# Anthony the Great withdraws to the desert (c. 270)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/270-anthony-the-great-withdraws-to-the-desert
Location: Egyptian desert
Themes: Monasticism

Anthony of Egypt gives away his possessions and retreats into the desert, becoming a model for Christian monasticism. At this point in the timeline (c. 270), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Felix I (5 January 269 – 30 December 274).

## Why it matters
Anthony the Great withdraws to the desert mattered because it shaped the religious life of monks, nuns and orders who carried learning, prayer and charity through the centuries.

Pope at the time: [Pope Felix I](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-felix-i)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Anthony the Great](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_the_Great)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Anthony the Great withdraws to the desert](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Anthony+the+Great+withdraws+to+the+desert)
- [Wikipedia — Early Church (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ante-Nicene_period)