Anchorite

• The Anchorite, or Hermit is supposedly able to cope single-handed without the help of others, against the vices of the flesh and evil thoughts. Certainly we are to cope with vices and should do so with the help of God but how can they practice Pure Religion if they "withdraws from secular society"? Weren't we sent as ministers, shepherds to feed His sheep?

The earliest Anchorite like Hilarion was promoted by men like Jerome. While periods of solitude may have value in the pursuit of the kingdom seeking the righteousness of God requires interaction with people and society.

Hilarion did not wall himself up in a cell but supported himself with weaving. He had admired Saint Anthony alias Anthony the Great, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, and Anthony of Thebes.

He had journeyed into the desert to supposedly to live the life of an 'Anchorite monk but when Hilarion visited him there were so many people visiting to be helped with illnesses and maladies that Hilarion left the commotion and turmoil of his hide away. We are told of the important role among the Desert Fathers and later was herald as the father of Christian ascetics monasticism.

It is more likely he went to the desert to create a wall of distance between himself and his overwhelming pilgrimaging fans.

The authoring of Anthony's life by Athanasius of Alexandria helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe. Over the century the truth of what he and Hilarion were actually doing has morphed into a perverted form of monasticism.

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