In 1978, during the flyby geological Sayan taiga, in the foothills of the Altai pilots spotted in the wild and dense forest, near a mountain river Erinat strange land.He reminded the cultivated land from the garden.Really here, so far away from civilization, the people live?Later explore this part of Sayan group of geologists discovered Lykov.
first reports in the press about the discovery of the family of hermits appeared in 1980.This told the newspaper "Socialist Industry", later - "Krasnoyarsk Worker".And in 1982 a series of articles describing life in the forest, appeared in "Komsomolskaya Pravda".The existence of the Lykov family learned the entire Soviet Union.
Family History
40 years the holy hermits, dubbed as their press, conducted in strict privacy.Initially Lykovs lived in one of the settlements of Old Believers, which was not uncommon in the remote places of the river Abakan.In the 20 years of Soviet power began to penetrate into the remotest corners of Siberia and the head of the family, Carl Osipovich, decided to withdraw even further into the forest.Lykov family at the time consisted of 4 persons.Her husband followed Akulina wife and two children - 11-year-old Savin and 4-year-old Natalia.
simple belongings were loaded on the boat, which dragged the family of the tributary of Abakan, Erinatu, using ropes as haulers.The fugitives were so anxious to get away from the hostile world that did not stop his way for 8 weeks.The two younger children - Dmitry and Agatha - were born in isolation.
first time from people they do not hide, lived openly.But in 1945 came Zaimka patrol pursuing deserters.This forced the family to escape even further into the forest.
reasons for fleeing
What made Lykovs flee and live as a hermit in the forest?In the 17th century as a result of church reform in the Russian Orthodox Church split.Patriarch Nikon, a tough and ambitious man, he decided to unify the church rituals and bring them into line with the Byzantine.However, the Byzantine Empire at that time did not exist for a long time, and the look of the patriarch was addressed to the Greeks, as the direct heirs of ancient culture.Greek church at that time has undergone many changes under Turkish influence.
As a result, reforms were made significant changes in the ceremonies.Traditional sign of two fingers, and eight-augmented Hallelujah crucifixion were found ungodly, and renounced the new ceremonies men were anathema.It began the widespread persecution of the Old Believers.As a result of this persecution, many fled away from the authorities and have organized their own settlement, where they could keep their beliefs and practices.The new Soviet government again began to harass the Old Believers, and many have gone even further from the people.
Family composition
Lykov family consisted of six people: Karp Osipovich Akulina Karpovna with his wife and their children - Savin, Natalia, Dmitry, Agatha.To date, the only survivors were younger daughter.
hermit in the woods were engaged in agriculture, fished and hunted.Salted meat and fish harvested in the winter.The family kept their customs, avoid contact with the outside world.Akulina teaching children to read and write, Karp Osipovich led calendar.Holy hermits made domestic service.Each family member has his place in a small community, its own character.Tell us a little more about each.
Karp Osipovich
natural leader.In the world he would be the chairman of a collective farm or factory chief.Tie, original, confident.Be the first to be head - its very essence.He led a small community and a steady hand directing all its members.
The troubled 30-ies he took a difficult decision - to get away from people.Taiga did not frighten him.For a man meekly followed the spouse and children.For them, Karp Osipovich was the unquestioned authority in everything.It was he who told how to properly pray that when there is work and relate to each other.The children called him "tyatenka" and unquestioningly obeyed.
his position Karp Osipovich supported.He wore a tall hat of kamus sons also have hats, similar to a monastic klobluk of canvas.Some jobs are not the father performed, relying on other members of their family.
Even in old age was cheerful.He actively communicated with visitors, not afraid of the new.Without fear I came into the helicopter, examined the radio and other things brought by geologists.He was interested in that "people forged".Seeing the planes and moving stars (satellites), he had no doubt that this is a great invention of the world.In February 1988, Karp Osipovich died.
Akulina Karpovna
Lykovs in the taiga lived all his life, and the first left this world the mother of the family.According to some reports, the woman was born in the Altai village Beys.While still a child, she learned to read and write.This knowledge gave her and her children.Students wrote on birch bark, instead of ink using the juice of honeysuckle, and a handle - a sharpened stick.
What was this woman, with children in their arms in the wake of the departure of her husband from people?She had to go through many tests to keep their faith.Shoulder to shoulder with Karp Osipovich she pulled the boat with all its assets in order to live as a hermit in Siberia.She chopped wood, helped to build a house, uproot stumps, dig a cellar, catching fish and plant potatoes, followed the garden, home.She is a master clothes for the whole family, lit the stove and cook.She lay raising four children.
Akulina Karpovna died in 1961 from starvation and overwork.On his deathbed, all her thoughts were about the fate of children.
Dmitry
youngest son.He was not a religious fanatic, but prayed all.His real love and the house was Taiga.The secrets of nature fascinated him since childhood, he knew all the animals, their habits, trails.Growing up, I began to catch the animals.Prior to that, life took place in the taiga without warm skins and nutritious meat.
Hunter was remarkably hardy.He would dig all day trapping or pursue deer, walking barefoot in the snow, the winter spent the night in the forest.The nature of Man was a kind, peace-loving.With his family he was not in conflict, willingly took on any job.He worked with wood, birch bark, weaving of sticks.
The camp geologists Dmitry was a frequent and welcome guest.Particularly impressive is his sawmill - work on which it was necessary to sit one day, the machine was made in minutes.
In October 1981, the family Lykov said in the camp that Dmitry sick.For a description of presence among medical geologists realized that it was pneumonia, and offered to help.However, hermits refused.When the family returned home, Dmitry was no longer breathing.He died alone on the floor of a tiny shack.
Savin
eldest son was religious and strict.He was a tough man, who could not bear indulgences.Not very tall, with a small beard, Savin was restrained and even arrogant.
He mastered self-tanning moose and red deer, and was able to sew for the whole family light boots.Prior to that, the Siberian taiga hermit wearing galoshes bark.Savin lifted and began to neglect the small works, citing illness.This led to tension in the family.
But the main conflict was in another.Savin was religious fanaticism demanded by households careful observance of rites, fasts, feasts.He raised a family praying at night, reading religious books and knew the Bible by heart.
As they get older Savin was the claim to leadership of the family, began to preach and to correct old-father.This Karp Osipovich could not allow and confronted his son.The old man knew that because of the severity of his son all will not be easy.
In the village of geologists eldest son strictly followed the household.He held a similar introduction to the sinful world, constantly pulls: "We are not allowed!" Especially fine for interest in the new he is his younger brother, Dmitry.
After the death of Dmitry Savin came down.Aggravated stomach illness.He had to be treated, and drink herb lie, but he stubbornly went out with the household to dig potatoes.Then I fell early snow.Sister Natalia was sitting beside the patient, trying to help, to care for.When Savin died, the woman said she would die of grief.
Natalia Natalia and her younger sister were very similar.Natalia was godmother Agafi.After his mother's death all women's responsibilities fell to the eldest daughter, who struggled to replace the brothers and sisters of the deceased.She learned to weave and sew clothes.Her destiny was to feed, sheathing, treat the family to maintain peace among households.But listen to her bad, seriously did not perceive that a woman is very upset.
the funeral Natalia Savina fell exhausted and passed away 10 days after his brother's death.The last words were addressed to her younger sister, "I feel sorry for you.One left ... ".
Agafea
Barefoot, grubby, restless, with a strange stretched speech, she first reminds crazy.But, having got used to the style of communication, you know that a woman is not adequate and lost social skills.All her world consisted of a small portion of the taiga.
woman can fully cater for themselves, knows how to cook, sew, work with an ax.She loves the taiga and a small kitchen garden.
Together with Dmitry Agatha went into the woods, red deer caught, butchered carcasses and dried the meat.She knows the habits of animals, edible and medicinal herbs.
As the youngest, with a sharp memory, she helped Savin in counting days.This case was very important for believers, because thanks to a precise calendar, to observe fasting, to celebrate the holiday.Once, when there was confusion, all family members were very concerned, to restore the computation of time was the most important thing.Sharp Memory young Agafi helped reconstruct the course of events and the calendar came amazed geologists for its accuracy.Chronology was conducted according to the old custom, Adam (from the creation of the world).
Gen.
life of a hermit in the forest was held in a hut on the bank of a mountain river inflow Erinat, in a remote, wild place.
on animal tracks dug trapping and then dried meat for the winter.Fish caught in the river, eaten raw, baked and dried on a fire.Harvest berries, mushrooms and nuts.
grown in the garden potatoes, barley, wheat, turnips, onions, peas.Woven fabric made of hemp, to provide themselves with clothing.
hermit in the forest made a well thought-out economy.Garden located on the mountainside sloped and was divided into three sections.Cultures were planted according to their biological needs.Potatoes are not grown in one place for more than three years, that does not degrade the yield.For the rest of the plant has been found alternation.Diseases of the landing is not threatened.
for preparing the seeds carefully monitored.Multiplies them in a special area, sowing strictly observed.Before planting the tubers warmed.
success of farming can be confirmed that the potato variety, which is grown on the family for 50 years, not only did not degenerate, but also improved.In lykovskom potato starch and a high content of dry matter.
Knowing nothing about the chemistry and biology, fertilizing the land by tradition of the last century, Lykovs have been successful in gardening.Leaves, buds, herbs have been used to fertilize spring and hemp, and vegetable ash lay in store.Diligence and knowledge helped to survive hermits.
hermit in the forest along without salt, for making fire using flint and flints.
Fame in 1982 for Lykov were written several articles in the newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda".The author of these materials, the journalist Vasily Peskov, frequented Zaimka and put his observations in the book "Taiga dead end."
From the medical side of the family watched the doctor Nazarov Igor Pavlovich.He suggested that the cause of death of young Lykov was the lack of immunity to many modern viruses due to lack of contact with the outside world.This led to pneumonia.His impressions from visiting the family he outlined in his book "Taiga hermit."
Agatha today
Despite the ban father, Agatha embarks on a journey to civilization, but still returned to the taiga.In 1988, the youngest of the family Lykov left alone.On its own it is building a new home.In 1990, she was trying to join the nunnery, but after some time returns to his former life.
Today's woman is still living 300 kilometers from the nearest dwelling.Authorities helped her get a farm.At Zaimka now live goats, chickens, dog and nine cats.Sometimes it is visited by geologists and bring necessary things.I have an Old Believer and a neighbor - a geologist Erofei gray, one of the first people who provided the family contact with civilization.Distant relatives have repeatedly offered to move the woman to the people, but she refused.
Other hermits
family Lykov case is not unique.The family became famous because of the wide media coverage thanks for visiting journalists.Hermits lived in the forest for years, there are secret monasteries, secretly inhabited by people who have gone from civilization as you wish.Many in Siberia and remote villages that exist completely independently.
