What do you think?
Rate this book
The Life of Anthony: The Coptic Life and the Greek Life
An Encomium on Saint Anthony by John of Schmun
A letter to the Disciples of Antony by Serapion of Thmuis Instrumental in the conversion of many, including St. Augustine, The Life of Antony provided the model saint's life and constitutes, in the words of patristics scholar Johannes Quasten, 'the most important document of early monasticism.' Here is one volume are translations of the text in the Greek written by Athanasius (from the new critical edition of G. J. M. Bartelink) and in the Coptic, the language Antony himself spoke. Two short contemporary coptic texts further manifest the powerful influence of 'the father of monks.'
A letter to the Disciples of Antony by Serapion of Thmuis Instrumental in the conversion of many, including St. Augustine, The Life of Antony provided the model saint's life and constitutes, in the words of patristics scholar Johannes Quasten, 'the most important document of early monasticism.' Here is one volume are translations of the text in the Greek written by Athanasius (from the new critical edition of G. J. M. Bartelink) and in the Coptic, the language Antony himself spoke. Two short contemporary coptic texts further manifest the powerful influence of 'the father of monks.'
Paperback
First published August 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Athanasius of Alexandria
354 books328 followersborn perhaps 293
Greek patriarch Saint Athanasius, known as "the Great," of Alexandria led defenders of Christian orthodoxy against Arianism.
An Athanasian follows him, especially in opposition to Arianism.
Christians attributed Athanasian Creed, which dates probably from the fifth century, but people now consider its unknown origin.
People also refer to Athanasius (Arabic: البابا أثناسيوس الرسولي, as the Confessor and the Apostolic, primarily in the Coptic Church; he served as the twentieth bishop. From 8 June 328, his episcopate lasted, but four different Roman emperors ordered him to spend five exiles for 17 years. People consider this renowned theologian, a Father of the Church, the chief of Trinitarianism, and a noted Egyptian of the fourth century.
People remember his role in the conflict. In 325, Athanasius at the age of 27 years played a role in the first council of Nicaea. At the time, he served as a deacon and personal secretary of Alexander, the nineteenth bishop. Constantine I convoked Nicaea in May–August 325 to address the position of Jesus of Nazareth of a distinct substance from the Father.
Three years after Nicæa and upon the repose of Alexander, bishop, he served in June 328 at the age of 30 years as archbishop. He continued to the conflict for the rest of his life, and theological and political struggles engaged him against Constantine and Constantius II, the emperors, and against Eusebius of Nicomedia and other powerful and influential churchmen. He stood as "Athanasius contra Mundum," against the world. Within a few years of his departure, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus called him the "pillar of the Church." All fathers of the Church followed and well regarded his writings in the west and the east. His writings show a rich devotion to the Word, the Son of Man, great pastoral concern, and profound interest in monasticism.
The Roman Catholic Church counts Athanasius and three other doctors, and east labels him the "father." Many Protestants also celebrate him and label him "father of the canon." People venerate Athanasius on feast day, 2 May in west, 15 May in Coptic, and 18 January in the other eastern churches. The Roman Catholic Church, Orient, east, Lutherans, and Anglican communion venerate him.
Greek patriarch Saint Athanasius, known as "the Great," of Alexandria led defenders of Christian orthodoxy against Arianism.
An Athanasian follows him, especially in opposition to Arianism.
Christians attributed Athanasian Creed, which dates probably from the fifth century, but people now consider its unknown origin.
People also refer to Athanasius (Arabic: البابا أثناسيوس الرسولي, as the Confessor and the Apostolic, primarily in the Coptic Church; he served as the twentieth bishop. From 8 June 328, his episcopate lasted, but four different Roman emperors ordered him to spend five exiles for 17 years. People consider this renowned theologian, a Father of the Church, the chief of Trinitarianism, and a noted Egyptian of the fourth century.
People remember his role in the conflict. In 325, Athanasius at the age of 27 years played a role in the first council of Nicaea. At the time, he served as a deacon and personal secretary of Alexander, the nineteenth bishop. Constantine I convoked Nicaea in May–August 325 to address the position of Jesus of Nazareth of a distinct substance from the Father.
Three years after Nicæa and upon the repose of Alexander, bishop, he served in June 328 at the age of 30 years as archbishop. He continued to the conflict for the rest of his life, and theological and political struggles engaged him against Constantine and Constantius II, the emperors, and against Eusebius of Nicomedia and other powerful and influential churchmen. He stood as "Athanasius contra Mundum," against the world. Within a few years of his departure, Saint Gregory of Nazianzus called him the "pillar of the Church." All fathers of the Church followed and well regarded his writings in the west and the east. His writings show a rich devotion to the Word, the Son of Man, great pastoral concern, and profound interest in monasticism.
The Roman Catholic Church counts Athanasius and three other doctors, and east labels him the "father." Many Protestants also celebrate him and label him "father of the canon." People venerate Athanasius on feast day, 2 May in west, 15 May in Coptic, and 18 January in the other eastern churches. The Roman Catholic Church, Orient, east, Lutherans, and Anglican communion venerate him.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 25, 2024
I read this many years ago and remember being very impressed with it/him. What an amazing saint/man! What I remembered best from my first reading was St. Anthony’s total abandonment of civilization upon hearing Christ’s call to ‘sell all and give to the poor’ and the saint’s subsequent living in poverty for the rest of his life to a great old age.
From this reading, I was more taken with how he lived his life. One thing which struck me in particular, was his skillful handling of his Greek pagan interlocutors. They came to poke fun at him and the Cross of Christ, and he ended up making fools of them. Here are just a few of his words as recorded by St. Athanasius:
An excellent testimony of a most worthy saint. St. Anthony, pray for us!
From this reading, I was more taken with how he lived his life. One thing which struck me in particular, was his skillful handling of his Greek pagan interlocutors. They came to poke fun at him and the Cross of Christ, and he ended up making fools of them. Here are just a few of his words as recorded by St. Athanasius:
“And touching the Cross, which would you say is better: when plotted against by wicked men to endure the Cross and not shrink from any manner of death whatever, or to tell tales of the wanderings of Osiris and Isis, and the plots of Typhon, and the flight of Kronos, and swallowings of children and slaying of fathers? For this among you is wisdom. And if you mock at the Cross, why do you not marvel at the Resurrection? For those who tell of the one wrote the other, too. Or why, when you remember the Cross, do you say nothing of the dead who were raised, the blind who saw, the paralytics who were cured and the lepers made clean, the walking on the sea and the other signs and wonders which show Christ, not as man, but as God? To me it seems that you are utterly unfair to yourselves and that you have not honestly read our Scriptures. But do you read them and see that the things which Christ did prove Him to be God dwelling with us for men’s salvation.There is much more, but for that, one must read the book!
“But do you also tell us your own teachings. Though what could you say about brute things except brutishness and savagery? But if, as I hear, you wish to say that these things are spoken among you in figure, and you make the rape of Persephone an allegory of the earth and Hephaestus of the fire, and Hera of the air, and Apollo of the sun, and Artemis of the moon, and Poseidon of the sea; nonetheless, you are again worshipping that which is no god; you are serving the creature instead of the God who created all. For if you have made up these tales because of the loveliness of the world, you are right to go as far as admiring it, but not to make gods of creatures, lest you give to things made, the honor of the Maker. In that case, it is time you should hand over the architect’s honor to the house he has built, or the general’s honor to the soldier. Now, what do you say to all this?—that we may see if the Cross has anything that deserves to be scoffed at.”
An excellent testimony of a most worthy saint. St. Anthony, pray for us!
Read
February 7, 2024Nice translation, nice presentation, and nice selection of texts.
January 18, 2024
The Life of Anthony was one of the first spiritual books that was mass produced in the early Church. Written by the Coptic Pope Athanasius, this book was spread all across the Church and read by almost every Christian. This was a time before any splits in the Church.
The main language at the time was Greek, and most English translations on The Life of Anthony was originally Greek. This book, by Vivian, stands as the only book that provides an English translation from a Coptic version of The Life of Anthony. Each page has the English translation from Coptic on the left and the English translation from Greek on the right. It is nice comparison to see both versions translationed.
Of note, I particularly found the Encomium section of the book as a rather nice read. Most people tend to skip over this introduction, but it was rather enjoyable.
The main language at the time was Greek, and most English translations on The Life of Anthony was originally Greek. This book, by Vivian, stands as the only book that provides an English translation from a Coptic version of The Life of Anthony. Each page has the English translation from Coptic on the left and the English translation from Greek on the right. It is nice comparison to see both versions translationed.
Of note, I particularly found the Encomium section of the book as a rather nice read. Most people tend to skip over this introduction, but it was rather enjoyable.
Read
February 13, 2023Interesting extensive introductions to the main text which is two translations one from the Coptic version and one from the Greek version. I only read the Coptic version
February 21, 2017
Antony, as Bishop Athanasius presents him, spends a good bit of time wrestling with demons. Much of the Life is a portrayal of Christianity as a battle with demonic forces. Antony deliberately shuts himself up in a cave for some of these knock down matches with earth-shaking, screaming demons. Instead of a cage match, it’s a cave match. Antony’s sure of his victory, because he knows that the demons only have the power over him that God permits, and he’s in shape. By his ascetic disciplines of fasting, short sleep periods on the hard ground, manual labor, ceaseless prayer, memorizing scripture, and sharing his bread with the poor he’s ready for them, whether they come in the form of ghosts, hideous monsters, enticing women, or Satan himself.
To stay in shape Antony retreats to his mountain just west of the Red Sea to practice his discipline. He will, however, venture back to the cities along the Nile to defend his fellow Christians or to argue with Greek philosophers. But back at his mountain, monks flock to him to learn, and to marvel at his abilities, visions, and in the end his peaceful acceptance of death.
To stay in shape Antony retreats to his mountain just west of the Red Sea to practice his discipline. He will, however, venture back to the cities along the Nile to defend his fellow Christians or to argue with Greek philosophers. But back at his mountain, monks flock to him to learn, and to marvel at his abilities, visions, and in the end his peaceful acceptance of death.
February 5, 2023
Having the Coptic and Greek side by side is only so helpful when they are both in English!
September 4, 2013
Excellent.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews