Date in the old style: July 10. On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates the memory of Saint Anthony of the Caves — the founder of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and the patron of all Russian monks. Anthony was born at the end of the 10th century near Chernigov. Burning with the desire to see the places where Jesus Christ was born and lived, he visited Palestine, and on his way back, he stayed at Athos, where he was tonsured a monk and lived for several years. According to tradition, the abbot of the Athos monastery received a sign to let Anthony return home to spread the Christian faith in the Russian land. Returning to his homeland, Anthony settled near Kiev in a cave dug by the priest Hilarion. Many people came to the hermit — some for blessings and others to stay and live near the saint. Anthony’s first disciples were Nikon and Theodosius. When the number of hermits reached 12, under the saint’s guidance, they dug a large cave in which they arranged a church, a refectory, and separate cells. This marked the beginning of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Anthony himself withdrew from the monastery and dug a new cave for himself. However, monks began to settle around him again. When their number reached a hundred, the brethren, with Anthony’s blessing, built the first wooden church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on the hill. The life of Anthony tells that the saint had the gift of performing miracles — healing the sick and predicting events. The relics of the venerable one are currently under the ground — that is, they have not been discovered. In Russia, on Anthony’s day, thunder had special significance. If the saint’s name day fell on a Wednesday or Friday and thunder was heard on that day — it promised a good catch of fish. If the thunder was sharp — a gentle rain was expected, and if it was rumbling — they prepared for a downpour. The day of duckweed was also celebrated — a plant with small leaves often seen on the surface of rivers. It was believed that mermaids lived in places where duckweed accumulated. “Rain grows duckweed, and water maidens tear it” — people used to say. On Anthony’s day, duckweed was gathered with forks, filled into baskets, and taken to the barnyard where it was fed to the birds. It was also used as fertilizer. Girls, mimicking the patterns of duckweed on the water, wove special lace called “rasyochniki.” Name Days on this day Alexander, Anton, George, Daniel, Leonty, Peter