Venerable · c. 251–356
Anthony the Great
Venerable and God-bearing Father Anthony the Great
New Calendar January 17 Old Calendar January 30
Why they are a saint
Anthony the Great was father of desert monasticism in Egypt; his life, written by St. Athanasius, taught the whole Church the monastic path. The years given for this life are c. 251–356. Orthodox Christians remember him among the venerable monastic saints.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Patron of monastics, desert-dwellers, because he lived the monastic life of prayer and asceticism.
Prayer
O holy Anthony the Great, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.
Do not confuse with Anthony of Kiev; Anthony of Siya; many later Anthonys.