One day Amun was urged to cross a river called the Lykos; There was plenty of water then. Amun began to ask Theodore, who was with him, to move further away, so that they would not see each other naked when they swam across the river. Later, when Theodore had departed, Amun was also ashamed to see himself naked; but while he was struggling with shame and worrying, he was suddenly transported to the other side. Theodore, also a reverent man, approached and saw that Amun had preceded him and had not in the least dipped himself in the water, and asked him to tell him how he had crossed the water. When he saw that Amun did not want to say this, he embraced his feet and began to assure him that he would not let him go until he knew him. And so Amun, seeing the obstinacy of Theodore, and especially for the sake of the word he spoke, himself first asked not to tell anyone about it until his death, and then announced that he had been carried and placed on the other shore, but did not walk on the waters at all; for this is absolutely impossible for men, but it is possible for the Lord alone, and to whom He will permit it, as He permitted the great Apostle Peter. Theodore related this after the death of Amun.

The monks to whom Anthony told about the death of Amun noticed the day. And when, thirty days later, the brethren came from Nitria, they asked them and learned that Amun had reposed on the very day and hour in which the elder saw his soul being lifted up. Both were much amazed at the purity of Anthony's soul, and at how he recognized what had happened at the distance of the thirteen-day journey at the same moment and saw the soul being lifted up.

61) One day, the comite Archelaus, having found Anthony on the outer mountain, asked him only to pray for Polycratia, a wondrous and Christ-bearing virgin in Laodicea. She suffered from extraordinary feats with severe pain in the womb and side, and she was completely exhausted bodily. Anthony prayed; and the comitus noticed the day on which the prayer was brought, and returning to Laodicea, he found the virgin healthy. Having asked when and on what day she was freed from illness, he took out the charter on which he had written down the time of prayer, and after the healed woman answered, he himself showed the record at the same time; and everyone was amazed to learn that then the Lord delivered her from suffering, when Anthony prayed for her and called upon the Savior's goodness to help her.

62) Often Anthony foretold about those who were coming to him, a few days in advance, even a month in advance, for what reason they were going. For some came only to see him, others because of illness, and others because they suffered from demons. And no one considered the difficulty of the journey a burden for himself and did not regret his labors; because everyone came back feeling the benefit. When Anthony had such a vision and he told about it, he always asked that no one should be amazed at him, but rather at the Lord, Who has given us men the opportunity to know Him to the best of our ability.

63) Once, when they came to the monasteries that were on the outer mountain, they begged him to board the ship and pray with the monks; he alone felt a strong and very disgusting stench. Those who were on the ship said that there was fish and salted meat, and therefore the smell; but Anthony said that it was a different kind of stench. While he was still speaking, suddenly a young man cried out, possessed by a demon, who, having entered the ship before the others, was hiding on it.

64) And another of the nobles came to Anthony, having a demon in him; this demon was very fierce; possessed by him, he did not know that he had been brought to Anthony, and devoured the eruptions of his body. Those who brought her asked Antonov to pray for the demoniac man. Anthony, out of compassion for the youth, prayed, and spent the whole night with him in vigil. Before dawn, the youth, suddenly rushing at Anthony, threw him to the ground, and when those who came with him were indignant at this, Anthony said to them: "Do not be angry with the youth; It is not he who is to blame, but the demon that dwells in him. Therefore, praise the Lord. For such an aspiration of the young man against me was a sign to you that the demon had come out." While Anthony was still saying this, the youth immediately became well, and finally, coming to his senses, he learned where he was, and greeted the elder, offering thanks to God.

65) Very many of the monks agreed and in the same way that Anthony had done many other similar things. But this is not so much miraculous as the following seems most strange to everyone else. Once, before partaking of food, at about the ninth hour, Anthony got up to pray, and felt within himself that he was enraptured in his mind, and what was surprising, he saw himself as if he were beside himself, and someone was as if he were leading him through the air; and in the air there are some gloomy and terrible faces who want to block his path to ascent. but Anthony's guides prevented this, saying: "What was from his birth, the Lord blotted out; keep count from the time when he became a monk and made a vow to God." Then, since the accusers could not convict him, his path became free and unhindered. And suddenly he saw that it was as if he were returning and entering into himself, and again becoming the former Anthony. At this time, forgetting to eat food, he spent the rest of the day and the whole night in sighing and prayer; for he was amazed, seeing how many enemies we had to fight, and with what difficulties a man had to pass through the air. And then it came to his mind that the Apostle had said in this very sense: "According to the prince are the powers of the air" (Ephesians 2:2). For the enemy has in the air the power to enter into battle with those who pass through it, and attempts to block their way. For this reason, moreover, the Apostle advised: "Take up all the armor of God, that ye may be able to resist in the day of death" (Ephesians 6:13), so that the enemy may be put to shame, having nothing to speak about us stubbornly (Titus 2:8). And when we hear this, let us bring to our memory the Apostle, who says: "If we are in the body, we do not know, if we do not know except the body, God knows" (2 Corinthians 12:2). But Paul was caught up to the third heaven, and descended from there, having heard ineffable words; and Antony saw himself passing through the air and fighting there until he was free.

66) Anthony also had this gift. During his stay on the mountain in solitude, if sometimes, having asked himself a question, he was perplexed; then, according to God's providence, during prayer there was a revelation to him about this, and the blessed one, according to what was written, was taught by God (Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45). Thus, once he was talking to those who came to him about the state of the soul after death and about where its abode would be. The next night someone from above called him, saying: "Get up, Anthony, come out and see." Anthony went out (for he knew whom he should obey), and looking up, he saw that someone tall, ugly, and terrible was standing, and touching the clouds with his head, and that some others were ascending as if winged, and the first stretched out his hands to the latter, and blocked the way to some, while others flew over it, and having passed it, they were already comfortably ascending upwards; At the latter this giant gnashes his teeth, but at those who fall down, he rejoices. Suddenly, a voice said to Anthony: "Understand the things that are seen." Then his mind was opened and he understood that this is the passage of souls, that the standing giant is an enemy, envious of the faithful, and he restrains those who have fallen under his power and forbids them to go further; but he cannot detain those who do not obey him, because they pass above him. Seeing this, and taking such a vision as a reminder to himself, Anthony began to exert even greater effort in order to succeed daily in his former asceticism. He was reluctant to announce such visions. But since those who were with him, when they saw that he prayed longer than usual and seemed surprised, they questioned him and pestered him with their questions; then he was forced to tell them, like a father who can hide nothing from his children; moreover, he reasoned that his conscience would remain clear, and his story would be of use to them, when they learned that asceticism had good fruits, and visions were often a consolation in labor.

67) Anthony was of a patient disposition and had a humble heart. For all his spiritual loftiness, he had great respect for the church rule, and he was ready to give preference to any clergyman. He was not ashamed to bow his head before bishops and presbyters. If a deacon came to him for his own benefit, he offered him a word for his benefit, but he left the performance of prayers to the deacon, not being ashamed to learn himself. He often asked questions, and wished to listen to those who were with him; he confessed that he himself received benefit if someone said something useful. And his face had a great and extraordinary pleasantness. And Anthony also received this gift from the Saviour: if he was surrounded by a multitude of monks, and it was desirable for someone who had not known him before to see him; then the one who wished to do so, having passed the others, went straight up to Anthony, as if attracted by his gaze. Anthony differed from the others not by his height and appearance, but by his good manners and purity of soul. and therefore, from the joy of the soul the face was joyful, and by the movements of the body it was possible to feel and understand the tranquility of the soul, in accordance with what is written: "The heart rejoices, the face blossoms, but I am in sorrows, lamenting" (Proverbs 15:13). Thus Jacob knew that Laban was plotting evil, and said to his wives, "There is no face of your father as yesterday and today" (Gen. 31:5). Thus Samuel recognized David; for his eyes were joyful, and his teeth were white as milk. Thus they recognized Anthony; because, in peace of mind, he was never indignant, and in a joyful state of mind he was never gloomy.

68) He was very wonderful in faith and pious. He never had communion with the renegades, the Meletians, knowing their long-standing cunning and apostasy; he did not converse in a friendly manner with the Manichaeans, or with other heretics, except for the purpose of admonishing them to turn to piety. And he himself thought so, and he inspired others that friendship and conversation with heretics were harm and destruction to the soul. He also abhorred the Arian epec, and gave everyone a commandment not to draw near to the Arians and not to have their evil beliefs. When some of the Arians came to him, having experienced and known that they were dishonored, he drove them out of the mountain, saying that their speech was worse than snake venom.

69) Once the Arians spread a false rumor that Antony was of the same mind as them. Then he was indignant and angry with them; and then, at the request of the bishops and all the brethren, he descended from the mountain and, arriving in Alexandria, condemned the Arians, saying that Arianism was the last heresy and forerunner of the Antichrist. He taught the people that "the Son of God is not a creature and not of non-beings, but is the eternal Word and Wisdom of the Father's essence. Wherefore it is impious to speak of the Son, "It was when He was not." For the Word is always co-existent with the Father. Therefore, have no fellowship with the most impious Apians. For there is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14). As you, pious believers, are called Christs, so they, who call the Son of God and the Word of the Father a creature, do not differ in any way from the pagans, serving the creature more than God who created them. Believe that even all creation is indignant with them because the Creator and Lord of the universe, Who was all things, is numbered among the created beings."

70) All the people rejoiced when they heard that the Christ-fighting heresy was anathematized by such a man. All the inhabitants of the city ran to see Anthony. Even the pagans and their so-called priests came to the temple of the Lord, saying: "We desire to see the man of God." For everyone called him so. And here the Lord through him freed many from demons, and healed those who were damaged in their minds. Many even of the pagans wished to touch only the elder, in the conviction that they would benefit from it. And indeed, in these few days as many were converted to Christianity as in other times were converted in the course of a year. Others thought that the crowd of people disturbed him, and therefore drove away all those who came from him; but Anthony, not indignant at anything, said: "The number of those who come is no greater than the number of demons, with whom we wage war in grief."

71) When Anthony was departing and we were accompanying him, then, as soon as we reached the city gates, a woman exclaimed behind us: "Stop, man of God! My daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon. Stop, I beseech you, so that I, running after you, may not suffer misfortune." The elder, hearing this and being entreated by us, willingly stopped. And as soon as the woman drew near, her daughter was thrown to the ground; but Anthony prayed and called on the name of Christ; Then the maiden arose healthy, because an unclean demon came out of her. The Mother blessed God, and everyone gave thanks to Him. Anthony himself rejoiced, returning to the mountain as if it were his own home.

72) He was very intelligent, and, surprisingly, without learning to read and write, he was distinguished by subtlety and penetration of mind. One day two pagan philosophers came to him, thinking that they could tempt Anthony. And he was on the outer mountain, and guessing from the faces of those who were walking what kind of people they were, he came out to them and said through an interpreter: "Why are you philosophers so anxious for a man of no sense?" Then he continued: "If you have gone to a foolish man, then your labor is in vain. And if you consider me wise, then be as I am; for the good must be imitated. If I had come to you, I would have imitated you. But if you have come to me, then be like me; and I am a Christian." The philosophers departed in surprise. They saw that the demons were also afraid of Anthony.