OUR SAINT VENERABLE FATHER ANTHONY THE FOUNDER OF THE CAVE MONASTERY (Kiev Pechersk Lavra)

(Old Style 10 / New Style 23 JULY)

In the reign of the Great Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, the ruler of the Rus’ lands, it was God’s will to manifest St Anthony as a luminary of His Church and a teacher of monks, ever-memorable, venerable and God-bearing father.
St Anthony was born in the town of Liubech. Since his early years, he had the fear of God and felt a strong desire to become a monk. The Lord inspired him to go to Greece and have a tonsure there. Immediately, St Anthony set out on his journey, reached Constantinople and later arrived at Mount Athos. He visited the holy monasteries there, met many monks living angel-like lives. Since then, St Anthony got even more inflamed with a great love for Christ. With a strong desireto follow the holy monks, he came to one of the monasteries and begged the abbot to tonsure him. The abbot could foresee Anthony’s future holy life and his virtues, so he tonsured him into monastic life.
Anthony tried hard to please God; he stayed in asceticism, obedience and humility, bringing joy to other people. Some time passed since Anthony had settled on Mount Athos. Once, the abbot had a revelation from God to let Anthony go back to Rus’. The abbot sent for him and said, ‘Anthony, return to Rus’, so that you could be an example and support for others there; and let the blessing of Mount Athos be on you!’
St Anthony accepted the blessing as if it were from God’s mouth. He set out for Rus. In some time, St Anthony arrived in the city of Kiev. Looking for a place to settle, he visited several monasteries but did not stay long at any of them. It was God’s will for Anthony to go to desolated places and hills and arrive at Berestovo. He found a cave there dug once by Varangians (Vikings). Having prayed, Anthony settled in the cave and lived there in a strict abstinence.
After the death of pious Prince Vladimir, godless and cursed Svyatopolk ascended Kiev throne. He began killing his brothers, including Boris and Gleb, the holy martyrs, After such bloodshed, St Anthony left for Mount Athos again. In some time, the pious Prince Yaroslav defeated Svyatopolk and occupied Kiev. At that time, a presbyter named Ilarion became known for his piety, fasting and understanding of the Holy Scriptures. While living in Berestov, he often walked up the hill over the Dnieper River where the Cave Monastery grew later, At that time, impassable woods covered the hill. Presbyter Ilarion dug a small cave (about fourteen feet) there. He began his hermit life secretly, abiding in psalmody and prayer.
At that very time, the abbot of Mount Athos monasteries where St Anthony lived, received revelation from God to send Anthony back to Rus’ again, as he was needed there.
With the abbot’s blessing, St Anthony arrived in Kiev again and went up the hill, where presbyter Ilarion had dug his cave. Anthony liked the place and made a tearful prayer to God, ‘Oh Lord, let the blessing of Mount Athos and the prayers of the father-abbot who had tonsured me, stay upon this place forever and help me settle here.’
The saint stayed there and began to live a strict ascetic life, keeping his prayer. He used to eat dried bread and water only every other day, or even every third day. Oftentimes, Anthony took no food for a week staying at vigil days and nights. Many people learned about Anthony’s ascetic life and began visiting him. Some of them expressed a desire to live with him. The blessed Nikon was one of them; later, St Theodosius aged twenty-three came to Anthony’s cave.
Many years later, the pious Prince Yaroslav reposed and the princely power passed on to his eldest son Izyaslav. By that time, St Anthony had become famous in Rus’ for his Virtues, like great ascetic St Anthony of Egypt. The Christ-loving Prince Izyaslav had heard about St Anthony’s righteous life and came with his servants to ask for the Saint’s blessing and his prayers. After that, St Anthony became more and more famous; many people came to be tonsured by him. The blessed Barlaam (the son of boyar Ioann) and Ephraim (the prince’s servant) came to Anthony’s cave. Both of them wished to become monks, thus the blessed Nikon tonsured them upon St Anthony’s word. St Anthony and the brethren endured much because of that tonsure. Angry boyar Ioann and his numerous servants came to the cave and drove away Anthony’s God-chosen flock, taking his son, the blessed Barlaam, away from the cave. He tore off the son’s monastic clothing, dressed him in bright, boyar garments and forced him back home. Prince Izyaslav was also angry with St Anthony when he found out what had happened to his boyar Barlaam and his servant Ephraim. He ordered to arrest the blessed Nikon and angrily threatened to Send him, Anthony and the brethren to prison and to dig up their cave. St Anthony and his disciples left the place intending to go to other lands. When the princess found out about the saint’s Intentions, she besought the prince, ‘Listen, my lord, do not be angry. The same thing happened in my country (Poland) before: People suffered from much evil after the troubled monks had fled.’
Fearing the wrath of God, prince Izyaslav sent his servants after St Anthony to beg him to return. The saint did so and the frightened sheep of his flock gathered again around their shepherd. Still more people in search of salvation flocked to the Saint’s cave. Thus, 12 disciples lived with St Anthony. They dug a large cave and set up a chapel and cells there. Anthony spent forty years there.
Once, St Anthony brought the disciples together and spoke to them, ‘Brothers, God gathered you here with the blessing from Mount Athos. Live together. I will choose an abbot for you, but I want to live in solitude as before.’ He appointed the blessed Barlaam as an abbot and closed himself up in one of the cave cells. Thus, St Anthony tried to avoid fame and vanity from people. Soon, however, Anthony moved to another hill and dug a new cave for himself (which is located under the Great Cave Monastery now).
The blessed Barlaam and the brethren continued to live in the first cave. Gradually, the brethren grew up in number and the chapel became too small for all the monks gathering for the common prayer. They thought of building a small church above the cave. They addressed St Anthony with the idea and received his blessing for that undertaking.
The monks built a small church of the Holy Dormition above the cave. Soon after, Prince Izyaslav built a stone church of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios, his patron saint. He settled amonastery there and implored the blessed Barlaam to be the abbot.
Relying on Wealth, the Prince hoped his money could help his monastery become superior to the Cave Monastery. However, his intentions were frustrated: many monasteries had been built by kings and boyars, but they were not as glorious as those erected by holy prayers and tears, fasting and vigil.
The blessed Barlaam left for the Monastery of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios, and the brethren needed another abbot. They met together, came to St Anthony’s cave and asked for anabbot. The elder asked them,
‘Who do you want?’
‘Whoever is chosen by God, the Most Holy Theotokos and you, reverend father,’ they replied.
The saint said, ‘The most obedient, meek and humble among you should be your abbot.’
They chose Theodosius, and St Anthony blessed him to be the abbot. The brothers, who had numbered twenty by that time, rejoiced and bowed down to the ground before Anthony.
The monastery grew larger and the number of monks reached a hundred soon. St Theodosius thought of building a monastery with the brothers. He visited St Anthony who said joyfully, ‘Blessed is the Lord, and may the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and the fathers of Mount Athos be with you, and may they help you!’
St Anthony sent one of the monks to talk to Prince Izyaslav and ask for granting them the whole hill above the caves.
The prince rejoiced on the monks’ increase and granted them the hill they asked for. St Theodosius and the brothers built a large wooden church and decorated it with icons; they also built many cells and surrounded the monastery with a stockade. The monks moved to upper cells from the caves. People continued, however, to call the monastery Pechersk (Cave) since the monks had originally lived in caves.
St Theodosius thought of protecting his monastery with a mental stockade along with the physical one. He sought for definite monastic rules. By God’s will and through St Anthony prayers, Theodosius met a monk named Michael. He arrived from the Monastery of Stoudios, Greece, to accompany Metropolitan George. St Theodosius discussed the Rules of the Studios Monastery with Michael, and he learned more about the Rules from blessed servant Ephraim, who had visited the holy places. St Theodosius set up the Rules for his monastery and all the other Rus’ monasteries accepted them. That is why the Cave Monastery is venerated above all monasteries of the North Slavic regions.
In the abbacy of St Theodosius, our holy father Nestor, the Chronicler of Rus’, the writer of this hagiography, entered the monastery. According to his own writing, Nestor was seventeen years old when he was warmly received and tonsured by St Theodosius on the blessing of St Anthony. In his chronicle, St Nestor, while explaining the name of the Monastery, called ‘of the Caves’ (Pechersk), briefly relates the struggles of the founder of this monastery, St Anthony. The blessed Bishop Simon and his co-ascetic Polycarp also testify to his miracles.
St Anthony led a secluded life in a separate cave, glorifying God in prayers and struggles, and strengthening his virtues. Therefore, God glorified him, and the saint shone forth in Rus’ with the gift of wonderworking and, most of all, with the gifts of healing and prophecy. Anthony healed ill people by giving them special herbs, blessing them and praying for them. Later, the blessed Agapitos was Anthony’s successor in such healing.
The following incident testifies to St Anthony’s prophetic gift. Once, the three sons of Prince Yaroslav — Izyaslav of Kiev, Svyatoslav of Chernigov, and Vsevolod of Pereyaslav — prepared to go on a march against the Polovtsians. They came to St Anthony’s cave for blessing. Foreseeing the wrath of God over them, he wept and said, ‘For your sins, you will be defeated by the barbarians. Many of your soldiers will be drowned in the river, some will be captured, and others will fall by the sword.’
This prophecy came true on the Alta River, where the princes had barely escaped — Izyaslav and Vsevolod to Kiev, and Svyatoslav to Chernigov — while the Polovtsians spread over the lands of Rus’, turned them into a ruin, and led away many people into captivity. St Anthony made a prophecy about Shimon, the son of Afrikan, the Varangian (Viking) Prince, Who was at battle on the Rus’ side. The Reverend foretold Shimon’s survival in the battle with the Polovtsians and his later burial in the stone Cave church. He also foretold the miraculous building of the church.
Having returned from the battle, Shimon told St Anthony his story, ‘I was lying wounded among the dead bodies. Suddenly, I felt some unknown strength carrying me away from there and heeling my wounds. I found all of my belongings intact and warriors safe and sound.’
Shimon also related, ‘I saw images of the church to be built twice in the air. I was supposed to be buried in that church. This vision appeared near the Alta River and, earlier, on the seashore, when I was exiled by my uncle Yakun (Haakon) from Varangia, and fled to Rus’ reigned by Prince Yaroslav.’
Proving his visions and God’s blessing, Shimon gave a belt and a golden crown to St Anthony. ‘I took these from the icon of Christ on the Cross when I left my country. There was a voice from the Lord saying that the foundation of the church" was to be measured out with this belt. And let this crown be hung over the table of oblation.‘
The chronicler describes more woes suffered by St Anthony. As before, the prince of darkness, the devil, tried to remove St Anthony from Kiev, acting through Prince Izyaslav. After Kiev princes had been defeated by the Polovtsians, the Kievans tried to agitate their prince Izyaslav to lead them once more against the enemy disseminated throughout the Rus’ lands. The people rebelled at the prince’s refusal. They freed the imprisoned Vseslav, the Polovtsian prince, and enthroned him in Kiev. Prince Izyaslav fled to Poland. During the seven month reign of Vseslav, Izyaslav warred against him aided by Boleslav the Bold, King of Poland. Vseslav secretly fled to Polotsk, and Izyaslav occupied Kiev. Someone had slandered St Anthony to the prince, saying that he had favoured and advised Vseslav. Prince Izyaslav, at the instigation of the devil, got angry with the saint.
At that time, St Anthony was taking care of ill Isaac the Recluse. The devil in the image of Jesus Christ had seduced Isaac by making him dance. The monk was left in his cave half dead. The arch foe hated seeing the saint care for Isaac and tried to interfere with Isaac’s physical and spiritual recovery. Thus, he aroused Izyaslav to drive the saint away from Kiev princedom. For a while, satan reached success. Prince Svyatoslav took St Anthony secretly to Chernigov after he had heard of his brother’s anger with the saint. Anthony chose a place at Boldyn hill close to the city, dug out a cave and Settled there. Later, a monastery was built there. Prince Izyaslav soon realized the innocence of that holy man, having understood the devil’s intrigues. He sent his servants to Chernigov beseeching Anthony to return to Kiev and take care of his God-chosen flock. Meek and humble, Anthony rejoined his brothers who had been confused and rejected like sheep without a shepherd.
St Anthony continued his struggles, fasting, keeping vigil and praying. He thought diligently about the stone Cave church prophesied through Shimon. He consulted with St Theodosius, and they prayed to the High Creator together, that He blessed and helped them build the church in the name of His Immaculate Mother — our Lady Theotokos. When St Anthony gave himself up to such prayer, a great miracle occurred! Without leaving the monastery St Anthony and St Theodosius were miraculously seen in Constantinople. They received gold from The Holy Theotokos, gave it to stonemasons and ordered them to erect a Cave church in Kyiv.
The Greek stonemasons arrived and told the miraculous story. St Anthony was amazed. When the stonemasons asked St Anthony where the church should be built, he prayed for three days. By God’s inspiration Prince Svyatoslav arrived and donated one of his fields for that purpose. St Anthony prayed to the Lord that He might indicate somehow the exact place for the church. In the morning, there was dew everywhere on the ground except for a place where the church was to be built. On the second night, St Anthony asked that the next morning all the ground should be dry, except for the spot where the-church was to be built, which should be bedewed. 0n the third day, Anthony blessed the Spot and had the foundation measured with the golden belt received from Shimon — thirty belts in length and twenty in width — as revealed to Shimon before.
St Anthony blessed the site and the start of construction, and began preparations for his departure to the eternal temple. St Anthony calmed his children promising that, even after his repose, he would not forsake this holy place, but would always watch over it.
Thus, having lived some sixteen years in the second cave, the saint reposed there on July 10, 1073, at the age of ninety, in the reign of Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich, Prince of Kiev, and in the reign of Romanos Diogenes, Emperor of Byzantium. The saint’s honourable relics were placed in his cave where he had reposed, under the great monastery.
According to his promise, by God’s Grace, St Anthony did not forsake the holy place of his asceticism. After his repose, both he and St Theodosius were seen together in a vision by holy icon painters in Constantinople who, like devout stonemasons, were instructed to go to Kiev and decorate the holy Cave church there.
St Anthony helped everybody who came to his grave seeking for help. Let us thank the Lord for giving such a wonderworking founder of monasticism to the lands of Rus’. St Anthony’s struggles, carried out in secret, in the solitude of a cave, can be described by no one. They are only known to God Who sees the hearts of all men. Therefore, we should try less to narrate Anthony’s great struggle, but try hard to diligently pray ‘that we are the partakers of his trustworthy promise’, and be worthy of ending our lives in repentance and mercy and thus, together with St Anthony, like children with their father, have our names written in the book of eternal life, by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord and Saviour. Amen!