Venerable Antony of the Kiev Caves (+1073)
The Venerable Antony of the Caves (in the world Antipas) was born in 983 in the town of Lyubech, near Chernigov. Brought up in the fear of God, Antipas was filled with love for the monastic life from his youth. He even dug out a cave where he intended to live in seclusion, but he soon became convinced that such a labour required the guidance of an experienced elder, and he went to Mount Athos. Here the saint was tonsured a monk with the name Antony. The young ascetic amazed even the fathers of the Holy Mountain with his prudence, humility, obedience, strict fasting and all-night vigils. The aged abbot foresaw the future of the monk who was advancing so quickly in the spiritual life, advised him to return to his homeland and said to him: “Antony! The Lord has guided thee in thy labours; now it is time for thee to guide others in the holy life; return to the land of Russia, and take with thee the blessing of Mount Athos: many monks will spring from thee!”
Antony settled in solitude near Kiev, on the hill of Berestovo, in a dense forest, in a cave dug out by the presbyter Hilarion (later Metropolitan of Kiev).
The wonderful ascetic soon became famous, and from every side people hastened to him wishing to receive his blessing or counsel. Some stayed there for good. The saint’s first disciples were the Venerable Nikon and the Venerable Theodosius. The brethren lived a strict ascetic life: they ate only bread, and on Saturdays, Sundays and feasts they took boiled peas. Antony himself lived as if bodiless and set an example to his disciples. When the number of monks reached twelve, they dug a long tunnel under the ground, and on both sides of it hollowed out small cells for themselves, and set up a church and a refectory. Sheltered in the dark caves under the earth, the fathers prayed fervently. After this the humble and solitude-loving Antony handed over the headship to the blessed Barlaam, and himself left the monastery and shut himself up in a new cave a hundred sazhens from his former dwelling. The desire to labour under the guidance of an experienced spiritual father soon multiplied the monks here too. Thus the monasteries of the Near and Far Caves were founded. Barlaam moved to the monastery of Saint Demetrius, and in his place, with the Venerable Antony’s blessing and the unanimous consent of the fathers, the blessed Theodosius was appointed. By this time the brotherhood already numbered a hundred monks.
For his holy life the Lord granted the blessed father the gifts of foresight and wonderworking, which showed themselves with special clarity during the building of the great stone church of the Dormition of the Mother of God. To the holy fathers Antony and Theodosius, who without leaving the Caves Lavra found themselves in Constantinople, in the church of Blachernae, the All-holy Virgin herself appeared and gave them gold. With the precious coins the blessed fathers hired masons, who at the direction of the Queen of Heaven came to Russia to build the church of the Caves monastery. During this appearance the Mother of God told the saint of his approaching end.
The venerable father died on 27 May 1073, at the age of ninety.
