70. All the people,
therefore, rejoiced when they heard the anti-Christian heresy
anathematised by such a man. And all the people in the city ran
together to see Antony; and the Greeks and those who are called their
Priests,
came into the church,
saying, ‘We ask to see the man of God,’ for so they all
called him. For in that place also the Lord cleansed many of demons,
and healed those who were mad. And many Greeks asked that they might
even but touch the old man, believing that they should be profited.
Assuredly as many became Christians in those few days as one would have
seen made in a year. Then when some thought that he was troubled by the
crowds, and on this account turned them all away from him, he said,
undisturbedly, that there were not more of them than of the demons with
whom he wrestled in the mountain.
71. But when he was departing, and we were
setting him forth on his way, as we
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arrived at the
gate a woman from behind cried out, ‘Stay, thou man of God, my
daughter is grievously vexed by a devil. Stay, I beseech thee, lest I
too harm myself with running.’ And the old man when he heard her,
and was asked by us, willingly stayed. And when the woman drew near,
the child was cast on the ground. But when Antony had prayed and called
upon the name of Christ, the child was raised whole, for the unclean
spirit was gone forth. And the mother blessed God, and all gave thanks.
And Antony himself also rejoiced, departing to the mountain as though
it were to his own home.
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This
seems to imply Athanasius as the (real or ostensible)
narrator.