The Monk Anthony of Kiev-Pechersk was born in 983 near Chernigov, in the town of Lyubeche. From a young age, having the fear of God, he wanted to put on a monastic image. Having come of age, he set out to wander and, having reached Athos, was inflamed with the desire to imitate the exploits of his holy inhabitants. Having taken monastic vows here, the young monk pleased God in everything and, striving on the path of virtue, especially succeeded in humility and obedience, so that all the monks rejoiced looking at his holy life.
Seeing a great future ascetic in Anthony, the abbot, under inspiration from God, sent him to his homeland, saying: “Antony! It is time for you and others to lead in holy living. Return to your Russian land, may the blessing of the Holy Mount Athos be upon you, many monks will come from you.”
Returning to Rus', Anthony began to visit monasteries in the Kiev region, but nowhere did he find such a strict life as he was accustomed to on Athos.
By God's providence, on one of the Kyiv hills, on the steep bank of the Dnieper, which reminded him of his beloved Athos, in the forest, near the village of Berestovo, he saw a cave dug by the priest Hilarion (later the holy Metropolitan of Kiev; commemorated October 21). He began to struggle there in prayer, fasting, vigil and labor, eating a little food every other day, sometimes not eating for a week. People began to come to the ascetic for blessings and advice, while others decided to stay with the saint forever. Among the first disciples of the Monk Anthony was Saint Nikon, who in 1032 tonsured the Monk Theodosius of Pechersk († 1074; Comm. May 3), who came to the monastery.
The holy life of St. Anthony illuminated the entire Russian land with the beauty of monastic feats. Saint Anthony accepted those who aspired to monasticism with love. After instructions on how to follow Christ, he commanded Blessed Nikon to tonsure those who wished to do so. When 12 brethren gathered around the Reverend, by joint efforts a large cave was dug and a church and cells for monks were built in it. Saint Anthony, having installed blessed Varlaam as abbot over the brethren, himself withdrew from the monastery and, having dug himself a new cave, shut himself up in it. But even there, near the place of his solitude, monks soon began to settle. This is how the Near and Far cave monasteries were formed. Subsequently, a small wooden church was built by monks above the Far Cave in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
By the will of Prince Izyaslav, Abbot Varlaam retired to the Dimitrievsky Monastery. With the blessing of St. Anthony and with the general consent of the brethren, the meek and humble Theodosius was elected to the abbess. By that time the number of brethren had already reached one hundred people. The Great Prince of Kiev Izyaslav († 1078) gave the monks a mountain on which a large church and cells were built, and a palisade was placed around it. This is how a glorious monastery was formed, which was called Pechersk, as it was founded above the caves. While talking about this, the chronicler notes that although there are many monasteries built by the wealth of kings and boyars, they cannot compare with those built by the prayers of saints, their tears, fasting and vigil. Likewise, the Monk Anthony did not have gold, but with his labors he increased the monastery, incomparable with others, which became the first spiritual center of Rus'.
For his holy life, God glorified the Monk Anthony with the gift of insight and miracles. This was especially evident when he built the great Pechersk Church. The Most Holy Theotokos herself appeared to him and the Monk Theodosius in the Blachernae Church, where they miraculously appeared and were raptured without leaving the Pechersk Monastery. Having received gold from the Mother of God, the saints hired master masons who, at the command of the Queen of Heaven, went to the Russian land to build a church in the Pechersk monastery. At this appearance, the Mother of God predicted the imminent death of the Monk Anthony, which followed in the 90th year of his life on May 7, 1073. The relics of St. Anthony, according to God's will, remain hidden.
September 11 - memory of St. Silouan of Athos