Saint Anthony was the founder of the Lavra of Kiev. He was born in the early 11th century in the region of Liubech. His secular name was Antipas. From a young age, he felt a calling to dedicate his life to God. He decided to travel to Mount Athos, where he became a monk and began practicing a life of solitude in a cave.
After gaining profound spiritual experiences, the abbot sent him to Russia, in order to assist in the establishment of Orthodox monasteries. He arrived in Kiev in 1051 and settled in a cave that had been excavated by the priest Hilarion. There, he continued his ascetic life, sustaining himself on nothing but black bread and water. His reputation spread quickly, and many people came to him seeking spiritual guidance. The first one was the priest Nikon, followed by Theodosius of Kiev.
From a young age, Theodosius had felt a calling toward a spiritual life devoted to prayer and the glorification of the Triune God. He frequently attended all holy services and studied the Gospel repeatedly. On occasions when there were not enough prosphora in the church, he took it upon himself to prepare them. His mother often disapproved of his activities. Ultimately, following the guidance of the Lord, he decided to leave his homeland and settle near Saint Anthony.
As the number of people living near Saint Anthony grew, he decided to withdrew to a nearby mountain, leaving Theodosius as the abbot of the monastic community. Theodosius sought to govern according to the rules of the Studite Monastery. The main principles of monastic life under this organization included communal property, labor according to each monk’s strength, prayer before any task, and obedience to the abbot.
Theodosius became a remarkable example for his fellow monks. He worked in the bakery, carried water, firewood, and always arrived at the church before everyone else. He visited the cells of the monks, cared for them, and tended to their spiritual growth. He was compassionate, provided for the poor, and dedicated one-tenth of the monastery’s income to them. Additionally, he sent bread to prisoners every Saturday.
When Saint Anthony eventually returned to the monastery, he and Theodosius decided to build a new katholikon to accommodate the growing number of monks. However, Anthony did not live to see its completion, passing away in 1073 at the age of almost 90 years old.
The Kiev Monastery, founded by Saint Anthony and organized by Theodosius, became a model for many other monasteries, while it also played a particularly important role in the growth and development of the Orthodox Russian Church.
