big holiday in the calendar! Not washing today

Saint Anthony the Great, also known as Anthony the Egyptian, is considered one of the most important saints of the Orthodox Church, being a great hermit and theologian, the father of Christian monasticism. Tradition says that he was born around the year 251 in Egypt, into a wealthy family, and that he had a life full of hardships and temptations, being a model of dedication and trust in God.

After the death of his parents, Antony decided to follow the teachings of Christ, selling the family wealth and giving it to the poor, and his sister was entrusted to a community of virgins. This choice was inspired by the words of the Gospel according to Matthew (19:21), which urged him to give up all his possessions in order to acquire a treasure in heaven. After this act of renouncing the world, he retired to a hut near his native village to live a life of solitude and prayer.

Then Antony continued to retreat to more and more isolated places, reaching the desert of Egypt, where he lived an extremely austere life, facing temptations and demonic attacks. It is said that he had numerous battles with the devils, who attacked him through all kinds of visions and temptations, but through patience and faith in God, he managed to overcome them.

Saint Anthony the Great: patron of the poor, orphans and those seeking help in marriage

Saint Anthony the Great was also a great spiritual man, attracting many disciples who came to learn from him about the life of penance and virtue. In addition, he had a significant influence on the development of Christian monasticism, having a major importance in the organization of monastic life, notes crestinortodox.ro

Saint Anthony the Great is considered the patron saint of the poor, orphans and those seeking help in marriage. Many people have testified that through his prayers, they met the right person to start a family with.

The day of January 17th is specially dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great, and believers honor him through prayers and acts of charity, following his example of a life dedicated to God and to those around him.

The most powerful prayer to Saint Anthony the Great

“Good Father Anthony, you who know our pains and sins, do not overlook the prayerful voices of those who run to your intercession and do not look at the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but at the glory and mercy of God, which you You confessed it and to which the prayer we bring to You is directed.

Oh, glorified miracle worker, father of the poor, protector of widows, supporter of orphans, come with your usual mercy to our aid through your prayers to God, so that we may be comforted in our needs, so that we may be protected from dangers, temptations and sins.

You, who made the desert of Egypt a place of glorification of the Great God and the Savior, make also the desert of our soul, burned by unbelief and reddened by passions, a place pleasing to You, in which virtue may dwell, through You it may increase your holy name, of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”