Desert Battles and Wonders

After the tomb, St. Anthony craved more solitude, so he found an old Roman fort called Pispir by the Nile—crumbling walls, likely home to reptiles, and all. Around age 35, he walked in, barred the door, and stayed sealed inside for 20 years—yes, 20! He baked bread to last six months at a time, and friends slipped more through a small opening, but he let no one inside. Demons came roaring again, appearing as lions, bears, and snakes, banging on the walls to scare him away. Anthony didn’t budge—he prayed, sang Psalms, and stayed calm, knowing Jesus was stronger than any monster.

People outside grew curious. After two decades, a crowd forced open the door, expecting a frail hermit. Instead, out stepped Anthony, healthy, calm, and radiant, as if he’d been resting peacefully. A Coptic story says his hair wasn’t even gray, showing how God kept him strong through those years. Demons had tried everything—noise, tricks, even boredom—but Anthony’s faith turned that fort into a place of victory. For kids, it’s like a superhero hideout: locked in, battling evil, and coming out a champion. Ethiopian tradition says his prayers there began the monk life, turning deserts into holy places forever.