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Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age

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21 June 2019

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Hermit Agafya Lykova.  Picture: Nikolay Proletsky

Agafya is perhaps the world’s most famous and remarkable hermit; recently she celebrated her 75th birthday. 

The recluse is the last survivor of a family who successfully opted out of Stalin's Russia to live in the wilderness of Khakassia republic in southern Siberia.

Her family were Orthodox Old Believers who fled into the forest to escape religious persecution in 1936.

For most of her life, she has lived much as a peasant from the 18th century with hardly any modern comforts, and guided by an ancient Bible.

Recently inspectors and officials from Khakassky Nature Reserve and Roskosmos, the Russian space agency, journeyed to her remote home to inform Agafya about the impending space launch from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Debris from an imminent rocket launch can fall in her vicinity and the officials offered to evacuate the  hermit over the danger period.

Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age 


Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age 

Russia's loneliest woman, hermit Agafya Lykova. Picture: Nikolay Proletsky


Agafya gave them short shrift, saying: “The rockets fell down before. So what is different now?”

She refused to budge from the home where she was born and which she has never left but for urgent hospital treatment.

As RIA Novosti put it: ‘The inspectors were not surprised to hear that she refused to leave. Everybody knows that Agafya hates leaving her home. 

‘Is there really anything that would make her go away? Probably not.’

And certainly not the Space Age.

Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age 


Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age 

Agafya Lykova and her her house in Siberian taiga. Pictures:Nikolay Proletsky, KP Krasnoyarsk


The director of the reserve said that while Agafya feels some pain in her joints - the reason for a brief hospital evacuation three years ago - she appeared in good health after marking her 75th birthday.

Viktor Nepomnyaschiy posted: ‘Agafya Karpovna refused to be evacuated. 

‘Talking about her life in general, she said that she has planted vegetables, has enough food, and sufficient grass for her goats in summer time. 

‘She complained a bit on her health condition, particularly pain in her legs, but so far she is managing to look after her household.’

The reserve staff pay regular visits to a woman who, in her younger years, had never met anyone outside her close family.

They bring gifts sent from all over the world to this remarkable woman who was 75 in April.

Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age 

Agafya Lykova by her house in Siberian wilderness. Picture: KP Krasnoyarsk


Reserve deputy head Ivan Prokudin said: ‘People from all over the world are writing to Agafya and sending her parcels. This time we recevid about 100 kg of presents. 

‘We are also carrying seeds for her, she grows everything: potatoes, zucchinis, pumpkin, cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots.’

Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper gave her two new head scarves with flowers, a piece of fabric for a skirt, a dressing gown, several towels, bed linen, needles and thread, as well as dried fruit.

Agafya has weaved a belt for her favourite nature reserve inspector Sergey Khlebnikov.

She wrote on it: ‘An honest belt to the servant of God Sergey from Lykova Agafya Karpovna.’

He said: ‘She lacks communication. This is her character, she loves talking to people. 

‘When you get to her, you are so tired and exhausted after the long way, and she sits next to you and talks and talks about everything and does not go away. 

‘You would like to have a rest, to sleep after the long journey, but you have to patiently listen so that she doesn't get offended. 

‘A year and a half ago we visited her on snowmobiles in winter.

‘She asked to help her kill one goat because she did not have enough hay for him. We helped of course. 

Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age 

Agafya Lykova with father Karl. Picture: Nikolay Proletsky


‘She put the meat right near the doorstep of her house and covered it. 

‘Next time we visited her I asked – did you eat the goat meat? – she said: ‘No, my cats finished him. They dug a tunnel to the meat under the snow and finished it bit by bit’. 

‘She has many cats, once as many as 20, but I’m not sure now.’

During Agafya's stay in ‘civilisation’ when she went to hospital she was left unimpressed by modern ways, and yearned to get back home.

'There are so many cars. Why do you need so many?' the hermit asked. 'There's so much smoke from them, there's nothing to breathe.'

She has refused many offers to move to a village over recent decades.

When wild bears get too close she protects herself by banging cutlery on a plate to scare away the beast.

Siberian hermit, 75, who ‘lives in 18th century’ refuses to be moved by Space Age 

Agafya Lykova, now 75 years old. Picture: Nikolay Proletsky


Agafya's family were discovered in 1978 after being spotted from the air by a group of geologists on a remote mountain side close to Erinat river in the Abakan Range, south-western Siberia.

When they were found, they had no idea World War Two had started - or ended. 

Agafya was the fourth child of Karp and Akulina Lykov, and for the first 35 years of her life she had no contact at all with anyone outside her family.

The scientists reported that Agafya spoke a strange blurred language ‘distorted by a lifetime of isolation’.

During her stay in ‘civilisation’ when she went to hospital she was unimpressed by modern ways, and yearned to get back home.  'There are so many cars. Why do you need so many?' she asked.  'There's so much smoke from them, there's nothing to breathe.'  She has refused many offers to move to a village over recent decades.  When wild bears get too close she proects herself by banging cutlery on a plate to scare away the beast.


During her stay in ‘civilisation’ when she went to hospital she was unimpressed by modern ways, and yearned to get back home.  'There are so many cars. Why do you need so many?' she asked.  'There's so much smoke from them, there's nothing to breathe.'  She has refused many offers to move to a village over recent decades.  When wild bears get too close she proects herself by banging cutlery on a plate to scare away the beast.

Agafya Lykova with her father Karl (L) and professor Nazarov on first picture, and on by herself. Pictures: Nikolay Proletsky


Her father had taken the decision to flee civilisation in 1936 after a communist patrol arrived on the fields where  he was working and shot dead his brother.

Gathering a few meagre possessions and some seeds, he took his wife, Akulina, their nine-year-old son, Savin, and two-year-old daughter Natalia, and headed off into the forest.

Over the years they retreated deeper into taiga, building a series of wooden cabins amid the pine trees.

When their metal pots had disintegrated beyond use, they were forced to live on a staple diet of potato patties mixed with ground rye and hemp seeds.

The Lykovs subsisted mainly on trapped wild animals and cultivated potatoes. 

They had no firearms, no salt and did not know how to make bread.

However a bad winter in 1961 killed off everything in their garden and they were reduced to eating their own leather shoes. 

During her stay in ‘civilisation’ when she went to hospital she was unimpressed by modern ways, and yearned to get back home.  'There are so many cars. Why do you need so many?' she asked.  'There's so much smoke from them, there's nothing to breathe.'  She has refused many offers to move to a village over recent decades.  When wild bears get too close she proects herself by banging cutlery on a plate to scare away the beast.
Agafya Lykova is the last of a family that settled on the Bolshoi Abakan River in the 1930s and lived in isolation until a geologist search party stumbled on them in 1978. Picture: Alexander Kuznetsov, Krasnoyarskiy Rabochiy


The cold weather and lack of food proved too much for mother Akulina who died.

Once the family was discovered they continued to live in the wilderness and, apart from salt, knives, forks and handles, they opted not to adopt any methods or items from the modern world.

Two years after their discovery, three of the four children also died: Savin and Natalia suffered kidney failure and Dmitryperished perished from pneumonia.

Agafya's father died in his sleep in February 1988, but despite her age and the risks to her health she continues to live permanently in her remote homestead.

Debris from an imminent rocket launch can fall in her vicinity and the officials offered to evacuate the hermit over the danger period.


Comments (81)

She had me from "hello". A "Go Fund Me" account might prove useless however, social media might get busy and pair her up with the likes of Jeremiah Johnson at this time of her life. Probably have a lot in common 'cept he weren't religious as I recall! Russia most likely will shoulder the costs of protective measures for their national celebrity. What's few rubles to Putin? She's tough , famous and doing it her way! God bless her.
JP Monaco , Palermo, Italy
01/04/2020 13:30
5
2
A beautiful soul!
Seb Angara, Philippines
31/03/2020 16:36
3
1
Any updates on our dear sister in Christ?
Martin, New Zealand
27/03/2020 06:17
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I saw other stories on her and she kept saying she needed a helper. She was 70 then. it was sad when she said it. She even wrote a letter asking for help.
Dolores, Ohio uds
22/03/2020 12:37
9
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I have followed Agafia for years since I came across her story. So once or twice a year, I check back on her story. What a formidable woman, full of spirit and courage. And she is right to make decisions for herself
This is what makes her happy. In this place, she won't ever forget the life she shared with her husband and the rest of her family and friends. She is right not to live elsewhere where she has no valid connections. I wish her only to be always to be safe and happy with her memories. What a sturdy woman! So determined to live as she sees fit in the same place she shared with her family, the only place she can call her home. Praying for her safety always!
Monserrat Washburn, USA
14/03/2020 18:11
8
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I hope they took care of her tumor also. What a fantastic person. There are other Old Believers in the Orthodox world who live ascetically.
Nick Cocavessis, United States
13/03/2020 10:07
6
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I could see the blessings and the light of purity in her beautiful smile. She is the definition of a Saint or Angel. The inspiration and hope she gives to people and without even trying just by being herself is unbelievable. Pure focus and unshakable belief.

I will pray for you Agafia. I do not want you to leave the life you love so much. The world knows you now and I feel in my heart you will never be without food or supplies. What really breaks my heart is that there will be no one there to care for you comfort you when the time comes. However I am also confident the love you have in your heart for the god and everything else he created will comfort you for ever in this world and after...
Hasan H Sonmezturk, Nashville TN USA
13/03/2020 09:54
6
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Can somebody please tell me if Agafyais still alive now in 2020 I can't find any information about her.....
Patricia Crossley, Manchester England.
12/03/2020 09:05
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What a faithful woman of God. Beautiful character & soul! Always smiling, such joy & peace reflected from her face! God bless & keep her always!
Suzanne, United States
11/03/2020 03:19
7
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The best thing I loved wasbut for a better word: love and smiles... the expression on her face at peace, a sense of humour and
Shubhadarshini Singh, India
10/03/2020 21:02
3
1
What a remarkable lady may God bless her and keep her safe and protected until he takes her into his final care
Sue, England
07/03/2020 07:17
6
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I only found you by chance! What a remarkable woman you are. I wish you good health. I hope you have enough food & shelter & warmth. I will pray for you every day.☺
Levina Walsh , Ennis. Co.Clare. Ireland.
07/03/2020 04:04
5
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What an extraordinary life. What a beautiful soul. Thank you Agafia for letting us into your life. You are in my mind and heart now.
Betty Byatt , Victoria Canada
06/03/2020 06:58
8
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I would love to get to know her and spend time with her and take care of her for a week or so. Anyone know how I might do that?
Brigitte Moreau, Montréal canada
05/03/2020 08:51
3
3
My dear, sweet and beautiful AGAFIA. Greetings from the United States. Just wanted to let you know you are my hero. You are such a very stong and beautiful person. I wished i lived near you so i could come everyday to visit and help you. You are a beautiful example of how to live life and we could all learn much from you. I wish you many more gentle days ahead and may our good LORD continue to bless you!!!
Linda, Dallas, Texas U.S.A.
05/03/2020 01:21
5
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