By the Divine Providence, at the time of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Venerable Anthony, the founder of Russian monkhood, settled in a small cave in the hill not far from Kiev. In 1051 he came back from the Holy Mount Athos, where he became a monk. He chose a small cave not far from the village of Berestovo, as the place for his ascetic labors. Earlier Metropolitan Illarion isolated here. The cave, after Anthony settled there, began to attract the citizens and Kiev aristocracy, who came for spiritual advice and blessing to him, wise in God monastic elder. Those, who strove for monastic life, asked him to let them stay with him. The monks, who settled in the cave, dug for themselves new cells, joined them with underground corridors and at the same place they created an underground church. The Pechersk dwelling place was created in such a way that it deserved special attention of the Heavenly Mother, Our Lady, Theotokos, and which was also famous for monks' ascetic labors and sanctity of life.

Soon the cave became too overcrowded for Venerable Anthony, seeking for isolation.
Appointed Venerable Barlaam as Farther Superior for the brethren, he went to the neighbouring hill, where he dug a new cell, making the beginning of the new complex of the Caves, called later the Near Caves.
The primary Caves were called the Far Caves.