Once when blessed Antony was praying in his cell he heard a voice saying, “Antony you are not yet equal to the leather worker in Alexandria.” When he heard this, the old man got up next morning and taking his staff hastened off to Alexandria where he sought out the leather worker, who was absolutely astonished to be visited by such a great man.
The old man said, “Tell me what it is you do, for I have left the desert in order to come here and see you.” “I don’t know that I have done anything special In fact when I get out of bed in the morning, before I settle down to work, I reflect that everyone in this city from greatest to least will enter the kingdom of heaven because of their goodness. I alone for my sins will suffer eternal punishment. And before I go to bed I truthfully repeat these words from the bottom of my heart.”
When he heard this, the blessed Antony replied, “Truly, my son, like a good workman sitting peacefully at home, you have arrived at the kingdom of God. But I who have spent my time badly in solitude have not arrived at equality with you.
