • Reference Link: Workbook link is the Coptic Orthodox Church homepage, not a source on Anthony.