Vol: 5 Issue: 1
Toba 1727 / January 2011
Did St. Antony Give or Take? By: H.H. Pope Shenouda There is no doubt that St. Antony gave to God everything he possessed; He did according to the commandment: "He went and sold all he had and gave it to the poor." (Mt 19:21) He gave to God 300 acres of the most fertile land in Bani-Souif. He gave to God all that awaited him of wealth and authority as the single heir to his father. He gave up marriage, the children he could have had, and all there is in the world of knowledge, science, pleasure, and human relations. This brings up two questions. Did this Saint give or take? Or did he give then take? Does being a monk involve giving or taking? Is it a process of giving which gets transformed into taking. Or is it a process of giving that is rewarded by taking, so that at the end, taking is more than giving? This Saint has given up to God a plot of land (300 Acres). But God has given him the whole earth, and the heavens too. In every city he now has a monastery convents, churches, and shrines. All the wilderness became his, including the monasteries that are in other Saints names, because he is the Father of monasticism in the whole world. So, did he give more or take more. When I see the land and property that now belong to the monastery of St. Antony in Egypt alone, I find that they exceed what St. Antony had given up in the small city of Kamn EI-Arouss! See how our Lord Jesus Christ's promises never fail: "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for my sake and for- the gospel, who will not receive a hundred fold now in this time, and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29). What did St Antony give up, other than land? Did he give up chil-
dren? Suppose that young Antony, instead of pursuing monastic life, had gotten married and had children. How many could he have had? Five, ten, twenty. He now has thousands of monks as sons, in every generation that call him father. They may total up to millions from the beginning of monasticism in the third century till the present time, plus millions of spiritual children like you. Truly, when Christ said, "you will be compensated hundred fold�, he was denying himself in his generosity, for he has given back a thousand fold. Christ even made St. Antony cross boundaries of time and space. He who has left his village and lived in solitude in the mountains for the sake of God, who left the world behind for the sake of God, became the person that the whole world talks about, one whose name sounds in all corners of the world. Not one of the six continents of the world does not know St. Antony. His name crossed the boundaries of his village, the frontiers of Egypt, the boundaries of Africa while he was alive. He has children, monasteries, and churches in every place, and his shrines are innumerable. Truly, did he give or take? What else did St. Antony give to God, Did he give him his life? Behold, God, has allowed St. Antony's life to cross the boundaries of all ages. The lives of many people ends with their death, and their generation eventually forgets them. Sixteen centuries have passed since St. Antony's death, but he is still living among us, living in his principles, in his teachings, in his children, in the path he trod, and in his memory. He is one of the eternal names that cannot be forgotten, he is a great soul that was greater than death. Physical death could not put an end to his message, so his life did not only include his generation, but has extended across the generations. He is still among us for he lived a life that had a beginning but no end. When a monk is anointed, we pray the prayer for the dead over him, as though he is dead to this world. But St. Antony, by dying to this world, has entered a life that never ends, and through it he is still alive among us. Did he give his life to God, or did he take a life that never ends? Did he, for God's sake, leave a life of greatness, power, glory and fame? His father was a man of power and greatness and as his son he would have inherited the same power. Imagine that Saint Antony had stayed in his father's place. what future awaited him? Was he to become the mayor of the city of Keman El Arous or the greatest man in the town of Beni Souef for the rest of his life, then be forgotten as his father was, despite his position, wealth, and power? In contrast, Saint Antony the simple monk, Emperor Constantine sends to ask for his blessings; philosophers and noblemen come from all over the world seeking his wisdom. He gained fame that nobody had, and the church calls him, Page 2
"Saint Antony the Great." Our relation with God is one of continuous taking; not giving. Do you think you give time to God in prayer? No, you do not give time to God in prayer; rather you receive unmeasurable blessings and gifts and the Holy Spirit works in you. God gives you life for a week, and you give him a day of the week from which He has given you. Are you then giving? No, you are taking the blessing of that day. And as the Bible says, "The Sabbath was made for man" (Mark 2:27). When you give your life to God, you are giving him your emptiness and he will fill it. You are giving your weakness and taking God's strength. As the one who gives tithes "The windows of heaven will be opened to him and God will pour down blessing on him until he cries Enough!" (Malachi 3:10). Advance toward God. Give Him your will so that he can give you back strength and victory. (From: H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Contemplations on the Life of St Antony the Great.)
A Group of St Mark youth doing work in the monastery
A Group of youth from Archangel Michael Church doing some work with bishop Daniel
A Group of Archangel Michael Church spending a retreat at the monastery
Page 3
Wisdom Derived from Humility By: H.G. Bishop Youssef St. Anthony's humility took many forms. St. Anthony listened to others without insisting on his own opinion from his childhood. As an adult, St. Anthony committed himself to solitude and practiced it by living enclosed for twenty years during which he did not see a single human face. This, it is thought, is the life he preferred. Yet, following many years in the desert, when people gathered at his door, asking to see him or hear his teachings, he did not turn them away even though he wanted to remain in the life of complete solitude which he had chosen for himself. He instinctively knew he must change his preferred way of life and begin to teach monasticism, opening his door to all that wanted to visit. He thus changed his life style for the sake of others and with wisdom accepted what God wanted him to do. St. Anthony believed monasticism entailed abandoning the world and living in the desert in prayer and meditation. However, when bishops called upon him to go to Alexandria to fight Aranism, he went to the city and stayed with the people for three days until his mission was accomplished. Only then did he return to his solitude. He was obedient and did as he was told although he was about one hundred years of age at the time. Another act of humility encompassed visiting the martyrs awaiting trial and torture. He gave them his support and encouraged them. Further, by St. Anthony's humility he overcame stringency and stubbornness that could be associated with isolation. His modesty would create in him gentleness. He became happy and joyful in his humility and kept it a central part of his life until its end. During the time of St. Anthony, the Egyptians were in the habit of taking the dead bodies of righteous men and especially those of the blessed martyrs and of preserving them, and placing them not in graves but on biers in their houses for they thought that by doing so this was doing them honor. St. Anthony, upon becoming sick, specifically and humbly told the two disciples who had been with him the last fifteen years to dig a grave for him in the earth upon his death and to tell no one where they laid him and there I shall be until the Resurrection of the dead. Humility, even unto death, was St. Anthony's last wish, following the example of the deaths and ground burials of the holy Apostles. St. Anthony further gave instructions for his meager possessions. “Divide my garments into lots and give one leather tunic to Bishop Athanasius and the covering of this my bed which he gave to me when it was new; but now it has the age of many years. And to Bishop Serapion do ye give the other leather coat; and this covering of my bed which is made of hair you yourselves shall keep.� He instructed his disciples to abide in the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and his face became full of joy unspeakable. With heavenly joy upon his face, St. Anthony departed this world. The disciples wrapped the garment which he wore around him, dug an unmarked hole in the earth, and buried his Page 4
body without ceremony and no man knows where they buried him except the two who laid him in the earth to this very day. Many youth have often asked why St. Anthony did not become a bishop yet he was a contemporary of bishops. During the day of St. Anthony many did indeed assert that the bishops should be chosen from the monks. However, during St. Anthony's time, monasticism was regarded as a spiritual order and above the realm of pastoral care. It was considered a better life than priesthood and a life closer to that of the angels. It was thought, who would quit monasticism to become a bishop. Ephram El-Souriany said, "Inside the meek and humble man, the spirit of wisdom rests." This is such an astounding quote. When put in perspective regarding the life of St. Anthony, as we know that he had no guide. He had little childhood formal education. There were no books he could research and self educate himself in the desert to gain knowledge from. He was alone throughout most of his spiritual quest without companions but did not fall once. He had complete faith in God, the longevity of his life from childhood until death believing that God would be with him. He obtained his strength from deep within himself and had the courage to enter into the uncharted unknown in the search of angelic worship. His humility conceived his wisdom. Today, we commemorate St. Anthony the Great not only on his feast but also in the commemoration of the saints in our Divine Liturgy and in the Midnight Prayers. (From: H.G. Bishop Youssef's speech given during H.H. Pope Shenouda III's visit to St. Antony Coptic Orthodox Church.)
Congratulations to the Year 12 Students for Excellent Results
Page 5
Breaking Barriers By: One of the youth In everyone’s spiritual life there comes a point where we can either excel or stay the same, both of which have a corresponding result. Sadly, many of us choose to stay where we are, claiming it to be too difficult to move forward; often putting ourselves in a state of spiritual apathy and lukewarmness, while the person who chooses to excel will be so close to God that just at the thought of a request God has already granted it. However, what is the defining action that allows you to transition from your current point of spirituality to a position which is greater and more personal with God? Whilst there may be many, one that stands out is breaking out of your “comfort zone” St Anthony was a prime example of this breaking of comfort zones. As is often told St Antony was the first monk, but what is never mentioned is what this title entailed. Monasticism and solitude is often considered strange in our days, imagine how unusual the concept would have been 1700 years ago when it had never been done before. St Antony took the plunge and broke all levels of criticism and comfort discovering a whole new world of spirituality. When St Antony was still a young man, he continually went to church, never making excuses for his mistakes and always doing the “small things” correctly and consistently. St Antony, like no one else before him; gave up great wealth and human comfort in order to be wealthy in spirit and comforted by Christ himself. He broke out of his family’s comfort zone when gave his sister away to a house of virgins. He broke out of his domestic and luxurious comfort zone when he; left his home, sold all his possessions and lived among the saintly men on the outskirts of the village. He broke out of his comfort zone when he went to live alone in a tomb. He broke out of his intellectual comfort zone when he left the tomb and moved to the outer entrails of the desert, doing what no one before him had ever done and journeyed into the spiritual unknown. And finally he left his spiritual comfort zone when he moved into the inner heart of the desert, forsaking all possession family and company of men and trusting in the mercy and protection of God above all things. It was at this point in St Antony’s life that he achieved perfection and truly earned the title “The great saint abba Antony, the father of monks and the bright shining star of the desert” giving the most precious thing he could to God...his heart which God took and placed in His most valued treasure box kept right next to His very own Heart. Whilst St Antony died a great saint, it is very clear that he did not start out this way; he did not begin his spiritual life in the inner desert, but rather finished it there. What he did do however, was “the small things correctly and consistently”, and I encourage you to follow St Antony’s lead and do all the little things correctly first, because even the greatest of avalanches is begun by a single snow flake, likewise even the greatest of saints are born from achieving the simplest of tasks. Like St Antony we should all break out of our comfort zones in the world and find our true comfort in Christ, truly trusting Him with our life. Page 6
A Group of youth from Queensland visiting the monastery with Fr David Mahrous
A group of youth from St Abraam Church spending a retreat at the monastery
Youth attending Kiahk Praises
Page 7
The Monastery had the pleasure of hosting A Group of Motorcyclists from the “Christian Motorcycle Club”. After attending a part of the liturgy they spend sometime with bishop Daniel and then shared a meal with the Congregation.
H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Contemplations on the Life of St Anthony the Great, St Anthony’s Coptic Church San Antonio Tx, 2010. The lives of saints are not merely history or stories. They are feelings and flames. They are a fellowship of people with the Holy Spirit in everything in which they are involved. They are the work of grace in hearts that have submitted their will to that work of grace. This book and these pages are an attempt to approach the holy of holies in the heart of Abba Antony. We approach his life so that our lives may benefit. May his spirit intercede for us, that we may have strength that will aid us in our efforts to speak of him. Page 8