The Church commemorates St. Anthony of the Caves

Venerable Anthony. Photo: open sources

On July 23 (July 10 according to the Julian calendar), the Church commemorates the Venerable Anthony of the Caves – one of the most venerated saints and the founder of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Venerable Anthony (circa 983–1073) is regarded as the father of organized monasticism in Rus'. In 1051, he founded a cave monastery on the banks of the Dnipro River, which would later become a center of spiritual life and enlightenment.

Anthony was born in Liubech near Chernihiv. In his youth, he made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, where he received monastic tonsure and a blessing to establish a monastery in his homeland. Upon returning, he settled in a cave on Berestov Hill near Kyiv, where he lived in prayer and fasting.

People seeking spiritual guidance began to gather around the hermit. Among his first disciples was the Venerable Theodosius of the Caves, who later became the abbot of the monastery and was also glorified as a saint.

St. Anthony became renowned for his strict ascetic life, gift of clairvoyance, and miracles. Many came to him for counsel and healing. The venerable reposed in the year 1073 at the age of about 90.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that His Beatitude led an all-night vigil at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on the eve of St. Anthony's feast day.

It will be reminded that the UOJ has also explored the significance of the Venerable Anthony in the article “Venerable Anthony – the Saint Without Whom Kyiv Would Not Stand.”

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