Concerning Antony of Egypt written by his friend, St. Athanasius. Antony was born in 251 at Coma
His Christian parents wished to protect him from bad examples and kept him closely at home, so that he grew up in ignorance of pagan literature
However, the devil assailed him by various temptations. He pointed out the joys of family life, the good works Antony might have done in the world with his money, and the futility of the hermit's existence. When repulsed by the young novice, the devil changed his mode of attack,
At last Satan himself appeared in visible form, first as a seductive woman, then as a black and terrifying man. Antony remained unmoved, and the fiend confessed himself vanquished.
In quest now of greater solitude, he hid himself in an old tomb in the desert, where a friend brought him a little bread from time to time. Here Satan again attacked him and deafened him with loud noises. Once, Athanasius says, he was so grievously beaten that when his friend arrived he lay almost dead.
As Antony came to himself, he called out to the devils, "See, here I am! Do your worst! Nothing shall separate me from Christ my Lord."
" At this, the demons reappeared and again filled the tomb with a terrible clamor and specters of ravening beasts in hideous shapes until a ray of heavenly light, breaking through, chased them away. "Where wast Thou," Antony cried, "my Lord and my Master? Why wast Thou not here from the beginning of my conflict to give me succor?" "Antony," replied a voice, "I was here the whole time; I stood by thee, and watched thy conflict. And because thou hast manfully withstood thy enemies, I will forever protect thee, and will make thy name famous throughout the earth." At this the saint rose up to pray and give thanks.
