Antony and the Desert Fathers

The questions that hover in the background of this issue are as pressing as ever.

Modern Christian hermits still look to him for inspiration, as did the entire Middle Ages, but today we hardly know him. What did the illiterate recluse, known as Antony of the Desert, do to earn such adulation?

Athanasius's biography was not only a bestseller in its day, but a book that made people stop and think—and act.

What monks meant by fasting, and what they ate when they didn't.

Why thousands of early Christians took up the monastic way.

Monasticism was more or less a solitary affair until these four came along and taught monks how to live in community.

A Christian History Timeline

The early monks not only prayed in the desert but sometimes rioted in the cities.

Sabas just wanted to pray where Christ had lived and died but ended up establishing the most famous monastery in the Judean Desert.

For the desert fathers, theology was not the study of God but the study of how to become like God.

The Viking invasions destroyed the glory of Celtic monasticism.

For a culture so reputedly bloodthirsty and 'barbarian,' the Celts were surpringsly winsome.

Celtic Christianity is not as theologically unique as many have supposed.

Irish monks and nuns are famous for their spiritual heroics.

Though named for a gentle bird, the ascetic Columba wielded enormous influence with chieftans and kings—even after he died.

Legendary Brigit brought joy and the burning presence of God.

Patrick and Celtic Christianity

The legendary exploits of four early Celtic leaders.