Saint Anthony Pecherski, Abbot

He was born in 963 (or 983). As a young man, he became acquainted with the spiritual life on Mount Athos. There he took spiritual vows and accepted the name Antoni. After returning to Russia, he occupied a cave close Kiev, where he led the natural life of a hermit. From this place, he was given the nickname “Pecherski” (or “Kijówsko-Pecherski”).