jasg
January 30, 2013, 1:12am
1
For over 40 years, this Russian family lived in a remote area of Siberia with no contact with the outside world.
EmilyG
January 30, 2013, 1:47am
2
By coincidence, I happened to have stumbled upon that article earlier today. Fascinating stuff.
(I found it through Neatorama)
Very interesting. Thank you so much for posting it.
StG
I have never felt more suburban.
brujaja
January 30, 2013, 11:46am
6
A beard tax! Now I’ve heard everything!
That was fascinating, thank you.
This was the most interesting part, to me:
As the Soviet geologists got to know the Lykov family, they realized that they had underestimated their abilities and intelligence. Each family member had a distinct personality; Old Karp was usually delighted by the latest innovations that the scientists brought up from their camp, and though he steadfastly refused to believe that man had set foot on the moon, he adapted swiftly to the idea of satellites. The Lykovs had noticed them as early as the 1950s, when “the stars began to go quickly across the sky,” and Karp himself conceived a theory to explain this: “People have thought something up and are sending out fires that are very like stars.”
To have figured that out by himself!
I’m stunned after reading that article.
"he adapted swiftly to the idea of satellites. The Lykovs had noticed them as early as the 1950s, when “the stars began to go quickly across the sky,” and Karp himself conceived a theory to explain this: “People have thought something up and are sending out fires that are very like stars”
For some reason that brought a tearful joy to my eye…
Incredible.
The picture of their cabin with the long slightly sloping roof reminds me of the cabin built in the movie Jeremiah Johnson.
That was incredible. I wonder whatever happened to Agafia? I did a quick google but couldn’t find any later stories on how she is doing now…the article doesn’t make it clear when anyone in the “outside world” last had contact with her. Seems like 1988? Could she really still be alive after 25 years of living alone in such incredibly harsh conditions?
According to everything I can find online, yes, Agafya is still alive and still living alone in her cabin in the Tiaga.
Agafya, although left alone, keeps living the life she is accustomed to, surviving off agriculture and fishing. She greets every day with a prayer and goes to sleep with one. However, her everyday life is exhausting. She is surrounded by wolves in winter and bears in summer. Agafya has refused to move to civilization or receive a pension, spending her time on household chores and prayers. Local authorities take care of the hermit bringing her firewood, foodstuffs and chickens and organizing volunteer trips to help her run the house and garden.
](http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/entertainment/the-lykovs/ )
See also: Stranniki: Agafia Lykov is Still Alive in the Taiga
That’s from 2009, but I did manage to find this from 2011: http://rpsc.ru/news/regional/obrashchenie-agafi-likovoj
Apparently she wrote a letter to a newspaper in Moscow:
An Appeal from Agafea Lykova
The Metropolitan of Moscow received a letter from Agafea Lykov, an Old Believer living in the taiga. This recluse asks similar-minded people who have the ability and desire to leave the world and come to help her with her house and farm. Just over a year ago, another such request was posted on the archdiocese website.
Those willing to help Agafia Lykova, please contact by phone:
Here are some lines from the letter:
"I bow to you before the damp earth, and I wish you from God good health, salvation and well-being, especially for those who [offer] rescue and welfare, and so be saved by the LORD God in the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and paternal church [protected] until the end of this age from all divisions, heresies and foes … "
“With a great big bow to request of all: I need a man as an assistant, one whom I will not survive, [who] lives so not good, with weeks of being alone. Do not leave me for Christ’s sake. Have mercy upon a wretched orphan, who is in trouble [and] suffering.”
“… People here [you] have a true Believer, the faith of Christ Believer, and people here I need firewood to cook, to mow the hay <…> I have weakened health and forces.”
](Appeal from Agafia Lykova of LOST IN THE TAIGA - The Byzantine Forum )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyQIGgeeYno
wolfstu
January 31, 2013, 4:51am
15
This article seems to be from last week, and has her still living at that remote homestead, alone, though having received some supplies and occasional visits from the outside world.
PandaBear77:
Chickapeaski!
I had a different reaction – “Squealski like a pigski!”
