Community of Anthony
“To say that God turns away from the sinful is like saying that the sun hides from the blind”
The Community at Solas Antoin
Anthony of Egypt b.251 (or Anthony the Great), was a Christian monk, and revered since his death in 356, as a saint.
He had been born of wealthy parents but when he was about 20, they died.
Inspired by Matt 19:21 ........."If you desire to be perfect, go sell all that you possess, give it to the poor and you shall have wealth in Heaven; then come, follow me."
Anthony did just that and walked deep into the desert...... There he found God waiting for him.......
He initially spent his time in complete solitude but eventually formed a community -or monastery- of hermits,
brothers and sisters, who had also withdrawn from life to spend time in private prayer, and study
He encouraged them to gather together each day for communal prayer, worship and shared meals.
His community in the Egyptian desert, was considered to have contributed to the origins of Christian monasticism
and is believed to have been inspirational to the lives of the Celtic monks in Ireland, and Greater Britain.
The Community of Anthony takes its inspiration from The Hospital Brothers of Saint Anthony,
(also known as The Order of Saint Anthony, or Canons Regular of Saint Anthony of Vienne, or The Antonines)
who were a Roman Catholic congregation founded in c. 1095 in Grenoble in France,
with the purpose of taking care of those suffering from the common medieval disease of Saint Anthony's fire.
Pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela often became extremely sick with the affliction, so the order of St. Anthony
founded about 200 monastic hospitals and hostels along the four main routes of El Camino.
The members of the community wore a black habit with a blue Tau Cross (known as Saint Anthony's Cross)
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Founded by Rev. Seamus, who was ordained an Independent Old Catholic Priest, neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic,
The Community of Anthony aspires to be an inter-denominational group of like-minded men and women, living a simple life of Prayer and Service to each other and the wider population.
Inspired by the example of Anthony, we withdraw, in part, from the hustle and bustle of modern life,
to a remote place overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in North-West County Donegal.
A region which is steeped in the spirituality of the 4th Century Coptic monks (who founded their monasteries in this area around a century before the arrival of Saint Patrick) and the subsequent Celtic monastic saints such as Conal of Inishkeel or Colmbcille (Columba) who lived and ministered nearby.
Unlike our Patron, we see ourselves involved in the lives of the people in the locality around us and throughout the world.
We choose a life of self-sufficient simplicity, in a remote place, where we strive to build an Oasis of Peace, or a Refuge,
aiming to offer a warm welcome to guests who seek Solitude, a short Spiritual Retreat and time for Prayer,
or perhaps just a break from every-day life and a chance to re-charge.
We choose not to make traditional permanent vows, or live by a rule, but our members renew an
Annual Commitment on Anthony's Feast Day, January 17th, to the
Sharing of Common Goods,
Living by our Agreed Norms of The Community,
and Making a special effort to Offer a Welcome to all Visitors and Guests
Some will minister along El Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain, like the medieval monks of St. Anthony,
ministering to the many thousands of “pelegrinos” who often come face to face with a deep experience of the Living God of Surprises, which touches their hearts deeply and unexpectedly.
Others will help to build and minister to small faith communities throughout Ireland and further afield.
Excluding no-one, irrespective of Race, Creed or Sexuality.
Offering the Sacraments of The Church to everyone. Preaching and living the Gospel of Love.
