Saint Anthony the Great

THE FATHER OF ORTHODOX MONASTICISM

“Look earnestly into what is written in this book, and you will learn everything exactly regarding the life of virtue.” —St. John Chrysostom

"If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come, follow Me, and thou shalt have treasure in the heavens" (cf. Matt. 19:21)

A young man heard these words in church one day, and without delay he set out to attain to the perfection of which the Savior spoke. In so doing he became a pattern for others to follow, a model of the fulfillment of Christ's commandments, and in the end he was able to say, "I no longer fear God, but I love Him, for 'perfect love casteth out fear'" (1 John 4:18)