St Anthony the Great
St Anthony the Great
Celebrated January 17th
St Anthony is a very well known Christian monk who lived in the 3rd Century, Egypt. Upon hearing the reading of Matthew 19:21, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven; and come, follow Me." St. Anthony felt that passage was spoken directly to him. He sold everything he owned, gave the proceeds to the poor, and left the city behind to live as a monastic (hermit) in the desert. He is most known for his victory over many great temptations in the desert, his defense of Orthodoxy against Arianism, and he is known as the father of Monastics. His life was recorded by St Athanasius in his work Life of St Anthony
In this guide you’ll find simple and easy idea to celebrate St Anthony’s feast day in your household - including a feast day tradition and book recommendations, and additional information so you can share this story so together you can grow to love him even more!
Scroll to learn more about St Anthony of the Desert and find activity and reading suggestions and more!
Saint Anthony of the Desert Soup
One simple activity for St Anthony’s feast day is to make a fast-friendly soup! Since St Anthony was an ascetic monk, this would be a wonderful way to honor his feast day, and this is a super simple recipe!
Ingredients
3 tablespoons oil of choice
1 cup barley
1 carrot, finely grated
2 leeks, sliced
1 bay leaf
1/3 cup fresh parsley, minced
salt to taste
7 cups water
Optional:
1 vegetable bouillon cube, if desired
Chopped mushrooms, if desired
Serves: 4 Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Directions
Heat the oil in a soup pot and add barley, stirring continuously for 1 minute. Immediately add the carrot, leeks, bay, leaf, parsley, salt and 7 cups of water.
Cook the soup over low to medium heat, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes, until the barley is tender. Add more water if needed. For extra flavor, add the bouillon and mushrooms during the last 20 minutes of simmering. Remove the bay leaf. Serve hot.
Printable version:
Book Recommendations :
101 Orthodox Saints by Ancient Faith Publishing
Stories of the Saints : Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace and Courage by Carey Wallace (See Page 46, and be sure to check your local library)
A Simple Way to Live the Orthodox Calendar at Home
One of the greatest treasures of the Orthodox Church is the Liturgical Calendar. Through feasts, fasts, saints, and hymns, the Church teaches us how to see time itself as holy. And yet—especially for families—it can also feel overwhelming. There is so much to remember, prepare for, and explain to our children. Over the years, I’ve learned that living the Orthodox faith at home doesn’t mean doing everything. It means doing a few things intentionally. That conviction is what led me to create my new Monthly Orthodox Family Calendar Printables for 2026.