St. Anthony of Egypt, often called Anthony the Great, was born around 251 AD in Egypt and is revered as the father of Christian monasticism;
after hearing the Gospel call to “sell all you have,” he gave away his wealth and withdrew into the desert, where he lived a life of radical asceticism, prayer, and solitude, enduring fierce temptations yet becoming a spiritual guide whose holiness drew disciples to him, inspiring the rise of monastic communities and leaving a legacy that shaped Christian spirituality for centuries until his death in 356 AD at the age of 105.