St. Anthony the Great's First Spiritual Battle in the Desert Tomb
The video recounts the early monastic struggle of St. Anthony the Great around 285 in Egypt. As a young man, Anthony left his village and entered an empty desert tomb to confront demons. The next day his friend found him lying motionless on the floor, beaten so severely he appeared dead.
The friend carried him to the village church where mourners gathered through the night in quiet vigil. In the middle of the night Anthony's eyes opened suddenly and he was fully awake among the sleeping mourners. His first words were not about his wounds but a request to be carried back immediately to the tomb that had nearly killed him.
That night the walls of the tomb seemed to split wide open, and by morning Anthony had received an answer to the question that had driven him there: where God was during his suffering. The host Leila introduces herself and the program Mysteries of Christendom, which will explore this and other events from Christian history.
Key moments
- Around 285, a young man in Egypt walked past his village into the desert and climbed into an old empty tomb to fight demons.
- The next day his friend found him lying completely still on the floor, beaten so badly he looked dead.
- The friend carried him to the village church where people gathered around him in the quiet way you gather around someone already lost.
- In the middle of the night, Anthony's eyes sprang wide open and he was suddenly awake among the sleeping mourners.
- His first words were not about his wounds but a request to be carried back immediately to the tomb that had nearly killed him.
- That night the walls of the tomb seemed to split wide open and by morning he had an answer to the question: God, where were you?
- The host Leila introduces herself and the show Mysteries of Christendom.