Antony of Caves. Life of the Monk Anthony of Caves. Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves and their Life

On the high bank of the Dnieper the golden domes of the Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra shine. For nearly a thousand years, the bells ringing over the water are heard ringing people's thoughts to eternity and filling the soul with the warmth of God's Grace. This ancient monastery became a monument to its creator, whose name is the Monk Anthony of Caves. At the beginning of the XI century, his Lord brought them to these places, blessing him for his monastic life and the foundation of one of the main strongholds of Russian Orthodoxy.

The path to the adoption of monasticism

About where he spent his early years, Antony Caves, his life mentions only very briefly. It is known that the future ascetic was born in 983 in Lyubech - a small village near Chernigov, and at the holy baptism was named Antipa. Here, perhaps, and everything that is known about his childhood. History has not preserved even the names of parents who gave the world one of the brightest pillars of the Orthodox Church.

From an early age, feeling in himself an indomitable desire to serve God, he went on foot to distant Palestine to see with his own eyes the places where the years of earthly ministry of Jesus Christ passed. Having fulfilled this intention, on the way back, Antipas visited another spiritual center of Christianity - Saint Athos. Here, he not only prayed before the miraculous images stored in the ancient temples, but, with the blessing of the Athonite elders, he took monastic vows with the name Anthony.

Homecoming

The life of Anthony of Caves in the days of the holy prince Vladimir the Baptist of Rus was held mainly among Athos monks. For several years he lived within the walls of the monastery, strengthening himself in faith and comprehending the divine teaching under the guidance of wise teachers. But it pleased the Lord that, having succeeded in the sciences, Antony returned to his native land, bringing to the Dnieper shore the light of Christ's truth. This His will was expressed by Hegumen of the Athonite monastery, and he, having blessed the monk, sent him on his way back to the limits of the newly consecrated Russian lands, for planting and there monasticism. Thus ended the period of his wanderings, Saint Anthony of Caves.

His life tells how in 1028, returning to Kiev, for ascetic ascetic life he chooses a cave dug by Berestova Hill by presbyter Illarion, the future Kyiv Metropolitan. On the banks of the Dnieper in those years, there were already several monasteries built by the Greeks, but life in none of them met the high spiritual requirements that the soul of Antonia showed. Secluded in a cave, he indulged in fasting and prayers, contented every other day with stale bread and a sip of water.

In ancient times devout devotees were honored devotees who abandoned earthly goods for the sake of serving God, therefore the glory of the ascetic life of the hermit, tied up on Berestova Hill, quickly flew not only Kiev, but also many other cities. Hundreds of people seeking instruction, blessing, or wise advice in a difficult life situation began to come to his cave, and the Monk Anthony of Caves was not denied.

The coming of the numerous brethren

Soon there were also those who wished to settle with him and together perform the feat of monastic ministry. The first to make such a request was a priest named Nikon. After him came the future holy associate of Anthony, the Monk Theodosius, from Kursk. He also from a young age flared with love for the Lord and saw his destiny in serving Him with all his life.

Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves, and with them and Priest Nikon, became the first inhabitants of the future monastery. It was with them that the famous Lavra began. The life of the Monk Anthony of Caves tells that when they were joined by about a dozen followers, he left the already lived cave and, having retired to a neighboring mountain, dug out a new one, where he settled in seclusion. But everything that happened before was repeated - the monks began to settle next to him. This was the beginning of the Near and Far Caves of the Lavra, which can be seen today.

Glory of the great ascetic

Remained in the former place, the Monk Theodosius was soon elected the abbot of the monastery, the life in which he organized in accordance with the statute of the Tsaregrad Studios Monastery. These were strict rules that provided for the commonality of all property, and life, conducted in unceasing prayers and labors. Each monk bore obedience, appointed by the abbot, who decided what exactly he could do. An indispensable condition of life in the monastery were daily confessions, on which the inhabitants opened their souls and trusted the mentor with the most intimate thoughts.

When Prince Izyaslav came to power in Kiev - the grandson of the baptizer of Rus of St. Prince Vladimir, the glory of the Monk Anthony was already spread all over the Russian land. She became even more entrenched when Izyaslav with all his squad came to the caves to ask him for blessings to himself and his army. The life of St. Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves records that after this the number of those who wish to become a monk increased significantly. Most of these Christ-lovers were tonsured on Berestova Hill and became a worthy continuation of the business they started.

Conflict with Prince Izyaslav

But not only the joy of spiritual fellowship was borne by the lay people who came to them. They were the result of their parishes and sorrow, inalienable from our earthly life. The short life of Antony Pechersky gives such a sad example. Once two Kievites came to him, the son of a noble boyar named Varlaam and the prince Eunuch Ephraim. Both of them wished to become monks and soon were tonsured. However, such a charitable work had the most unexpected and deplorable consequences for the entire brotherhood.

When Varlaam's father found out about the tonsure of his son, then, not feeling the slightest sympathy for his deed, he appeared to the caves with his numerous servants. Having exalted the brethren in the most improper way, he took the boy home forcefully, dared to take such an important step in life without his, father's blessing. Antony and Theodosius of Pechersk with bitterness experienced what had happened. But what was their grief, when the Grand Duke Izyaslav himself was filled with anger, having learned about the tonsure of his beloved eunuch!

Forced withdrawal from caves

The Kiev ruler in the heat of anger threatened to seize and imprison the Monks of Monks if they did not convince Varlaam and Ephraim to renounce their monasticism and continue the former worldly life. Izyaslav also threatened to disperse the entire monastic community, and to dig the caves themselves. There is no doubt that the prince was prompted by the "enemy of the human race" for such furious wrath.

Antony Pechersky, who lived his life solely on the fulfillment of God's commandments and did not bow to the heads of earthly masters, was forced to leave the caves and together with the Reverend Theodosius and the whole brother to go in search of a new place to live. Only the intercession of the princess served to soften the heart of the lord and enabled the monks to return to their former place.

Construction of the first building of the future Lavra

However, the monk did not keep evil in his heart against those who had caused him suffering. Seeing only the intrigues of the evil one, he opened his heart to all the children of God. And the Lord did not leave him. Soon all gathered in the caves, who left them, seeking salvation from princely wrath. The pious monastic life interrupted by such an unfortunate circumstance was resumed.

When the number of brethren increased considerably, a wooden church was built on the mountain in the name of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the first building of the future Lavra. During this period, there are testimonies about the miracles that Antony Cavesky performed. The life of the saint is filled with examples of how he healed those who came to him ill and predicted many events of the future, hidden from the eyes of ordinary people. This gift of God puts him on a par with the great saints who were tied up once in the hot deserts of Egypt. Everyone who carefully reads the life of the Monk Anthony of Pechersky, no doubt, will agree with this statement.

Care in Chernigov

Years passed, and the Lord let the sorrow enter the pure heart of Antony again. Again the crafty chose Izyaslav, the prince of Kiev, as his tool. This time he darkened his mind with slander, which alleged that Antony was mentally disposed to his enemy Vseslav Borisovich, a Polotsk prince of the Ryurikovich family, and supported him when he arranged a turmoil in Kiev. This accusation was of a political nature and could have grave consequences.

Help unexpectedly came from Chernigov, where in those years Izyaslav's brother, Prince Svyatoslav, ruled. Upon learning of the incident, he secretly took Antony to his domain, where he could safely continue the monastic ministry. For solitary reclusive life, he dug a cave in the Boldin Mountains, which also laid the foundation for the monastery of the Holy Mother of God that was subsequently created there, as reported to us by the life of St. Anthony of Caves, the brief content of which formed the basis of this article.

The result of the holy life

In the last years of his life, the holy ascetic, for lack of strength, withdrew from the management of the monastery that he had created. All his time he devoted now to prayer and preparation for that great moment when he will be destined to appear before the throne of the Most High. He completed his earthly journey on May 7, 1073. His relics have not been found to this day, and, according to the ecclesiastical expression, "remain under a snag."

The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which became the main business of his life, was a model for other monasteries built on Orthodox Russia. She gave the world many outstanding figures of the church, among which were archbishops, preachers and writers who entered the history. For them and for all, in whose hearts Christ's truth lived, the textbook of the ministry to God has always been the widely-published life of Antony Pechersky. A brief summary of it only to a small extent can give an idea of all the diversity of spiritual achievements accomplished by him.