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Friend to reclusive hermit dies leaving Old Believer all alone again in taiga

By 0 and 0 and 0
25 May 2015

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Yerofei Sedov was considered Agafya's only neighbour deep in the forest about 500 metres up the Abakan Range, in south-western Siberia. Picture: Denis Mukimov/danlux.livejournal.com

A geologist who lived a reclusive life in a hut beside the famous Siberian hermit Agafya Lykova has died, leaving the woman alone in the taiga. Yerofei Sedov was considered her only neighbour deep in the forest about 500 metres up the Abakan Range, in south-western Siberia.

Over the years he looked out for 71-year-old Agafya, the sole survivor of a family of Old Believers that had cut themselves off from civilisation for decades.

'My father died in his 77th year of life, as he wanted to on the Yerinat River,' said Sedov’s son Nikolay. 'All this happened on May 3 but I don't know any details. Some tourists came to Agafya’s residence and then called me when they came back.

'I can't say what happened but my father was a rather old man. Agafia buried him. She did the right thing. He died but it was rather warm weather so I’m sure she didn’t have to wait until someone arrived to take his body. I'm grateful for that, since now he will forever be on his treasured Yerinat. As soon as possible I will fly to his grave, though when that will be is hard to say.'

Sedov's death was also confirmed by researchers working nearby checking soil and water samples following a rocket launch from the cosmodrome at Baikonur.

Erofey Sedov

Sedov’s friendship with the hermit goes back many years. He had worked as a master driller in the geological expedition that found the Lykov family deep in the forest in the late 1970s. Picture:  Denis Mukimov/danlux.livejournal.com

Officials from the Khakassky State Nature Reserve have gone to Agafya's hut to find out more about the circumstances of the death, and police will visit the site too. Once they have arrived at the remote location, more details are likely to emerge.

Sedov’s friendship with the hermit goes back many years. He had worked as a master driller in the geological expedition that found the Lykov family deep in the forest in the late 1970s.

At one point he saved her late father from certain death when, having not heard from the Lykovs for a long time, he visited them and found him seriously ill. Exhausted and almost unconscious they were given food, hot tea and shelter. From then on he has felt a strong kinship with the family, and Agafya in particular after her father eventually died in 1988.

About 18 years ago he lost a leg after a severely frostbitten toe was not treated properly. After that, doctors advised him to spend more time in the open air so he moved to the Yerinat River beside Agafya and built himself a hut 100 metres from her ramshackle home.

He did go and see his family from time to time, but he always returned to the taiga isolation. His son, Nikolay, came to visit him in April, just a few weeks before he died. 

'It was Holy Week,' recalled Nikolay. 'My father looked very tired. He and Agafya were fasting, but he was not sick. We didn’t talk about anything special, just our everyday lives.'

Erofey Sedov and Agafya Lykova


Erofey Sedov and Agafya Lykova

Over the years Yerofey Sedov looked out for 71-year-old Agafya, the sole survivor of a family of Old Believers that had cut themselves off from civilisation for decades. Picture: Kemerovo region press service

In a rare interview in December last year Agafya said that her neighbour had been suffering from an illness, and she had asked him to stay away, fearing she would catch it. She said: 'He was coughing and coughing and I got scared. For me it’s case of if you cough, get away from here.'

The Lykovs were members of a fundamentalist Russian orthodox sect that had been persecuted since the days of Peter the Great in the 18th century, and had fled deep into the Siberian wilderness amid a Stalinist purge of religions in 1936.

As the years passed they retreated deeper and deeper into forests, foraging for whatever they could find and once even being forced to eat their leather shoes to survive. 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.

Their full incredible story only emerged in the 1980s, turning them into a national phenomenon although Agafya chose to remain on the little plot.

Comments (87)

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for blessing this earth with this angel of whom we have come to know as Agafya. Thank you for the people who have been blessed with the opportunity to be in the presence of this most blessed and untarnished soul. With all the damages we have brought upon our earth and ourselves we are not deserving but through your grace have been given an example of a true believer in christian values and faith.

With all my love.

Sherry
Sherry Day, Manhattan Kansas USA
22/09/2019 05:02
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Agafia I love your life story.I watch the videos of you.May God bless and keep you
Bessie, Saltville va
28/08/2019 08:21
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ADELMO BRAZIL God Bless Agfiya and fulfill her hearts desires and yours too as promised in mark 16v 16 feel free to email me diannestyles21@gmail.com
Dianne Styles, Australia
14/07/2019 20:11
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ADELMO BRAZIL God Bless Agfiya and fulfill her hearts desires and yours too as promised in mark 16v 16 feel free to email me diannestyles21@gmail.com
Dianne Styles, Australia
14/07/2019 12:52
4
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Hi I'm polish and British citizen. I would like to ask how to go there and help. Any one can recommend me a immigration lawer and maybe how to her humanitarian visa .

Turist visa alow me to stay for 30 days only .I have some funds to travel and equipment to get there Gps and all hiking gear
Will be beneficial for me becouse im highlander from poland
Roman, Scotland
11/07/2019 21:52
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I am so intrigued and amazed by the survival and better yet the faith of. This oeople..not. only to the religion but in themselves. It is both moving , stirring and mind boggling..it is like yorufei seems. A lost man i side who came to find himseld in the wild andfinding aseemingling loat people but who already found. Who they are spiritually. ..i guess in a way maybe yorufei stayed because he might have fallen for agafia...im notsure..watched 3 videos regarding them. God bless
Grail, Philippines
17/06/2019 11:23
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May I have her faith and purity
I hate my sins and I want to be holy and hate the world and the things that are in the world.
I want to believe in Jesus Christ, I want to do good deeds, i want to repent and I want to pray.
Adelmo, Brazil
02/06/2019 09:13
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I am in awe of her survivalist abilities. I don't question people need faith of some sort but many commenter blow right past what she has suffered through and say praise God she lives an unshakeable life. Her entire family died 3 of them in short time span of each other, all had this faith of everything "you do" is evil and you'll burn in hell for it, can you help me plant my potatoes or set my fish nets, "God bless you doomed Satanist" whom left who's family to die all around them?
Hawaii guy, Kailua
27/05/2019 00:36
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I thought maybe I could go there and help
I'm polish /British citizen
Please for advice
Roman sepiol, Edinburgh
24/04/2019 15:26
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I read her story and watched all the videos . What a remarkable woman ...?. Her faith and strong believe in God has helped her to survive from all the challenges and hardship all these years ... we can learn a lot from her ... having strong faith regardless of what religions will help you and guid you on how to deal with any diffucalties or hardships...Agafia - I will pray for you and ask God to watch over you .....OX
Sul .S , San Diego Ca
28/02/2019 13:11
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An amazing woman who has lived an amazing life. I hope God grants her all the wishes that heaven will allow.

Godspeed Agafya Lykova and you too Yerofei Sedov, I don't think this world will see the likes of either of these two special creatures again.
Gary Smith, Tacoma, WA
13/01/2019 18:50
6
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Such an amazing woman and story. God is great in so many ways. I wish I had the strength and faith as much as she does. I’m half her age and feeling lost sometimes in the modern societies. After watching her stories and strong beliefs I truly admire her. I know you wish for help with your chores and I would love to experience the life you have. If this is all possible how can this become a reality ? I’m up for this journey of a life time.

This is my email allan@mykitchengancena.com

Or Allan.gancena@gmail.com

God bless
Allan Gancena, Canada, Ontario
11/12/2018 19:57
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I will see her one day. And she will have a new heavenly body with no more suffering. I have watched and read about this woman and I think to myself, what a modern day hand maiden of God, with such faith in our Lord. Her purpose on earth is much more then she will ever know. I know God is with her all her days of her life.
Dee, Montana, USA
27/11/2018 22:32
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We have much to learn from the way Agafia lives her life. May her wishes for someone to help her with her chores come true.
Linda, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
21/11/2018 11:49
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Agafia is such an amazing human being with so much strength, knowledge and confidence in life. She is truly an inspiration for anyone down on their luck.

It's wonderful to see that someone cared to film parts of her life and her story. Hopefully someone will come forward and grant her wish for help while she needs it badly before she dies.
Chantal, Victoria, Canada
20/11/2018 12:57
6
2

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