Every year in San Bartolome de Pinares, west of Madrid, during
the celebration of the patron saint of animals of St. Anthony
Abeda, professional Spanish riders jump through flaming fires,
defying death itself. Before the sparks horse blessed the priest
and the ritual has been going on for 500 years. St. Anthony Abed
Egyptian origin was recognized as the patron saint of animals
from the Middle Ages Anthony the Great or Antony the Great (c.
251–356), also known as Saint Anthony, Anthony the Abbot,
Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite,
Abba Antonius (????? ????????), and Father of All Monks, was a
Christian saint from Egypt, a prominent leader among the Desert
Fathers. He is celebrated in many churches on his feast days: 17
January in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Western churches; and
Tobi 22, (January 30) in the Coptic Orthodox Church and the
Coptic Catholic Church. The biography of Anthony’s life by
Athanasius of Alexandria helped to spread the concept of
monasticism, particularly