All the judges asked him to come down from the mountain, referring to the impossibility for them to enter there with the defendants accompanying them, but in fact they only wanted Anthony to come and be able to see him. Therefore, Anthony avoided this and refused to go to them. But they insisted, and even sent the defendants forward, accompanied by soldiers, so that, though for their sake, Anthony might come down. Therefore, compelled by necessity and seeing their complaints, he went out to the outer mountain. And this work of his was not useless either; on the contrary, his coming served many for the benefit and was beneficial. And he gave useful advice to the judges to prefer the truth to everything, to fear God, and to know that by what judgment they themselves judge, they will be judged (Matt. 7:2). However, most of all he loved being in sorrow.

85) Wherefore one day, when he was strongly urged to come down from the mountain by those who were in need of him, and a certain commander of the army had long asked for this, Anthony came, and after a brief discussion about what to serve for salvation and about the needs of the needy, he hastened to go back. "As fish, remaining on dry ground for a long time, die, so the monks, slowing down with you and spending time in your company, relax. Therefore, as a fish must hasten to the sea, so we must hurry to the mountain, so that if we tarry with you, we may not forget what is within." The military commander, hearing this and many other things from him, said in amazement: "Truly he is God's servant. For how can a man of unlettered wisdom have such a great mind, if he were not loved by God?"

86) A certain military commander, named Balakius, mercilessly persecuted us Christians out of zeal for the ill-named Arians. He was so cruel that he beat the virgins, stripped them naked and punished the monks with whips. Anthony sent and wrote a letter to him in the following sense: "I see the wrath of God coming upon you. Stop persecuting Christians; otherwise, wrath will come upon you. For he is ready to smite you." Balakius, laughing, threw the letter on the ground and spat on it, and insulted those who brought it, and commanded him to say the following to Anthony: "Since you take care of the monks, I will come to you." But less than five days had passed, when the wrath of God overtook him. Balakius with Nestorius, the eparch of Egypt, set out for the first night from Alexandria, called Chaeraeus; both rode on horses belonging to Balakius, and these horses were all the tame that he kept in his possession. No sooner had they reached the place than the horses began to play with each other according to custom, and the most docile of them, on which Nestorius rode, suddenly began to bite Balakius, and gnawed his leg with his teeth so much that they immediately carried him to the city, and on the third day he died. Then everyone was surprised that Anthony's prediction was so soon fulfilled.

87) Thus did Anthony admonish hard-hearted people; others who came to him were so moved that they immediately forgot about the affairs of the courts and began to bless those who renounced worldly life. Anthony interceded for the offended with such force that one could think that it was he himself who suffered the offense, and not someone else. Moreover, to such an extent did he know how to speak for the benefit of everyone, that many of the military men and those with great wealth laid aside the burdens of life, and finally became monks. In a word, as a physician, he was given by God to Egypt. For who, if he came to him in sorrow, returned from him not rejoicing? Who, if he came to him shedding tears for the dead, did not immediately abandon his weeping? Who, if he came angry, did not change his anger into enmity? What beggar, having come to him in despondency, and having listened to him and looked at him, did not begin to despise riches and was not comforted in his poverty? What monk who gave himself over to negligence, as soon as he came to him, did not become much stronger? What young man, having come to the mountain and seen Anthony, did not immediately renounce pleasures and begin to love chastity? Who came to him tempted by a demon, and found no rest? Who came to him troubled by thoughts, and did not find silence in his mind?

88) The great fruit of Anthony's asceticism was that Anthony, as I said above, having the gift of discerning spirits, recognized their movements, and did not remain unknown to him what the zeal and striving of any spirit was. Not only was he himself not mocked by beads, but he also consoled those who were troubled by thoughts, and taught them how to overthrow their enemies, telling them about their weakness and treachery. For this reason, each one departed from him, strengthened in strength, in order to fearlessly resist the intentions of the devil and his demons. How many virgins, who already had suitors, when they saw Anthony from afar, remained virgins of Christ! They came to him from foreign lands, and together with everyone they benefited, they returned, as if parting with their father. And now, after his dormition, all, having become like orphans after their father, are consoled by the mere remembrance of him, keeping in their hearts his instructions and exhortations.

89. And what was the end of his life, it is worthy of reminding me, and of listening to you with love; for in this also he must compete. He visited the monks living on the outer mountain according to custom, and forewarned by Providence of his death, he said to the brethren thus: "This is my last visit to you; and it will be surprising if we see each other again in this life. And it is time for me to be released; for I am about a hundred and five years old." The brethren, hearing this, wept, embraced and kissed the elder.

And if you see that they are protected by judges, do not be dismayed; for their false wisdom will cease, it will be temporary and short-lived. Therefore, keep yourselves more pure from it, keep the tradition of the fathers, and preferably the pious faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which you have learned from the Scriptures and of which I have often reminded you."

90) When the brother persistently began to ask that he stay with them and die, he did not agree to this, both for many reasons, which, even while keeping silent about them, he nevertheless gave to understand, and especially for the following. The Egyptians have the custom of performing the rite of burial over the bodies of the deceased people whom they respect, and especially of the holy martyrs, and wrapping them in swaddling clothes, but not to bury them, but to lay them on couches and keep them in their homes, thinking that by doing so they are honoring those who have departed. Anthony repeatedly asked the bishops to forbid this to the laity, and he himself persuaded the laity, and reprimanded the women, saying: "This is unlawful and not at all despiteful. For the bodies of the Patriarchs and Prophets are preserved in tombs to this day, and the very body of the Lord was placed in the tomb, and the rolled stone hid it until it was resurrected on the third day." And in saying this, he showed that it is unlawful to commit the bodies of the dead, even the saints, to the earth after death. For what is more honorable and holy than the Lord's body? For this reason many, hearing this, afterwards began to bury the bodies of the dead, and having learned from Anthony, they thanked the Lord for this.

91) Anthony, knowing this custom and fearing that they would not do the same with his body, bidding farewell to the monks who were on the outer mountain, hastened to depart, and coming to the inner mountain, where he usually dwelt, after a few months he fell ill. Then, having summoned those who were with him (and there were two of them: they lived with him on the inner mountain, asceticizing for fifteen years and serving Anthony on account of his old age), he said to them: "As it is written, I am departing in the way of the fathers (Joshua 1:10). 23, 14). For I see that the Lord is calling me. And you sober up and will not ruin our many years of asceticism, but as you have begun now, so try to observe your diligence. You know the wickedness of the demons, you know how cruel they are, but how weak they are. Therefore, do not be afraid of them, but rather be always strong in Christ, and believe in Him; live as if dying daily; be attentive to yourselves; Remember the instructions you have heard from me. Let you have no communion with the renegades, and especially with the Arian heretics. For you know how much I have avoided them because of their Christ-fighting and other-minded heresy. Try to be always in unity with each other, and especially with the Lord, and then with the saints, so that they may receive you also after death into eternal shelters, as friends and acquaintances. Think about this, hold fast to these thoughts, and if you have care for me, and remember me as a father, then do not allow anyone to take my body into Egypt and put it in his house; In order to avoid this, I withdrew into the mountain and came hither. You know, how always I rebuked those who did this, and urged them to abandon such a custom. Give my body to burial and hide it under the ground. May this word of mine be kept by you, that no one should know the place of burial of my body, except you alone; for in the resurrection of the dead I will receive it from the Saviour incorruptible. Divide my garments: Give to Bishop Athanasius only the mantle and the garment sent under me, — they have given me a new one, and I have become dilapidated; and give another mercy to Bishop Serapion; Take a hairshirt for yourself. Farewell, children; Anthony is dwelling, and he will no longer be with you!"

92) Having said this, when those who were with him kissed him, Anthony stretched out his legs, and as if seeing his friends come to him and rejoicing at their arrival (for he reclined with a cheerful face), he died and kissed his fathers. And they, as he had given them, having performed the rite of burial, wrapped the body in the earth, and except for the two of them, to this day no one knows where it is buried. Each of those who have received the mercy of Blessed Anthony and the clothes worn out by him keep them as something great. For to look at this is as if to see Anthony himself, and to bear it on oneself is to fulfill his instructions with joy.

93) Such was the end of Antony's life in the body, and such was the beginning of his asceticism. And although this narration is insignificant in comparison with the Antonian virtues; nevertheless, from this also conclude what kind of man of God Anthony was. From his youth to such an age, he observed equal zeal for asceticism, neither in his old age nor in his old age did he change the appearance of his clothes, nor because of the weakness of his body did not change the appearance of his clothes, or even did not wash his feet with water, yet he did not suffer harm in anything. His eyes were healthy and unharmed, and he could see well. Not a single tooth fell out, but only weakened in the gums from the old man's old age. He was healthy in his hands and feet. In a word, he seemed more vigorous and stronger than anyone who used a variety of food, ablutions, and various clothes. And what was said about him everywhere, everyone was amazed at him, even those who had not seen him loved him, this is a proof of his virtue and God-loving soul. For it was not by writings and outward wisdom, not by any art, but by godliness alone, that Anthony became known. And no one will deny that it was a gift from God. For how would the rumor have reached Spain, Halley, Rome, and Africa about a man who hid and lived in grief, if God had not made His servants known everywhere, as He had promised Anthony at the beginning? Though they themselves do everything secretly, and desire to be hidden; but the Lord makes them visible to all, like lamps, so that, hearing about them, they would know how the commandments can lead to singing, and they would be zealous to walk the path of virtue.

94)

To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

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