Who Was St. Anthony?

With his riches gone and his sister safe, St. Anthony took his first bold steps toward the desert. He didn’t go far at first—just outside his village in Coma, close to the Nile’s flow. Egypt in the 270s AD was full of life—Roman soldiers, busy markets—but Anthony wanted quiet, a place to pray and grow closer to God. He started small, living near other holy people who fasted and worked with their hands. He watched them closely, copying their ways—praying all night, eating bread and salt, sleeping on the ground. Soon, his love for Jesus pushed him to go even further.

But the devil didn’t like that. As Anthony prayed alone, temptations crept in—boredom whispering, “Go back home,” or dreams of feasts and comforts trying to pull him away. He fought back fiercely, reciting Psalms and trusting in Christ’s strength. One day, he decided the village edge wasn’t enough—he needed true solitude. He found an old tomb, a rocky cave, and told a friend, “Seal me in!” That friend brought bread every few days, but inside, Anthony faced the darkness alone. A Coptic story says demons came quickly, snarling like wolves and snakes, but Anthony laughed, saying, “You’re no match for my God!” A bright light broke through, chasing them away, and he knew Jesus was with him.

That tomb was just the start. Later, he’d live in an old Roman fort for 20 years, then settle on a mountain by the Red Sea. Going “desert bound” wasn’t a break—it was Anthony saying, “I’m all in for God,” no matter the challenge. For kids, it’s an epic adventure: a man who chose caves over castles, showing faith can lead you anywhere—even the middle of nowhere.