Byzantine Saints: Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves (2 September)

About this sermon

Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves is honored as a founder of monasticism in ancient Rus’ and one of the great ascetics of the Orthodox Christian tradition. Born around A.D. 983 in Lyubech, near Chernigov, he received the name Antipas in baptism. Possessing the fear of God from his youth, he longed to embrace the monastic life. When he reached maturity, he journeyed to Mount Athos, where he received the monastic tonsure and devoted himself to humility, obedience, prayer and spiritual struggle. Recognizing Anthony’s future importance, his hegumen sent him back to his homeland with the blessing of the Holy Mountain. He instructed Anthony to guide others in holiness and become an example for the people of Rus’. After returning, Anthony visited the monasteries around Kiev but could not find the strict ascetic life he had known on Mount Athos. By God’s providence, he discovered a cave near the Dnieper River that had previously been occupied by the priest Hilarion, who later became Metropolitan of Kiev. Anthony prayed that the blessing of Mount Athos would rest upon that place. He then began a severe life of prayer, fasting, vigils and physical labor. He ate only dry bread and water every second or third day and sometimes fasted for an entire week. People soon sought the holy ascetic for his blessing and counsel. Some remained with him as disciples, including St. Nikon and St. Theodosius of the Caves. When twelve monks had gathered, the brethren enlarged the cave and constructed a church and monastic cells within it. Desiring solitude, Anthony appointed St. Varlaam to guide the community and withdrew to another cave. Yet disciples gathered around him there as well. A wooden church dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God was eventually built above these Far Caves. As the community grew to approximately one hundred monks, St. Theodosius was chosen as hegumen. Prince Izyaslav granted the brethren the hill where they built a larger church, cells and a protective enclosure. Thus arose the renowned Kiev Caves Monastery. The chronicler observed that monasteries built by emperors and nobles could not compare with one established through holy prayer, tears, fasting and vigils. St. Anthony possessed no earthly riches, yet his spiritual labor helped create the first great monastic center of Rus’. God also glorified him with clairvoyance and wonderworking. According to the sacred tradition of the monastery, the Mother of God appeared in connection with the building of its great church and summoned architects from Constantinople to complete the work. St. Anthony reposed on July 10, 1073. By divine providence, his holy relics remain hidden within the caves. Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves, pray for us! 00:00 Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves 00:25 Birth and Baptism as Antipas 00:33 His Desire for the Monastic Life 00:42 Monastic Tonsure on Mount Athos 00:50 Humility, Obedience and Ascetic Struggle 00:59 Sent Back to Guide the People of Rus’ 01:15 Searching for a Strict Monastic Life 01:30 Anthony Discovers the Cave Near Kiev 01:45 The Blessing of Mount Athos 01:53 Prayer, Fasting, Vigils and Labor 02:01 Disciples Gather Around St. Anthony 02:10 St. Nikon and St. Theodosius 02:18 Monasticism Illuminates the Land of Rus’ 02:34 Twelve Monks Build a Church in the Cave 02:43 Anthony Withdraws into Greater Solitude 02:50 The Community of the Far Caves 02:58 Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God 03:05 St. Theodosius Chosen as Hegumen 03:14 The Brotherhood Reaches One Hundred Monks 03:22 Establishment of the Kiev Caves Monastery 03:29 A Monastery Built by Prayer and Tears 03:46 Clairvoyance and Wonderworking 03:55 The Mother of God and the Great Caves Church 04:11 Architects Summoned from Constantinople 04:29 Death of St. Anthony in 1073 04:36 His Holy Relics Remain Hidden https://www.oca.org/saints/lives #SaintAnthony #KievCaves #OrthodoxSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #OrthodoxChristianity #Monasticism #KievPecherskLavra #MountAthos #EasternOrthodoxy #ChristianHistory 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴