St. Anthony the Great (c. 251–356) was an Egyptian monk who became the father of Christian monasticism. After hearing Christ’s call to “sell all you have and give to the poor,” he left his family and lived first near his village, then in the Eastern Desert, embracing extreme asceticism, fasting, and constant prayer. He battled both physical hardships and demonic temptations, becoming known for his spiritual discipline, visions, and guidance of other monks. His life inspired the spread of hermitic and communal monasticism throughout Egypt and the Christian world, and he is celebrated as a model of holiness, humility, and steadfast devotion.
