"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' But He answered and said, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down.

All Orthodox Christians understand that one must struggle spiritually, unceasingly, and with determination in order to acquire a healthy spiritual life. Saint Paul explains what we need to do when he writes, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same suffering is experienced by your brotherhood in the world" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Our Holy Father among the Saints Athanasius of Alexandria (also spelled "Athanasios"; from Greek, "immortal") was a bishop of Alexandria and major theological writer in the 4th century. He is also called Athanasius the Great and (by the Coptic church) Athanasius the Apostolic. He was born in 298 A.D. and fell asleep in the Lord on May 2, 373 A.D. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is January 18th.

The venerable Anthony the Great was born in Egypt of noble parents known for their piety. He was brought up at home and had no dealings with outsiders.