St. Anthony and Friends

St. Anthony had a holy friend, St. Paul the Hermit, known as the first to live alone in Egypt’s desert. Around 341 AD, when Anthony was about 90, God sent him a vision to visit Paul. He trekked three days to Paul’s cave, found him praying, and they shared bread brought by a raven—a double portion, like a holy meal! When Paul passed away at 113, Anthony had no shovel, but God sent help: two lions arrived, knelt, and dug a grave with their paws, seeming to mourn. Anthony wrapped Paul in a tunic from St. Athanasius and buried him, honoring his faithful friend.

This wasn’t just a sad day—it showed Anthony’s love that lasted beyond death. Coptic tradition says he saw Paul’s soul rise to heaven with angels, proving their bond lives forever. For kids, it’s an amazing tale: lions as gravediggers, Anthony as a faithful friend, joining two desert saints with God’s teamwork.