Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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Sunday School Curriculum <strong>Grade</strong> 5<br />
After <strong>the</strong> year 305 AD, disciples were attracted to him and he had to leave his seclusion to<br />
become <strong>the</strong>ir teacher and leader. Some <strong>of</strong> his teachings to <strong>the</strong> monks are preserved to us by St.<br />
Athanasius; o<strong>the</strong>rs are present in <strong>the</strong> ―Sayings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>rs.‖ We have also seven spiritual<br />
letters attributed to him. In his life he founded several monasteries, and <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> his monks<br />
reached 100,000 during his life time.<br />
St. Athanasius described him as ―a physician given by God to Egypt.‖ He was frequently<br />
visited and resorted to for consolation and aid, by Christians and non-Christians, by ascetics, sick<br />
and needy. He received a letter from <strong>the</strong> Emperor Constantine, on <strong>the</strong> occasion <strong>of</strong> which he told<br />
his disciples, ―Wonder not that <strong>the</strong> emperor writes to me, for he is a man; wonder much more<br />
that God has written <strong>the</strong> law for man, and has spoken to us by His own Son.‖<br />
Twice he left <strong>the</strong> desert. In <strong>the</strong> year 311 AD, during <strong>the</strong> persecution under Maximanus he<br />
went to Alexandria to assist <strong>the</strong> martyrs and confessors. Again in 338 AD, at <strong>the</strong> request <strong>of</strong> his<br />
disciple and friend, St. Athanasius, he came to <strong>the</strong> same city to bear witness to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Orthodox</strong> faith<br />
against Arian‘s heresy. During his visit many hea<strong>the</strong>n went to church asking to see <strong>the</strong> ―man <strong>of</strong><br />
God‖ and were converted. He refused to stay longer in Alexandria, saying, ―As a fish out <strong>of</strong><br />
water, so a monk out <strong>of</strong> his solitude dies.‖<br />
During <strong>the</strong> last fifteen years <strong>of</strong> his life he retired again to solitude at Mount Colzim, keeping<br />
only two disciples with him. They were with him at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> his death in <strong>the</strong> years 356 AD,<br />
when he was 105 years old.<br />
Then <strong>the</strong> monks, as he had ordered <strong>the</strong>m, prepared his body for burial and hid it in <strong>the</strong> earth as<br />
he ordered <strong>the</strong>m adding: ―In <strong>the</strong> day <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> resurrection, I shall receive it incorruptible from <strong>the</strong><br />
hand <strong>of</strong> Christ.‖ And to this day no one knows where he is buried.<br />
His final words to <strong>the</strong> monks who were with him, ―I will be going <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>rs, as it<br />
is written, for I see myself being called by <strong>the</strong> Lord, and I am going to Him. Now you watch<br />
yourselves, and do not deviate from <strong>the</strong> ascetical practice you‘ve been doing for so many years,<br />
but act like you are just starting out with your asceticism and keep your enthusiasm. You know<br />
<strong>the</strong> tricks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> evil demons. You have seen what weaklings <strong>the</strong>y are; do not be afraid <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
but entrust yourselves to Christ at all times and get your strength from Him, spreading <strong>the</strong> sweet<br />
smell <strong>of</strong> incense in Christ. As though you were going to die each day, remember <strong>the</strong> things you<br />
have heard from me.‖<br />
The monastery <strong>of</strong> St. Antony <strong>of</strong> Colzim has been, since its foundation in <strong>the</strong> fourth century, a<br />
main center for monasticism in <strong>the</strong> Eastern Egyptian desert.<br />
A. St. Anthony’s Character<br />
St. Anthony was never troubled because his soul was at peace; he was never sad because his<br />
heart rejoiced always. He was a person <strong>of</strong> good character, being pure in heart; he thoroughly<br />
honored <strong>the</strong> canons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church. He was never ashamed to bow his head to bishops or priests<br />
and, moreover, if a deacon came to him at any time for help, he would speak pr<strong>of</strong>itable words to<br />
him. If he was going to pray, he would defer to him in praying, asking to listen to those with him.<br />
And he always acknowledged ―I‘ve learned from this,‖ if anyone said something pr<strong>of</strong>itable in his<br />
presence.<br />
68 JANUARY