How does the taiga hermit Agafya Lykova live today
The story of the Lykov family, who had been hiding from people for more than 40 years in the Sayan taiga, was heard by everyone for a long time. Hermits were accidentally discovered in 1978 by geologists and they became famous throughout the Soviet Union.
Unfortunately, contact with civilization did not benefit modern Robinsons — the lack of antibodies to most of the simplest infections brought by the guests of the taiga zaimka brought three family members to the grave. Today, only Agafya Lykova remains alive, who, at the age of 74, continues to live in the forest and independently farm.
New information about the life of the hermit Agafya Lykova appears in the media after her visit by another expedition. Not so long ago, a woman was visited by scientists and journalists from the "Aikumen. Yenisei Siberia", which was headed by the presenter of the Mir TV channel Denis Terekhov. The purpose of the visit to a remote corner of Khakassia from civilization was to prepare a documentary about the life of the Lykovs.
Denis Terekhov told AIF journalists about Agafya's solitary life, which, despite her resistance to everything new, has changed qualitatively. Now the hermit is not cut off from the whole world and some benefits of civilization have come into her life.
First of all, it should be said that now there is a satellite phone on the Lykovs' Zaimka. This means that, if necessary, Agafya can always call for help. Unfortunately, communication with an elderly woman is one—sided - only she can call. For several years, the hermit has used emergency communication only a couple of times — she tries to avoid the use of technical means in every possible way.
Agafya Karpovna professes the orthodox Old Believer faith and does not want to touch things from the outside world once again. The woman does not want to use electricity, lighting her home with splinters, and does not recognize matches. Lykova does not make a fire in the hearth, but simply supports it for years.
Once a month, guests visit Lykova. Usually they are geologists, reserve inspectors or journalists. More often than others, Agafya's godson, Nikolai, is at the loan. He is the son of geologist Yerofey Sedov, who lived near the hermit, but died a few years ago. Nikolai always helps with doing heavy housework — harvesting firewood and hay for the winter.
Denis Terekhov also told about Agafya Karpovna's farm. Dogs, cats, chickens, goats live with a woman. She bakes her own bread from flour brought from the Mainland. In her garden, a woman grows potatoes, which, by the way, the Old Believers do not approve of. But the realities of the life of the last of Lykova are such that she has to give up strict rules.
Agafya Lykova's health is relatively good. The woman manages the household chores herself and does not complain about anything. Doctors discovered she had a benign breast tumor and once took her to the hospital for examination and treatment. The hermit survived away from home for only two weeks, and then began to ask to be taken back.
Lykova does not feel too comfortable away from her taiga zaimka. City water, air and food are not suitable for her, so Agafya cannot live in the modern world. In addition, civilization carries a deadly threat to the health of an elderly woman — she has a special bacterial balance and immunity. Because of this, it is not recommended to touch Lykova — taking her by the hand or hugging her, you can cause serious harm to a taiga resident.
Lykova treats doctors with distrust, and does not recognize modern medicines at all. The main medicinal product used by Agafya Karpovna in the taiga is hemp milk. It is prepared according to traditional Russian recipes, which are more than one hundred years old.
A woman is not interested in the events of the modern world and is indifferent to technology. All the innovations, in her opinion, are from the devil, who has thoroughly spoiled the world lately. The hermit reads only religious literature and constantly turns to the topic of faith in conversations.
The woman shared her wishes with Denis Terekhov. She wants to spend as much time as possible in prayer, but she cannot afford it, because of the need to constantly work hard. Therefore, Agafya would like to have a hard-working assistant near her, who will be able to do part of the household work.
When asked if she wants to leave, Lykova always answers in the negative. Her whole family is buried in a small cemetery near Zaimka and the hermit does not want to leave her native graves. "My father told me not to go anywhere," she replies to suggestions to leave her forest farm and move closer to people.
At the same time, Agafia really wants to visit the Holy Land, but is afraid to leave so far from her native places. The woman refused several offers to arrange a trip to Jerusalem for her. She has never had any documents and, although it is not difficult to issue a passport today, the last of the Lykovs does not want to do this.
Keywords: Health | Loneliness | Hermit | Taiga | Khakassia