The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates July 23 as the Day of St. Anthony of the Caves, one of the founders of the celebrated Kyiv Pecherska Lavra Monastery of the Caves. This year marks the 925th anniversary of the saint's death.
Anthony’s life and monastic exploits are described by Nestor the Chronicler in his world-famous Story of Bygone Years (also known as the Rus’ Primary Chronicle), starting in the year 6559 (AD 1051). Little is known about the hermit’s secular life, which is only natural because the Church considers it of little if any importance. After taking the vows a man is dead to the outside world; he is given another name and his life starts anew, now totally dedicated to our Lord. All we know is that St. Anthony’s secular name was Antypa and that he was born in AD 983 in Liubech (currently in Chernihiv oblast). By a whim of fate the young man found himself in the Monastery of Mt. Athos and partook of and became dedicated to the Byzantine creed. Even then this cloistered community was known far and wide in the Christian world. Nestor writes, “Our Lord bestowed on him a desire to travel, so he set off on his path to Mt. Athos; arriving there he saw the local cloistered community, appreciated its piety, and wholeheartedly joined in.” Antypa took the vows and was initiated by his beloved tutor Theoctist who taught him monastic laws and said, “Go back to Rus’... and you shall bring forth many other cloistered brothers. Go and Peace be unto you!” (This short passage offers quite a few puzzles dating back centuries, still to be solved; how could a young man travel that far and wide at the time; how could he get to Mt. Athos and back; did he board merchant ships plying the Aegean Sea; how could he communicate with those merchants or Mt. Athos monks... We do not even know if Antypa/Anthony was literate. The man was born before Prince Volodymyr baptized Kyiv Rus’. Assuming that he knew Greek, we know that this language was not extremely popular among the literate of this Slavic state.)
We know that Antypa/Anthony returned to Kyiv in 1013 and most likely found out that there was no organized cloistered community there. Such monastic communities are first mentioned only in 1037, founded by Prince Yaroslav the Wise who “loved the church canons and respected the clergy, but was especially fond of cloistered brotherhoods.”
Anthony hated the hustle and bustle of the secular world. He sought total seclusion and did not want to settle with the other Kyiv hermits. He took his time looking for a cave in which to spend the rest of his days. He wanted a place that would remind him of his beloved Mt. Athos. He found it on Berestova Hill (later the name would be given to the Church of Our Savior of Berestova). “He settled down there, offering up his prayers, restricting his diet to a piece of dry bread every day or every two days, drank water sparingly, and he busied himself digging his cave, working day and night, interrupting his work only for prayers which he did regularly and zealously. Eventually people learned of his whereabouts and his piety; they started frequenting his place... word spread about St. Anthony far and wide... people sought his wisdom and blessings, and he would admit members to his cloistered community, making them worthy and dedicated followers...” But he refused to be ordained Father Superior.
His cloistered brotherhood grew and before long they built a church and monastic cells. Now they needed a Father Superior. Anthony recommended Brother Theodosius, saying, “Which of you present here is more obedient and pious than our Brother Theodosius?” When ordained, Father Superior Theodosius enforced the rigid Studite Order which would with time be adopted by most other Kyiv Rus’ cloisters. Meanwhile the Monastery of the Caves grew and gained momentum, drawing an increasing number of pilgrims. Thus began the lasting glory of the Kyiv Pecherska Lavra.
Until his dying day St. Anthony remained a dedicated hermit: “he adhered to the rites and never left his cave for 40 years.” Other sources claim that he did leave his cave on two occasions. First in 1028 when his peace and seclusion were rudely interrupted by Varangian robbers making a cache in one of the Berestova Hill caves. Anthony left his abode and spent some time on Mt. Athos. Secondly, he had to flee to Chernihiv to escape Kyiv Prince Iziaslav’s wrath which he had inadvertently incurred. There he contributed tangibly to local monastic life. He passed away at the age of 90 and was buried in his own cave, eventually being canonized. During his lifetime Brother Anthony was revered by the common folk and those in power for his wisdom, healing miracles, and prophecies.
Historians find it most important to note that St. Anthony stood by the cradle of Kyiv monastic life. Together with St. Theodosius of the Caves he founded the Kyiv Pecherska Lavra still considered one of the most celebrated Eastern Orthodox cloisters the world over. After St. Anthony’s passing Kyiv Rus’ cloistered communities continued to evolve, numbering over 30 before Kyiv was devastated by the Mongols.
At present, serious efforts are being made to revive monastic life in Ukraine, which was almost completely devastated under Soviet rule. Eastern Orthodox monasteries and convents are being founded (92 of such cloistered communities are affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate, 16 with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and one with the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church), and so are Greek Catholic ones (61 cloisters), Roman Catholic (26 cloisters), and Old Believers’ (2). According to the State Committee for Religious Affairs, Ukraine currently numbers 198 monasteries and convents enrolling 4,095 monks and nuns, and the number is expected to increase. Bishop Vasyl Ihor Medvit of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church wrote in an essay that Eastern Orthodox monks and nuns have always been considered the only genuine Christians, striving to adhere to all His Commandments.
Photo by Mykhailo Andreyev:
One of the cave churches in Kyiv Pecherska Lavra







