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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)

Agafya tiene una energía envidiable !! Desde que conocí su historia siempre trato de ver por Internet alguna noticia nueva sobre ella!! Felicitaciones a todos los que se ocupan de ella!! es una lección de humanidad!
Marcela Salcedo, Argentina
21/06/2020 07:59
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Agafya represents an individual whom we can only aspire to be at her level of spiritual enlightenment. May she continue to worship and remain as innocent as she has remained before modern intervention. May God above hear her prayers as we pray for her here on Earth.
Ted Peckovich, US
08/06/2020 22:42
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I would like to know how to go about sending a letter to her. I could use Google translate
Aleksandra , USA
08/05/2020 07:55
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Someone should also read and research how the Old Believers were pretty much obscurantist ultra-orthodox criticized and persecuted by the same Russian Orthodox Church and the Czars. And that most of his family was wiped-out by the stubborness of the father, making the starve and die rather than get in touch with the purity of their "faith". Her mother Akulina literally died of hunger, while her siblings Savin, Natalia and Dmitriy died all because of their bad feeding. In a time of covid, MAYBE people should reason about the importance of science and culture rather than appealing to fantasies with dramatic consequences.
Michele, Italy
07/05/2020 15:36
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I feel she is God and I shall keep her photograph with me and pray always to help every human being with her spiritual power. Very great reality in this universe. I have no words to express.A great spirtiual power. I bow my head in repect of her. thanks
Shakti Nandan kaushal, India
25/04/2020 21:56
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Even on the remote island of Australia I know of you and send you greetings from the beautiful coastline of the Pacific Ocean . I follow your life throught computer data.You are my heroine, an inspiration to the womanhood of the world. Sheltered in your strong spiritality you continue your life in the environment that has been your body and soul for so many years. The light that continues to burn in you is now dispersing its rays into a somewhat troubled world. May you continue to amaze our modern generations with your determination to dwell in a pristine and innocent place in the company of your Christian Faith. I salute you, Agafia an Amazon woman.
Rosanna Wagner, AUSTRALIA 25 th April 2020
25/04/2020 06:30
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I LOVE YOU AGAFIA AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE AYOU IN MY DAILY PRAYERS!
virginia, usa
23/04/2020 08:50
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I came across with this beautiful and strong woman’s story, I am fascinated with it. is wonder if she still alive? Her faith on God, keeps her on track... she deserves the best. I follow her story, but is hard to find fresh information.
At least she doesn’t have to deal with the Corona VIrus up there. She always will be free of ours illness. God bless you little angel.
Belkis, Miami Florida Usa
23/04/2020 04:57
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April 16,2020 Agafia, I look up about you periodically to see how you are. Have prayed for your health & safety many times. I have wished I. Could visit you many times. I am 81 & in good health. I wish a strong younger person could go & live in Sergei’ house to hel & encourage you - someone that can still work hard to garden, cut wood & share with you spiritually for true Christian companionship - preferably a couple that doesn’t mind sacrifice .. I hope you can get another nice goat this spring with lots o hay to last all year. God bless & be of good courage in Him. Your friend, Roby Sherman
Roby Sherman, Wildwood GA
16/04/2020 20:50
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A classic example of amazing faith in Christ of a woman that a modern world should have!
Stephanie, Canada
16/04/2020 09:35
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Such a woman of great faith! May our good Lord Christ Jesus keep & bless you & His divine embrace be with you always. May our Blessed Lady ,St.Joseph, Archangel Michael be with you on that day you will see eternal joy and everlasting happiness the world cannot provide, where there is no more pain,sorrow and loneliness-
in our Lord Jesus,Mary&Joseph
joseph d, Canada
16/04/2020 09:27
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what an amazing truly lovely soul . I think deep down we would all love to shed our materialistic chains . God bless her
Suzanne, southend united kingdom
12/04/2020 18:24
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Dear Lady, you made the right decision to stay away from "so called" civilization. The evil one rules this world, and though alone and probably lonely, you have God with you , always. My prayers and love and respect to you. John
John Danow, Moro, Illinois, USA
08/04/2020 01:00
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THIS WOMAN IS TRULY A NATIVE OF GOD AND RUSSIA, A MORE INNOCENT VIEW OF THE WORLD COULD NEVER BE FOUND. I WISH I COULD HELP HER SITUATION IN SOME WAY. I TOO, AM OLD AND IN BAD HEALTH, AWAITING THE GRIM REAPER VIRUS TO COME VISIT. HER BODY'S HEALTH IS FAR TOO PRISTEEN AND INNOCENT TO SURVIVE ANY PROLONGED CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HOW SHE HAS MADE I THIS LONG IS A MIRACLE IN ITSELF!! GOD BLESS HER AND I WILL BE PRAYING FOR HER. AND TRY TO FOLLOW ANY NEW NEWS OF HER.
WOODY RESTER, jackson al, USA
06/04/2020 14:31
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Dear Agafya your story is one of a remarkable woman. Your devotion to the Lord is a true witness of your daith. I have learned so much about the Lord listening to your story, your prayers and your reflection on the World and the coming of Jesus Christ. I would love to know more about you and your life. You are an inspiration to me and I only wish that I could spend some time with you and learn from you. May the Lord Bless and Keep you all of the days of your life!
Pamela Collins, Jonesboro, Arkansas United States
03/04/2020 06:49
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