Rev. Antony Pechersky
[of the Caves] (983—1073)
died 946 years ago today
{ May 7/20 }
[23JUL, 15SEP, 11OCT]
October 11 - Cathedral of the Reverend Fathers of the Kyiv Caves, in the Near Caves
(St. Antony) resting.
Antony of the Caves (983-1073) - the founder of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, occupies a special place in the assembly of ancient Russian saints and is revered by the Russian Church as "the head of all Russian monks", since the Pechersk monastery founded by him on the Kyiv mountains for many centuries served as the center and school of ancient Russian monasticism and enlightenment for all Rus'. The Near (Antony's) caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra are named after Antony.
Saint Antony (in the world of Antipas) was born in 983 not far from Chernigov, in the town of Lyubech. From a young age, Antipas wanted to become a monk. And having matured, he went to wander. Having reached Athos, Antipas was struck by the beauty and dispensation of this holy place. Two years later, in one of the Athos monasteries, he took monastic tonsure with the name Antony - in honor of Anthony the Great, the recognized founder of monasticism and desert-living, who lived in the 3rd-4th centuries. There is a legend according to which he took monastic vows with the name Antony in a small ancient monastery of Esphigmenou and passed monastic obedience as a hermit, under the guidance of the elder abbot Theoktist.
Esphigmenou Monastery
However, the question of where exactly St. Antony of the Caves labored on Mount Athos remains open. A number of researchers question the hypotheses that have been widespread since the middle of the 19th century about the existence of the caves of St. Antony of the Caves both near the Great Lavra of St. Atanasius and the Esphigmenou Monastery. On Athos, among Russian monks, there is an older legend that the future father of Russian monasticism initially labored on the Holy Mountain not in the Greek, but in the Russian monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin (“Panagia Xilourgou”, or “Treemaker”).
The young monk tried to please God in everything. He especially excelled in meekness and obedience. When he acquired spiritual experience in his exploits, the hegumen [abbot] gave him obedience so that he would go to Rus' and plant monasticism in this newly enlightened Christian country. In parting, the abbot said: “Antony! It is time for you and others to lead in holy living. Return to your Russian land, may the blessing of Holy Mount Athos be upon you. Many monks will come from you.”
Venerable Antony of the Caves on Mount Athos
When the Monk Antony came to Kyiv, there were already several monasteries there, founded by the Greeks at the request of the princes. Antony began to visit monasteries in the Kyiv land. But nowhere did he find such a properly arranged, strict monastic life as he was used to on Mount Athos.
Future Metropolitan of Kyiv.
Here Antony stopped. This was in 1028. The future saint indulged in a hermit's feat in a cave, where he began to labor in prayer, fasting, vigil and work, eating a little food every other day, sometimes he did not eat for a week. Soon the fame of him spread not only in Kyiv, but also in other Russian cities. People began to come to the ascetic for blessing, advice, while others began to ask him for residence. Among the first disciples of the Monk Antony was Saint Nikon, who in 1032 tonsured the Monk Theodosius of the Caves († 1074), who had come to the monastery.
Antony received those who aspired to monasticism with love. When 12 brethren gathered around the monk, a large cave was excavated by common efforts, and a church and cells were built in it. As soon as the work was completed, Antony withdrew from the monastery, appointing the blessed Barlaam as hegumen over the brethren. But even there, near the place of his seclusion, monks soon began to settle. This is how the Near and the Far Caves of the Lavra were formed. After some time, the caves on Berestovaya Gora became cramped for the multiplied brethren and pilgrims. And so the Great Kyiv Prince Izyaslav begged the monks to build a monastery instead of caves. And he sent with them the icon of Her Assumption, which became the main shrine of the monastery. “I want to build a church for myself in Rus', in Kyiv… I will come to see this church, and I will live in it,” said the Lady. This is how the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Pechersk, that is, founded above the caves) began to form.
This monastery became the first spiritual center of the state of the Russian and the Russian Church. From its walls there came famous archipastors, zealous preachers of the faith and wonderful writers. Especially famous are Saints Leonty and Isaiah - Bishops of Rostov, Nyphont - Bishop of Novgorod, Rev. Kuksha - Enlightener of the Vyatichi, Nestor and Simon the Chroniclers.
Even during the life of Antony, the Monk Theodosius was appointed abbot of the monastery he had formed.
Saints Antony and Theodosius of the Caves
When the number of inhabitants reached 100 people, with the blessing of Antony, the brethren built the first wooden church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos on the mountain above the Far Cave.
The glory of the monastery already in the first decades of its existence spread throughout Rus'. Following the model of the Caves monastery of St. Antony, others began to be built. He died on May 7, 1073, at the age of 90. Before his death, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him and predicted an imminent death. He asked Her that, just as his life was always hidden, so his relics would never be revealed. The desire of St. Antony was fulfilled: his relics have not yet been found.
Several legends about his burial have survived to this day. According to one of them, the Monk Antony, foreseeing the approach of his death, said goodbye to the brethren and retired to a cave in which he himself dug out a burial place for himself. The mentor of the Caves monks forbade the brethren to follow him. And when he moved away a little, the ground suddenly collapsed behind him. The monks wanted to dig up the remains of the monk, but then a flame burst out of the ground and drove them away. They decided to move to the left and dig there, but a stream of water fell on them. Traces of fire and water behind the icon of St. Antony, standing in the place where the earth collapsed, are still visible today.
During the years of Soviet power, attempts were made to discover the relics of the founders of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, but since they were not official, it is not possible to document the results of these searches. There is a modern oral tradition that archaeologists trying to unearth the alleged burial place of St. Antony were prevented by fiery sparks that began to appear during the excavations. One way or another, the Lord does not reveal to us the relics of His two great saints, Antony and Theodosius.
Saint Antony was canonized in 1133.
The memory of St. Antony is venerated on:
July 23 (July 10 old style);
September 15 (September 2, old style) - together with the Monk Theodosius of the Caves;
October 11 (September 28, old style) - as part of the Cathedral of the Reverend Fathers of the Kyiv Caves, resting in the Near Caves.
Troparion, tone 4
You left the worldly rebellion, but by rejecting the world of the gospel, you followed Christ, and having lived an equal-angelic life, you reached the quiet haven of the holy Mount Athos: from there, with the blessing of the fathers, you came to the mountain of Kyiv and there you completed your life industriously, enlightened your fatherland, and to many monastics the path leading having shown to the heavenly kingdom, thou hast brought this Christ, pray to him, reverend Antony, that he may save our souls.
Kontakion, tone 8
Having entrusted yourself to God, more than all beloved from youth, the reverend, you followed him with all your heart with love: having imputed the world to nothing, you made a cave in the earth, and in it good against the invisible enemy, wielding machinations, like a luminous sun in all Thou hast shone forth to the ends of the earth. From then on, rejoicing, you passed to the heavenly chambers, and now from the angels of the sovereign throne, remember us who honor your memory, let us call you: rejoice Antony, our father.
