Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Sunday School Curriculum Grade 5
Objective:
Week 4- St. Anthony the Great
To learn about Monasticism and the strength of the solitude life of monks
Memory Verse:
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21)
References:
―Coptic Church Review‖ Volume 1, No. 4, pp. 166-167
―Coptic Church Review‖ Volume 15, No. 1,2
―Life of Antony,‖ by St. Athanasius
―The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principle Saints‖ by the Rev. Alban Butler
Volumes 1, 2 & 3
Introduction:
Review the previous lesson and memory verse with the students
Ask the students of what they know about monks?
What are the main characteristics of monks?
Who started Monasticism in the whole world?
Lesson Outlines:
The origin of monasticism is associated with the name of St. Antony. He was born in Coma, a
village of Upper Egypt, in a rich Coptic Christian family. After the death of his parents, when he
was about twenty, he heard in the church the words of the Gospel, ―If you want to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow
Me‖ (Matthew 19:21). These words were a divine call which determined his life. He gave away
all his property, which consisted of 300 acres of fertile land, and devoted himself entirely to the
ascetic life.
At first he retired near his village, imitating the lives of the holy elders who lived in the area.
Whenever he heard of an ascetic distinguished for some virtue, he sought him out as a bee seeks
the flowers, and never left him until, he had gathered something good to carry home. He spent
his days in continuous prayer, and either reading or working with his hands. After the year 285
AD, he retired into complete solitude; in the ruins of a castle and then he went to the Inner
Mountain near the Red Sea.
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, the pope of Alexandria at that time described St. Anthony‘s
ceaseless struggle with the devil. The devil appeared to him in visions, in dreams, and even in
daylight, in all possible forms. He tempted him by wealth, by the shape of fascinating women; by
reminding him of his former life and a sister he had left behind. He frightened him by the shapes
of wild animals. St. Antony was always victorious, because of his only weapon—faith in Christ.
JANUARY 67