This first bright light of Russian Monasticism, Saint Antony received his formation at the Athonite Monastery of Esphigmenou, Sent back to his homeland by his Spiritual Father who had received a Divine Revelation about his future, the Saint founded a community around a cave in Kiev that reminded him of the Holy Mountain. The God-Bearer prayed that the blessing of Mount Athos would be given to the location and that it’s spirit would imbue their way of life. As the fame of the brotherhood spread, it wasn’t too long before the cave had to be expanded with additional cells, and a large wooden Church with a monastery be built to house the increasing number of monks. Ever desirous of the life of hesychia that had been delivered to him on Athos, Saint Antony appointed an abbot and withdrew to another nearby cave though he continued to act as their Spiritual Father. Ascending the heights of asceticism in his silence and solitude, God granted him the gifts of clear sight and healing. Poisonous plants were cleansed at his blessing and then used as tinctures that would cure people of their various diseases. He also ministered to spiritual ills, patiently nursing Saint Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Caves back to health through the medicine of an ordered and obedient communal life after he had been tricked by the demons. Defeated by the faithful and steady hand of Saint Antony, the devil incited the Prince Iziaslav to drive him from his principality in hopes of reclaiming the monk. This plan, however, came to nothing as the Prince recovered his witts and re-called the Saint. That said, Saint Antony did use it as an occasion to redouble his ascetic efforts, his days and nights becoming a continuous struggle against the demons. His decisive victory made firm the foundation of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves he had founded as well as all of Russian Monasticism.