The venerable relics of the Venerable Ambrose, the Elder of Optina, were found in the summer of 1998 along with the relics of the Venerable Elders Leo, Macarius, Hilarion, Anatoly the Elder, Barsanuphius, and Anatoly the Younger.
Venerable Ambrose of Optina
Having received the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Rus', on July 7, 1998, the brethren of Optina Hermitage began work to recover the holy relics of the elders buried in the monastery necropolis. The space behind the altar of the St. Nicholas side-chapel of the Vvedensky Church was opened, and brick crypts were discovered in which the elders were buried. To quickly complete the discovery of the relics, work on the monastery necropolis was carried out day and night almost without interruption. The volume of work was very large. And at the same time, maximum care was necessary to avoid mistakes when acquiring the relics of the elders.
By July 10, the relics of all the elders were found, and they were placed in special oak coffins, which were prepared for transfer to the shrines built in the restored church in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. Nowadays the relics of the Venerable Leo, Macarius, Joseph, Hilarion, Anatoly the Elder, Barsanuphius, and Anatoly the Younger reside in this church, and the relics of the Venerable Ambrose are in the left aisle of the Vvedensky Cathedral of the Optina Hermitage.
Father Ambrose, Elder of Optina
The righteous live forever; their reward is in the Lord and their care is with the Most High.
Wise One Straw. 5 chapter 15 tbsp.
The nations will tell of their wisdom, and the Church will proclaim their praise.
Wise One Jesus, son of Sirach. Chapter 44 14th century
“The twelfth year of Sacred Memory” and the ill-fated ninety-first year of the nineteenth century are among the most difficult years for Russia over the entire past century. In both of these years, the Almighty Ruler of the world, in the inscrutable ways of His Providence, subjected our Motherland to special life tests... The twelfth year was marked by the Patriotic War of Russia with the Emperor of France Napoleon (Bonaparte) and his hordes, and in the ninety-first year Russia suffered from famine and cholera . Inextricably linked with these years is the fate of the great mourner of the Russian land, the Optina elder, Father Ambrose, whose whole life represents a continuous test and incessant work. In the first of these two years, Father Ambrose was born into God's light, and in the second of them he peacefully rested in the Lord and passed into eternity... We can confidently believe that the Almighty Ruler of the world was pleased to subject Fr. Ambrose to the test of life and purify His chosen one like gold in a furnace (Zechariah 13, Chapter 9, Art.), so that he would appear as a zealous worker in the field of the Lord and worthily carry out his great ministry (2 Tim. 2, Chapter 21, Art.).
The entire long and selfless life of Father Ambrose, given to serving his native people, won him universal love. His bright image should be eternally and sacredly preserved in the grateful memory of posterity. The features of his life and work are deeply edifying and can serve as a saving beacon for many in the struggles and difficult trials of their lives... The centenary anniversary of the birth of the ever-memorable Father Ambrose morally obliges us, the grateful disciples of the elder, to remember his life and take advantage of its lessons to guide yourself and others...
Father Ambrose, in the world Alexander Mikhailovich Grenkov, was born on November 23, 1812 in the village of Bolshaya Lipovitsa, Tambov province and came from the clergy (class). He was the son of a sexton (psalm-reader) and the grandson of the priest of the named village in Tambov district. Father Ambrose received his secular name in honor of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, whose blessed death is celebrated by the Holy Church on his birthday, which is why he tried to embody in his life all the moral traits of his heavenly patron - an angel. The ancient biography of the Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky says: “From his youth he loved Christ and turned away from worldly vanity, enjoyed the voice of church hymns and his soul thirsted for the teachings of the holy fathers. All-night vigils and secret vigils to God were his favorite pastime. His disposition was meek and quiet from childhood.” A. M. Grenkov was distinguished by these same traits in his youth.
The first years of Father Ambrose's life passed in his own family, under the beneficial influence of his deeply religious and Christian-minded father, mother, grandfather and other relatives. He received his school education at the Tambov Theological School and at the Tambov Theological Seminary. From the certificate of completion of A. M. Grenkov’s school course, dated July 18, 1830, it is clear that “he studied at the school reading, calligraphy, Russian grammar, Latin and Greek, lengthy catechism and sacred history - excellent, geography, arithmetic, Slavic grammar, church rules and musical singing are highly commendable, with very good abilities, tireless diligence and exemplary behavior.” He graduated from the course of science at the Theological Seminary in 1836 with the title of student.
While studying in Tambov, A. M. Grenkov lived in a private apartment with his brothers Nikolai and Pyotr Mikhailovich Grenkov (Al. Mikhail’s parents had four sons and four daughters). A former student of Father Ambrose at the Lipetsk Theological School, who lived during his seminary education in the same apartment (in Pantyushinskaya or Priyutskaya Street, in the house of the widow Feodosia Efimovna Feodorova, in which twelve students usually lived in two rooms) together with other students, reports, that “the landlady always remembered the Grenkovs, “three brothers, all students,” she said, “pious, respectful, humble” and set them as an example for us (Message from supernumerary priest Pavel Mark. Preobrazhensky, dated October 9, 1912).
After completing the course at the Theological Seminary, A. M. Grenkov served as a home teacher in a landowner family for about a year, and on March 6, 1838, the Diocesan Administration assigned him, according to his request, to the position of teacher at the Lipetsk Theological School (in the first grade). He was successively a teacher of the first, second and lower classes of this school and taught reading, penmanship, the Law of God (prayers, sacred history and a lengthy catechism), Russian and Greek languages, arithmetic and church (music) singing. He had 26 students in the first class, 39 students in the second class, and one hundred and fourteen (114) students in the lower class. “Before Alexander Mikhailovich came to class,” reports the same student who studied with him in the first and second grades of the school, “there was extreme silence in the class in anticipation of the respected teacher, and when he appeared in the class, the students were all devoted to hearing and sight... Whether he taught the Law of God, arithmetic, the Russian language, he knew how to enhance, illuminate and thereby inspire children. Strict towards himself, he was strict and demanding towards us too... He didn’t allow himself any jokes, we didn’t see him laughing or smiling... We regretted that we didn’t say goodbye to him; they always remembered him with pleasure and reverence.” Unfortunately, Alexander Mikhailovich did not teach for long in Lipetsk, only a year and a half (until October 7, 1839). “Human destinies are all in the hands of God,” Elder Ambrose himself said more than once and clearly proved this with his life. Obviously, in the paths of Divine Providence, A. M. Grenkov was destined not for worldly life and not for military service, which in his youth he cherished the thought of, as he himself admitted, but the harsh, ascetic life of an ascetic. He submitted to the will of the Almighty Ruler of the World, renounced the world by vow given to him during a serious illness, and in monasticism he passed his life’s path with honor. Not being a layman, he lived for the world and set an example of the highest Christian virtues possible for God’s special chosen ones...
On October 7, 1839, on Saturday, after class lessons at the theological school, A. M. Grenkov left Lipetsk and, according to the instructions of the Troekurov elder Hilarion, headed to Optina Pustyn, Kaluga province (70 versts from Kaluga and 3 versts from Kozelsk), where he began his monastic career, under the leadership of Elder Macarius (Ivanov). The young, twenty-six-year-old ascetic monk Alexander Mikhailovich was not burdened by the hardships and labors he encountered in the Desert. He zealously and with love fulfilled all the duties assigned to him in the monastery: cell attendant and reader of the elders Leo and Macarius, assistant cook and chief cook in the bakery and kitchen. Father Ambrose's working day at the monastery usually began at 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning and ended at 11 or 12 o'clock at night. His entire working life in Optina Pustyn lasted fifty-two years...
On November 29, 1842, Alexander Mikhailovich Grenkov was tonsured and named Ambrose, in the name of Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, the famous father of the Church of Christ of the 4th century (340 - 397), distinguished by meekness, condescension, strength of character and diligent care about the good of the Holy Church. Elder Ambrose deeply revered and imitated his spiritual patron throughout his life. him in his virtues.
On February 2, 1843, Father Ambrose was ordained a hierodeacon, and on December 9, 1845, he was ordained a hieromonk by the Kaluga Eminence Nicholas (Sokolov), who personally knew him as his student at the Tambov Theological Seminary, where he was rector for five years (1826). - 1831).
The same Eminence Nicholas in August 1846 instructed Fr. Ambrose to help Elder Macarius in his clergy...
The rapid rise of Father Ambrose through the ranks of monastic priesthood and his improvement in ascetic deeds and in the development of spiritual life were far from consistent with the physical health of the ascetic. He suffered cruelly and patiently at this time from extreme exhaustion, due to a debilitating fever and indigestion, from relaxation of the nerves, chest pain, cough, insomnia and other illnesses... After a medical examination of his serious illness, Father Ambrose, at his request , on March 29, 1848, he was released from all duties, expelled from the staff of the brethren of Optina Pustyn and left in it only for monastic charity and maintenance...
Fortunately for Russia, Father Ambrose’s serious illness did not result in death, and the Lord preserved his life for many more years.
After the death of Elder Macarius on September 7, 1860, Fr. Ambrose became his successor in old age. Eldership consists in the sincere spiritual relationship of spiritual children to their spiritual father, or elder. In the monastery, the elder does not bear official managerial responsibilities, but in reality he manages the brethren and monastic life in general. All believers - monks and laymen of both sexes - turn to the elder, as an inspired leader, in difficult circumstances of life, in sorrows, difficult situations, when they do not know what to do, and ask for instructions by faith...
Father Ambrose, as an elder, was distinguished by his special experience, boundless breadth of vision, meekness and childish gentleness. The rumor about his spiritual wisdom grew and people from all over Russia flocked to him, and the great and noble of the world followed the people... He had Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich, Chief Prosecutors of the Holy Synod, Count Alexander Petrovich Tolstoy and Vladimir Karlovich Sabler, Metropolitan of Moscow Ioannikiy (Rudnev) and diocesan Kaluga bishops. The Abyssinian princess, Countess Protasova, Senator Solomon, Greeks, Danes, Circassians and other foreigners from Russia came to him. Famous Russian writers and scientists Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, Vladimir Sergeevich Solovyov, Feodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky visited the elder. Konstantin Nikolaevich Leontyev, Mikhail Petrovich Pogodin and many others.
And everyone who came to the elder made a strong, indelible impression from him. There was something about him that was irresistible...
Ascetic deeds and works of Fr. Ambrose's health was undermined, but until the last minutes of his life he refused advice to no one... Dozens of letters came to Fr. every day. Ambrose from those who longed to receive, at least in absentia, his advice and guidance... Correspondence from Fr. Ambrose with his spiritual flock was huge and extensive... Only part of his letters was published by Optina Pustyn in three large format books containing more than six hundred pages... For every painful, passionate, complicated question, the elder gave an amazingly simple, clear, healthy and practical advice, illuminated by the light of true Orthodoxy. His deep knowledge of human nature, keen observation and worldly experience were extraordinary.
Not infrequently, the elder discovered the gift of insight and healing. Numerous cases confirm this. The gift of insight Fr. Ambrose manifested himself, for example, in his predictions of the future fate of many people, in predicting the proximity of his death and the future development of the Shamordino women's community that he founded, as well as in many other cases.
The crown of all virtues, Fr. Ambrose is high Christian love - that love that lays down one’s soul for one’s neighbors and without which all other virtues are like ringing brass and a sounding cymbal (1 Corinthians..13 chapter 1 art.). Elder Ambrose dedicated all his gifts from the Lord to serving the needy and burdened and to alleviating the hard life of the unfortunate, especially widows and orphans... He renounced personal well-being and set an example of selfless, loving, selfless and peaceful service for the benefit of the Russian people.
Having experienced through bitter experience the full severity of material deprivation and poverty in his childhood and in subsequent life, and having experienced deep sorrow from moral dissatisfaction as a result of the coldness and indifference of those around him, Elder Ambrose was distinguished by his extraordinary responsiveness to all human grief and needs. The elder’s charity had no boundaries and knew no limits. He used all the numerous donations that came to the elder exclusively for charitable works. To alleviate human suffering, he took an active part in the creation of many charitable institutions. In the city of Kozelsk, an elder benefactor hired a special house for charity for females who did not have full reason. Under his care, a women's community was established in the Kromsky district of the Oryol province (50 versts from the city of Orel and 12 versts from the city of Krom). He put a lot of effort into establishing and providing for the Akhtyrsky women's community in the Kamyshinsky district of the Saratov province. With his blessing and instructions, the Nikolo-Tikhvin women's community was established in the Biryuchensky district of the Voronezh province. Elder Ambrose worked most of all on the creation and improvement of the Kazan women's community in Shamordin, Przemysl district, Kaluga province (12 versts from Optina Pustyn and 25 versts from the city of Przemysl), where he spent his last days and where he died peacefully... For this community, the elder built, with the assistance of benefactors, in addition to premises for nuns, a hospital, an almshouse for the poor, crippled and blind, and a shelter for orphan girls. All buildings in the community were carried out according to his plans and instructions. The construction of the monastery, its rules - everything was established by Fr. Ambrose. This monastery was the elder’s favorite brainchild. He prophetically predicted prosperity in the future for her... This prediction came true perfectly with amazing speed and accuracy. (in it, according to the message of its abbess, Abbess Valentina, dated August 12, 1912, seven hundred and eighteen sisters were monastics) and is one of the best cultural, educational and charitable institutions. In this monastery, which owns 1398 dessiatinas 1200 square meters, fathoms of land, agriculture is successfully conducted. In addition, the monastery has workshops: painting, embossing, wood gilding, metal products, gold embroidery, carpet making, bookbinding, shoe making, sewing, photography and printing. All these workshops were established to generate income for the maintenance of the monastery. The successes of the sisters in various branches of art provide them with the greatest possible comfort. Distinguished by its improvement in external and internal life, the monastery has a beneficial influence in moral, educational and economic relations on the sisters of the monastery and on the surrounding population. In memory of its founder, the monastery received the name “Kazan Ambrosievskaya Women’s Hermitage”...
Like the Shamorda community, the Kromskaya, Akhtyrskaya and Nikolo-Tikhvinskaya communities, on which Elder Ambrose worked, developed and improved, and all of them were converted into monasteries. All these monasteries are well-off financially, have a significant number of sisters (there are about five hundred sisters in total) and have a beneficial influence on the surrounding population. At all four monasteries, Fr. Ambrose there are parochial schools in which about two hundred girls study, and two of them have dormitories for students, free for the poor. Fr. put in a lot of work and did a lot of good. Ambrose for the edification and material support of the sisters of the Troyekurovsky and Sezenovsky monasteries of the Lebedyansky district, his native Tambov province, as well as the sisters of the Kozelshchansky monastery of the Poltava diocese and the Belevsky monastery of the Tula diocese.
After a brief recollection of the charitable and educational activities of Fr. Ambrose we will give some advice and instructions from him. These instructions are extremely simple, fragmentary and sometimes humorous, but always deeply edifying and instructive... To the question: how to live? - The elder used to say: “We need to live without hypocrisy and behave exemplarily, then our cause will be true, otherwise it will turn out badly.” Regarding patience, the elder used to say: “Moses endured, Elisha endured, Elijah endured, and I will also endure.” “If you accept people for God’s sake,” the elder taught, “then, believe me, everyone will be good to you.” - He said about laziness and despondency: “Boredom is the grandson of despondency, and laziness is the daughter. To drive her away, work hard in action, don’t be lazy in prayer; then boredom will pass and diligence will come. And if you add patience and humility to this, you will save yourself from many evils.” - To the statements of the people surrounding the elder that they were not giving him peace, he answered; “Then peace will come for us when they sing over us: “Rest with the saints!”
Selfless love Fr. Ambrose towards all people and sincere devotion to his service for the good of humanity were naturally accompanied by the love and reverent respect with which he was surrounded during his life and which were expressed after his death.
Elder Ambrose died on October 10, 1891, in the seventy-ninth year of his arduous and fruitful life. His death was truly Christian. He was guided to eternal life by receiving the Holy Mysteries of Christ and reading the canon of the Mother of God for the exodus of the soul.
The funeral service for Elder Ambrose was performed by 28 priests, with His Eminence Vitaly of Kaluga at the head. At the funeral liturgy and at the burial of Fr. Ambrose, one beautiful and deeply edifying word and three deeply felt speeches were delivered, in which the preachers - orators (Reverend Vitaly, Hieromonk Gregory and Hieromonk Tryfon painted a bright spiritual image of the deceased elder and indicated his significance for the Russian people... At the tomb of . Ambrose, a crowd of eight thousand of his admirers gathered and with tears saw off his ashes at a distance of twelve miles, from Shamordin to Optina Pustyn, despite the damp, windy and cold weather. She offered up fervent prayers for the deceased elder and shed continuous filial tears, expressing the most sincere and their pure love for their father - benefactor. All Orthodox Rus' started talking about the great ascetic - the elder and was saddened by his death...
Over the grave of Father Ambrose, Optina Pustyn built a chapel with a white marble tombstone, as a gift and sign of universal love and deep respect for the deceased elder. On the monument there is a deeply instructive inscription in the Slavic language, characterizing the personality of Elder Ambrose and the meaning of his life: “I was for the weak, as I was weak, that I might gain the weak; as the weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all, that I might save at least some” (1 Corinthians 9, Chapter 22, Art.). On the walls of the chapel hang holy icons of the Resurrection of Christ, the Kazan Mother of God and St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. Inextinguishable lamps glow in front of the icons... At the grave of Elder Ambrose, eagerly visited by his many admirers, memorial services are served for the repose of his righteous soul...
Heartfelt and pure love, deep respect and sincere gratitude to all the orphaned, wretched and unfortunate people who were blessed by Elder Ambrose, as well as the entire Russian people, serve for him as the best, imperishable monument for eternity...
With complete confidence and fairness, one can say about Father Ambrose in the words of the famous Russian poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin from his poem “Monument”:
“He erected a monument to himself, not made by hands;
The people’s path to him will not be overgrown!”...
May the spiritual image of the wonderful old man, Father Ambrose, always live indelibly in the memory of the Russian people, invariably attracting people with their Christian light and shining beneficially on their earthly life!..
Peace to the ashes of the great ascetic and unforgettable teacher of faith and morality of the Russian people! Eternal memory to the venerable elder, friend of humanity, Fr. Ambrose, eternal memory to him!..
ABOUT, great elder and servant of God, reverend our father Ambrose, praise to the Optina and all Rus' teacher of piety! We glorify your humble life in Christ, by which God has exalted your name while you were still on earth, especially crowning you with heavenly honor upon your departure to the chamber of eternal glory. Accept now the prayer of us, your unworthy children, who honor you and call on your holy name, deliver us through your intercession before the Throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances, mental and physical ailments, evil misfortunes, corrupting and evil temptations, send peace to our Fatherland from the great-gifted God, peace and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery, in which you yourself labored in prosperity and you have pleased our glorified God with all in the Trinity, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen.
According to the publication: FATHER AMBROSY, Elder of Optina. (1812-1912). - Tambov, electrical printing house P.S. Moskaleva, 1912. The book was published on the centenary of the birth of St. Ambrose.
July 10, 2018
In the Vvedensky Church of Optina Pustyn there is a shrine with the relics of St. Ambrose, the elder of Optina - a man who had a huge influence on the spiritual life of all of Russia in the 19th century. We still resort to his prayerful help and intercession today. Miracles happen at the relics of the elder; people are healed from many, sometimes incurable, diseases.
The Monk Ambrose was not a bishop, an archimandrite, he was not even an abbot, he was a simple hieromonk. Being mortally ill, he accepted the schema and became a hieroschemamonk. He died in this rank.
For lovers of the career ladder, this may be incomprehensible: how is it possible that such a great elder is also just a hieromonk?
He spoke very well about the humility of saints. He was once at a service in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where at that time there were many bishops and archimandrites present, to whom it is customary to address:
“Your Eminence, Your Reverence.” And then, in front of the relics of our father Sergius of Radonezh, Metropolitan Philaret said: “I hear everything around you, Your Eminence, Your Reverence, you alone, father, just a reverend.”
This is how Ambrose, the elder of Optina, was. He could talk to everyone in his language: help an illiterate peasant woman who complained that turkeys were dying, and the lady would drive her out of the yard.
Answer questions from F.M. Dostoevsky and L.N. Tolstoy and other, the most educated people of that time. “I would be everything to everyone, so that I might save everyone” (1 Cor. 9:22). His words were simple, to the point, and sometimes with good humor:
“We must live on earth as a wheel turns, just one point touches the ground, and the rest tends upward; and even if we lie down, we can’t get up.” “Where it’s simple, there are a hundred angels, but where it’s sophisticated, there’s not a single one.” “Don’t boast, peas, that you are better than beans; if you get wet, you’ll burst.” “Why is a person bad? “Because he forgets that God is above him.”
“Whoever thinks that he has something will lose.” “Living simpler is best. Don't break your head. Pray to God. The Lord will arrange everything, just live easier. Don't torture yourself thinking about how and what to do. Let it be - as it happens - this is living easier.” “You need to live, not bother, not offend anyone, not annoy anyone, and my respect to everyone.” “To live - not to grieve - to be satisfied with everything. There’s nothing to understand here.” “If you want to have love, then do things of love, even without love at first.”
And when someone said to him: “You, father, speak very simply,” the elder smiled: “Yes, I asked God for this simplicity for twenty years.”
The Monk Ambrose was the third Optina elder, a disciple of the Monks Leo and Macarius, and the most famous and illustrious of all the Optina elders. It was he who became the prototype of Elder Zosima from the novel “The Brothers Karamazov” and the spiritual mentor of all Orthodox Russia. What was his life path like?
When we talk about destinies, we usually mean the visible course of human life. But we must not forget about the spiritual drama, which is always more important, richer and deeper than a person’s external life. Saint Basil the Great defined man in these words: “Man is an invisible being.”
This applies to the highest degree to spiritual people of such a level as the Monk Ambrose. We can see the outline of their outer life and only guess about the hidden inner life, the basis of which was the feat of prayer, the invisible presence before the Lord.
“If you find that there is no love in you, but you want to have it, then do deeds of love, although first without love. The Lord will see your desire and effort and put love into your heart,” St. Ambrose Optinsky.
Life of St. Ambrose of Optina
From the biographical events that are known, some important milestones of his difficult life can be noted. The boy was born in the village of Bolshaya Lipovitsa, Tambov province, into the pious Grenkov family, closely connected with the Church: his grandfather was a priest, his father, Mikhail Fedorovich, was a sexton. Before the birth of the child, so many guests came to see the priest-grandfather that the mother in labor, Marfa Nikolaevna, was transferred to a bathhouse, where she gave birth to a son, named in holy baptism in honor of the blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. Later, Alexander Grenkov, having already become an old man, joked: “Just as I was born in public, so I live in public.”
Alexander was the sixth of eight children in the family. He grew up lively, smart, lively, in a strict family he sometimes even got punishment for his children's pranks.
At the age of 12, the boy entered the Tambov Theological School, which he brilliantly graduated first out of 148 people. From 1830 to 1836 the young man studied at the Tambov Seminary. Possessing a lively and cheerful character, kindness and wit, Alexander was very loved by his comrades. Before him, full of strength, talented, energetic, lay a brilliant life path, full of earthly joys and material well-being.
But the ways of the Lord are inscrutable... Saint Philaret wrote: “The omniscient God chooses, destined from the cradle, and calls at the time determined by Him, in an incomprehensible way combining the combination of all kinds of circumstances with the will of the heart. The Lord in due time girds and leads His chosen ones no matter how they wish, but where they wish to go.”
In 1835, shortly before graduating from the seminary, the young man became dangerously ill. This illness was one of the first, numerous illnesses that tormented the old man all his life.
Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov wrote: “I spent my whole life in illnesses and sorrows, as you know: but now, if there are no sorrows, there is nothing to save yourself. There are no exploits, no true monasticism, no leaders; Only sorrows replace everything.
The feat is associated with vanity; vanity is difficult to notice in yourself, much less to cleanse yourself of it; grief is alien to vanity and therefore provides a person with a godly, involuntary feat, which is sent by our Provider in accordance with his will...” This first dangerous illness led to the fact that the young seminarian made a vow in case of recovery become a monk.
But he could not decide to fulfill this vow for four years; in his words, “he did not dare to immediately end the world.” For some time he was a home teacher in a landowner family, and then a teacher at the Lipetsk Theological School. Decisive was the trip to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and prayers at the relics. The famous recluse Hilarion, whom the young man met on this journey, fatherly instructed him: “ Go to Optina, you are needed there».
After tears and prayers in the Lavra, worldly life and entertaining evenings at a party seemed so unnecessary and superfluous to Alexander that he decided to urgently and secretly leave for Optina. Perhaps he did not want the persuasion of friends and family, who prophesied a brilliant future for him in the world, to shake his determination to fulfill his vow to dedicate his life to God.
In Optina, Alexander became a student of the great elders Leo and Macarius. In 1840 he was dressed in monastic dress, and in 1842 he took monastic vows with the name Ambrose. 1843 – hierodeacon, 1845 – hieromonk. Behind these short lines are five years of labor, ascetic life, and hard physical work.
When the famous spiritual writer E. Poselyanin lost his beloved wife and his friends advised him to leave the world and go to a monastery, he replied: “I would be glad to leave the world, but in the monastery they will send me to work in a stable.” It is not known what kind of obedience they would give him, but he correctly felt that the monastery would try to humble his spirit in order to turn him from a spiritual writer into a spiritual worker.
Alexander was ready for the monastic trials. The young monk had to work in a bakery, bake bread, brew hops (yeast), and help the cook. With his brilliant abilities and knowledge of five languages, it probably would not have been easy for him to become just an assistant cook. These obediences cultivated in him humility, patience, and the ability to cut off his own will.
Having perspicaciously discerned the gifts of the future elder in the young man, the Monks Leo and Macarius took care of his spiritual growth. For some time he was Elder Leo’s cell attendant and his reader; he regularly came to Elder Macarius for work and could ask him questions about spiritual life. The Monk Leo especially loved the young novice, affectionately calling him Sasha. But for educational reasons, I experienced his humility in front of people. Pretended to thunder against him with anger. But he told others about him: “He will be a great man.” After the death of Elder Leo, the young man became the cell attendant of Elder Macarius.
During a trip to Kaluga for ordination as a hieromonk, Father Ambrose, exhausted by fasting, caught a severe cold and became seriously ill. From then on, he was never able to recover, and his health was so poor that in 1846 he was taken out of state due to illness. For the rest of his life, he could barely move, suffered from perspiration, so he changed clothes several times a day, could not stand the cold and drafts, and ate only liquid food, in an amount that would barely be enough for a three-year-old child.
Several times he was near death, but each time miraculously, with the help of God's grace, he returned to life. From September 1846 to the summer of 1848, the state of health of Father Ambrose was so threatening that he was tonsured into the schema in his cell, retaining his former name. However, quite unexpectedly for many, the patient began to recover. In 1869, his health was again so bad that they began to lose hope of recovery. The Kaluga miraculous icon of the Mother of God was brought. After a prayer service and a cell vigil and then unction, the elder’s health responded to treatment.
The Holy Fathers list about seven spiritual causes of illness. They say about one of the causes of illness: “Having become righteous, the saints endured temptations either because of some shortcomings, or in order to receive greater glory, because they had great patience. And God, not wanting their excess patience to remain unused, allowed them temptations and illnesses.”
The Monks Leo and Macarius, who introduced the traditions of eldership and mental prayer in the monastery, had to face misunderstanding, slander, and persecution. The Monk Ambrose did not have such external sorrows, but, perhaps, none of the Optina elders bore such a heavy cross of illness. On it the words came true: “The power of God is made perfect in weakness.” Particularly important for the spiritual growth of the Monk Ambrose during these years was communication with Elder Macarius. Despite his illness, Father Ambrose remained in complete obedience to the elder, even reporting to him on the smallest things.
With the blessing of Elder Macarius, he was engaged in the translation of patristic books, in particular, he prepared for printing the “Ladder” of St. John, abbot of Sinai. Thanks to the leadership of the elder, Father Ambrose was able to learn the art of the arts without any special stumbling blocks - mental prayer.
Even during the life of Elder Macarius, with his blessing, some of the brethren came to Father Ambrose to open their thoughts. In addition to the monks, Father Macarius brought Father Ambrose closer to his worldly spiritual children. Thus, the elder gradually prepared himself a worthy successor. When Elder Macarius reposed in 1860, circumstances gradually developed in such a way that Father Ambrose was put in his place.
The elder received crowds of people in his cell, did not refuse anyone, people flocked to him from all over the country. He got up at four or five in the morning, called his cell attendants, and the morning rule was read. Then the elder prayed alone. At nine o'clock the reception began: first for the monastics, then for the laity. At about two o'clock they brought him meager food, after which he was left alone for an hour and a half. Then Vespers was read, and the reception resumed until nightfall.
At about 11 o'clock the long evening ritual was performed, and not before midnight the elder was finally left alone. So for more than thirty years, day after day, Elder Ambrose accomplished his feat. Before Father Ambrose, none of the elders opened the doors of their cells to a woman.
He not only received many women and was their spiritual father, but also founded a nunnery not far from Optina Pustyn - Kazan Shamordinskaya hermitage, which, unlike other convents of that time, accepted more poor and sick women. By the 90s of the 19th century, the number of nuns in it reached 500 people.
The elder possessed the gifts of mental prayer, insight, and miracles; many cases of healing are known. Numerous testimonies tell of his gracious gifts. One woman from Voronezh, seven miles from the monastery, got lost. At this time, an old man in a cassock and skufa approached her, and he pointed her in the direction of the path with a stick. She went in the indicated direction, immediately saw the monastery and came to the elder’s house.
Everyone who listened to her story thought that this old man was the monastery forester or one of the cell attendants; when suddenly a cell attendant came out onto the porch and asked loudly: “Where is Avdotya from Voronezh?” - “My darlings! But I myself am Avdotya from Voronezh!” - exclaimed the narrator. About fifteen minutes later, she left the house all in tears and, sobbing, answered questions that the old man who showed her the way in the forest was none other than Father Ambrose himself.
Here is one of the cases of the elder’s foresight, told by the artisan: “I should have gone to Optina for money. We made an iconostasis there, and I had to receive quite a large sum of money from the rector for this work.
Before leaving, I went to Elder Ambrose to get a blessing for the return journey. I was in a hurry to go home: I was expecting to receive a large order the next day - ten thousand, and the customers were sure to be at my place in K the next day.
On this day, as usual, the elder’s people died. He found out about me that I was waiting, and he ordered me to tell him through my cell attendant that I should come to him in the evening to drink tea.
Evening came, I went to the elder. Father, our angel, held me for quite a long time, it was almost getting dark, and he said to me: “Well, go with God. Spend the night here, and tomorrow I bless you to go to mass, and after mass, come and see me for tea.” How is this so? - I think. I didn’t dare contradict him. The elder detained me for three days. I had no time for prayer at the all-night vigil - it just pushed into my head: “Here is your elder! Here's a seer for you...! Now your earnings are whistling.” On the fourth day I came to the elder, and he said to me: “Well, now it’s time for you to go to court!” Go with God! God bless! Don’t forget to thank God when it’s time!”
And then all sorrow disappeared from me. I left Optina Hermitage, but my heart was so light and joyful... Why did the priest tell me: “Then don’t forget to thank God!?” I arrived home, and what do you think? I am at the gate, and my customers are behind me; We were late, which means we were against our agreement to come for three days. Well, I think, oh my gracious old man!
A lot has passed since then. My senior master falls ill towards death. I came to the patient, and he looked at me and began to cry: “Forgive my sin, master! I wanted to kill you. Remember, you were three days late arriving from Optina. After all, the three of us, according to my agreement, kept watch for you on the road under the bridge for three nights in a row: they were jealous of the money you brought for the iconostasis from Optina. You wouldn’t have been alive that night, but the Lord, for someone’s prayers, took you away from death without repentance... Forgive me, the damned one!” “God will forgive you, as I forgive.” Then my patient wheezed and began to come to an end. The kingdom of heaven to his soul. Great was the sin, but great was the repentance!”
As for healings, they were countless. The elder covered up these healings in every possible way. Sometimes he, as if as a joke, hits his head with his hand, and the illness goes away. One day, a reader who was reading prayers suffered from severe toothache. Suddenly the elder hit him. Those present grinned, thinking that the reader must have made a mistake in reading. In fact, his toothache stopped.
Knowing the elder, some women turned to him: “Father Abrosim! Beat me, my head hurts.” After visiting the elder, the sick recovered, and the lives of the poor improved. Pavel Florensky called Optina Pustyn “a spiritual sanatorium for wounded souls.”
Ambrose Optinsky. Elder's Spiritual Power
One day, Elder Ambrose, bent over, leaning on a stick, was walking from somewhere along the road to the monastery. Suddenly he imagined a picture: a loaded cart was standing, a dead horse was lying nearby, and a peasant was crying over it.
The loss of a nursing horse in peasant life is a real disaster! Approaching the fallen horse, the elder began to slowly walk around it. Then, taking a twig, he whipped the horse, shouting at it: “Get up, lazy one!” - and the horse obediently rose to its feet.
Elder Ambrose appeared to many people at a distance, like St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, either for the purpose of healing or for deliverance from disasters. To some, very few, it was revealed in visible images how powerful the elder’s prayerful intercession before God was.
Here are the memories of one nun, the spiritual daughter of Father Ambrose, about his prayer: “The elder straightened up to his full height, raised his head and raised his hands up, as if in a prayerful position. At this time I imagined that his feet separated from the floor. I looked at his illuminated head and face. I remember that it was as if there was no ceiling in the cell; it was split apart, and the elder’s head seemed to go up. This was clear to me. A minute later, the priest leaned over me, amazed at what I saw, and, crossing me, said the following words: “Remember, this is what repentance can lead to. Go."
Prudence and insight were combined in Elder Ambrose with an amazing, purely maternal tenderness of heart, thanks to which he was able to alleviate the heaviest grief and console the most sorrowful soul.
Love and wisdom - it was these qualities that attracted people to the old man. The elder's word came with power based on his closeness to God, which gave him omniscience. This was a prophetic ministry.
Elder Ambrose was destined to meet the hour of his death in Shamordino. On June 2, 1890, as usual, he went there for the summer. At the end of summer, the elder tried three times to return to Optina, but was unable to due to ill health. A year later, the disease intensified. He was given unction and received communion several times.
Optina Pustyn. Burial place of the elders
October 10 (23rd according to the new art.) 1891, the elder, sighing three times and crossing himself with difficulty, died.
The coffin with the body of the old man, under the drizzling autumn rain, was transferred to Optina Pustyn, and not one of the candles surrounding the coffin went out.
About 8 thousand people came to the funeral. On October 15, the elder’s body was interred on the south-eastern side of the Vvedensky Cathedral, next to his teacher, Elder Macarius.
It was on this day, October 15, in 1890, that Elder Ambrose established a holiday in honor of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “,” before which he himself offered up his fervent prayers many times.
Years passed. But the path to the elder’s grave was not overgrown. These are times of grave upheaval. Optina Pustyn was closed and ruined. The chapel at the elder’s grave was razed to the ground.
But it was impossible to destroy the memory of the great saint of God. People randomly designated the location of the chapel and continued to flock to their mentor.
In November 1987, Optina Pustyn was returned to the Church. And in June 1988, by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Monk Ambrose, the first of the Optina elders, was canonized.
On the anniversary of the revival of the monastery, by the grace of God, a miracle occurred: at night after the service in the Vvedensky Cathedral, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the relics and the icon of St. Ambrose streamed myrrh. Other miracles were performed from the relics of the elder, with which he certifies that he does not abandon us sinners through his intercession before our Lord Jesus Christ. To him be glory forever, Amen.
Reverend Ambrose and the elders of Optina, pray to God for us.
"Father Ambrose has returned"
Ekaterina, Moscow
Father Ambrose helped me this summer, but out of stupidity and pride, I did not accept this help (I didn’t understand what it was from him, I didn’t expect it to happen right away, and I have no brains, I must admit) and I still repent of it.
At that time, I had just lost my job, and they fired me in a very ugly and dishonest manner, after I had already completed my probationary period and literally the day before there was talk of increasing my salary. Fortunately, I had the blessing of my confessor to go to a certain place and get a job there, but I kept putting it off - I considered myself “intellectually unprepared.”
And then the July church holidays began one after another, incl. and the day of remembrance of Elder Ambrose of Optina. I was at a service and asked him to help me with my work, given that I had a blessing that I was not ready to fulfill.
And suddenly in the evening I saw a letter from my supervisor in my e-mail, then missed calls from him on the phone, he was completely off his feet - he was looking for me. Although he usually doesn’t call or write to me, it’s me who turns to him. It turned out that the company where his friend worked urgently needed a journalist-editor for the website. I skeptically studied the vacancy - it seemed to me that they offered very little money, but demanded so much. Moreover, the probationary period is two months, despite the variety of tasks and requirements that the potential employee faced. Besides, there were some things I didn't know.
I wrinkled my nose and said that this was some kind of “scam”. Although later I realized: I had to grab this job so that I could get through at least two probationary months, no matter how they ended. The scientific supervisor laughed: “Well, as you know. The only question, apparently, is that you are afraid that you won’t be able to cope.” And I was really afraid that I would be kicked out of work again after the probationary period. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to withstand another similar bullying.
And just as I refused (and it was already late), I suddenly remembered that in the morning I was at the service and prayed in front of the icon of Father Ambrose, kissed the reliquary and asked for it during the service, and talked about my problems. And what? The next day, the icon of Father Ambrose disappeared somewhere from our church! Perhaps it was taken away for restoration or, perhaps, temporarily transported to another temple...
All these months (and after that I couldn’t find a job for a very long time - four whole months, and I also missed the blessing by holding out), no matter how much I asked, prayed, visited monasteries, no matter how many holiday services I defended - nothing worked out ! And all these months I understood that that job, if I had not given up on it, could have kept me afloat for a couple of months, and I would not have lost so much money and would not have gotten into debt and other difficult circumstances.
All these months, when I came to our church, I always venerated the reliquary with a piece of the relics of Father Ambrose (we have a large reliquary with many small relics of various saints, including the Optina elders), asked him for forgiveness and looked with longing at the corner where his icon used to be. Of course, a few months ago I knew what would happen to me in the near future and how I would behave. He helped me, and I had to accept that test lesson if it turned out to be one!
As a result, I only recently found a job. Or rather, the Lord sent it to me completely unexpectedly. Moreover, it so happened that I agreed on the job with the employer on Friday, and the next Sunday, as usual, I came to Sunday service and suddenly, towards the end of the service, I saw: the altar boy was carrying an icon of St. Ambrose and placing it on a wooden stand that had been empty all this time -stand (I don’t know what it’s called correctly).
I see: Father Ambrose has returned! I rushed to him as fast as I could to ask for forgiveness. I must say that during these months that his icon was missing, I somehow became especially close to the priest through my feelings of guilt and experiences... He became a saint very close to me, and this icon, which I had been waiting for so long, became very dear to me . And I have no doubt about his ambulance-ambulance-ambulance! Father Ambrose, pray to God for us!
“I found a path in life and a spouse - a true friend”
Alexey Grishkin
With the prayerful help of Father Ambrose and everyone else, I found my path in life and my husband, a faithful friend.
It would seem, what's wrong with that? It’s just that that period in life cannot be called anything other than “emptiness.” As in the old song: “And loneliness is more valuable than emptiness, when you live and think about death”... at a relatively young age. All peers lived a cheerful life, met, parted, drank, walked “without bothering.”
I don’t know what started my churching; it’s hard to remember now. And, as in a war, all the power of the underworld takes up arms against a weak person who has begun to save himself, using all the means tested by military experience and improved since the first fall of the forefathers.
At some point in my life, the conviction began to arise in me to choose the monastic path for salvation. After spending a couple of months in one monastery, I realized that I would die there even faster. It’s just that the state of modern monasticism, with few exceptions, is known to everyone. I had to return to the world. But it turned out that it was a dead end.
By chance (was it?), having opened a book with a life, I came across the words spoken to him by the Troyekurovsky recluse Hilarion: “Go to Optina, you are needed there.” It suddenly became clear to me where I needed to go in order to understand how to live. In Optina, I saw that very exception, that very small flock that is going towards salvation and inflames others to go.
At first I was inflamed, but monasticism is not for everyone. Again doubts. Father Eli allowed them, blessing them to live in the monastery for a year. Just live without thinking about anything for one year. Just that... It was the hardest year of my life. When you are left alone with yourself, it is scary. You don't know who will win. Every day I went to the shrine of St. Ambrose and other elders and asked, begged, and cried. In fact, it's hard.
The Lord, through the prayers of the elders, taught me which path to choose: a girl came to Optina, whom I now call my wife and the mother of my two beautiful daughters.
In conclusion, I would like to say that the Lord is closer than we think, and always through people and circumstances leads us through life with the prayers of our reverend and God-bearing father Ambrose, the Elder of Optina, and all the saints. Naturally, for those who follow Christ.
“Deliverance came in three days”
Valentina K., Serov
Desperate to get rid of the man who had tormented me for three years, I was able to do this only after I read the prayer of St. Ambrose of Optina, which I once found in his correspondence with his spiritual children. Deliverance came three days later. We walked all these days in circles and never even collided. Only the prayer of the great elder saved me from death.
Through his prayers, three years later I stood with tears of gratitude at the holy relics. And now, going up to the choir, I ask for his blessing. I think it was not without the help of the monk that I was honored to work in the prosphora and refectory for several years.
Through the prayers of Saint Ambrose of Optina, may the Lord save us all!
“A friend’s stove was completely torn apart”
Natalya V.
I learned about this little miracle a couple of hours ago. I don’t know if Father Ambrose was the only one who helped - rather, help came from everyone.
The day before yesterday I visited a friend who is planning to move into a house where the stove was completely destroyed. A friend of mine is having a very hard time financially. We posted notices everywhere asking for help, without really hoping for it. Leaving her, I went into a church in those parts and saw there a small icon with pieces of the relics of the Optina elders. I haven’t read which ones exactly. I asked the elders to help her.
Now I call and find out that the very next day - that is, yesterday - a woman called her and offered help. She said: “Measure the stove - I’ll buy you everything you need for it.” The poor thing still cannot believe in such happiness.
God grant that everything works out for the poor woman. Pray to the Lord for us, and all the elders of Optina!
"I smoked a lot"
Ekaterina N.
At the beginning of my churching, I found myself in Optina. Before coming to the monastery, I had a strong nicotine addiction.
I received communion at the monastery and did not smoke all day - a very long time for me at that time. I prayed to St. Ambrose to help me quit smoking. After a couple of weeks I quit completely. I haven't smoked for 2 years now. I believe that the saint’s prayers helped.
“My husband smoked for many years”
Elena S.
I have this story. My husband smoked for many years. This, unfortunately, is his family's tradition. I wasn’t going to quit because I thought I couldn’t. When I tried to talk to him about this topic, he became irritated. Then I asked our teenage son to pray to St. Ambrose for his father for deliverance from his destructive passion.
After some time, my husband fell ill with skin cancer, and after the operation he decided to quit smoking. He got rid of the passion for smoking only through the prayers of the saint. Thank God for everything!
Ambrose (Grenkov Alexander Mikhailovich, November 23, 1812, village B. Lipovitsa, Tambov district, Tambov province - 10.10.1891, village of Shamordino, Peremyshl district, Kaluga province), Venerable. (memorial on October 10, October 11 - in the Cathedral of Optina Elders, June 27 and in the Cathedral of Tambov Saints) Optina. Genus. in the family of sexton M.F. Grenkov. The family, which included 8 children, lived in the house of their grandfather, a local dean priest. Theodore, who served in the Trinity Church in the village. B. Lipovitsa. The children were raised strictly Orthodox. spirit, at home Alexander learned to read Church Orthodoxy. the ABC book, the Book of Hours and the Psalter, read in church and sang in the choir. In 1824, A. Grenkov entered the Tambov DU for semi-government support, in July 1830.
as one of the best graduates he was sent to the Tambov DS. While studying at the seminary, he became seriously ill and made a vow to God to take monastic vows, but after recovery he was in no hurry to fulfill the vow, since he had a lively and sociable character. In July 1836, having successfully completed his DS, he became a home teacher for a wealthy landowner; from March 7, 1838, he became a Greek teacher. language in the Lipetsk DU, where he left a memory of himself as an attentive teacher.
The thought of an unfulfilled vow did not leave A. Grenkov; in the summer of 1839, on the way to a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, he, together with his friend P. S. Pokrovsky (later Optina Hierarch Plato) visited the famous Troekurov recluse Hilarion, who pointed to Alexander: “Go to Optina, you are needed there.” Oct 8 1839 A. Grenkov was admitted to Optina Pust. St. Lev (Nagolkin), who blessed him at first to live in a hotel and rewrite the translation of the Greek work. mon. Agapia Landa "Salvation of Sinners". In Jan. 1840 Alexander went to live in the monastery, April 2. 1840 was accepted into the ranks of the brethren; bore the obedience of the cell attendant and reader to St. Lev, then worked in a bakery. On Nov. In 1840 he was transferred as an assistant cook to the monastery, where he worked for a year. Work took up most of the day, and the novice had little occasion to attend divine services; then he became accustomed to unceasing inner prayer.
St. Leo before his death, transferring leadership to the novice St. Macarius (Ivanov), said: “Here, a man painfully huddles with us, the elders. I am already very weak now. So, I’m handing it over to you from the floor to the floor, own it as you know.” From the autumn of 1841 to January 2. 1846 Alexander was the cell attendant of St. Macaria. In the summer of 1841 he was tonsured into the ryassophore, on November 29, 1842 - into a mantle with a name in honor of St. Ambrose of Milan; 4 Feb 1843 ordained as hierodeacon, December 9. 1845 - became a hieromonk. During a trip to Kaluga for ordination, A. caught a severe cold and fell ill, sometimes he was so weak that during the Divine Liturgy, when he gave communion to the pilgrims, he could not hold the saint. chalice and returned to the altar to rest. In March 1848, A. left the state for health reasons and, probably, at the same time was privately tonsured into the schema, retaining the name A.
A severe and prolonged illness, which closed the path of external activity for A., was a clear manifestation of the will of God, which called him to a higher service - eldership. Even during the life of St. Macarius, with his blessing, some of the brethren came to A. for the revelation of thoughts. After the death of St. Macaria 7 Sep. 1860 A. moved to a house near the monastery fence, on the right side of the bell tower, to which an extension (“hut”) was built to receive women. Here he lived for 30 years, selflessly serving his neighbors, gradually taking Optina empty in his spiritual life. place of St. Macaria. At 4 o'clock in the morning the cell attendants read A. the cell rule - morning prayers, 12 selected psalms and the 1st hour. After a short rest, the elder stood listening to the clock and, depending on the day, a canon with an akathist to the Savior or the Mother of God. The evening prayer rule consisted of Small Compline, the canon to the Guardian Angel and evening prayers. The rest of the time, A. received visitors who needed spiritual consolation, resolution of everyday issues, and absolution.
A. possessed the gift of Christ to a special, rare extent. love, which made him a condescending and wise healer of human weakness and unworthiness. A. considered love to be the highest virtue, its acquisition necessary for salvation; A. most often gave advice to spiritual children about patience, indulgence in weaknesses and forcing oneself to do good. The experience of a heart enlightened by love, the wisdom of a mind immersed in the heart, the ability to use this wisdom and experience in relation to specific people and circumstances attracted thousands of people to A. - aristocrats and peasants, rich and poor, educated and illiterate - who came to him with their troubles and weaknesses. A. warmly took to heart the needs of all his spiritual children. It was visited by representatives of the upper classes, famous public figures, writers: Vel. book Konstantin Konstantinovich, Chief Prosecutor of the Synod A.P. Tolstoy, F.M. Dostoevsky, Vl. S. Solovyov, K. N. Leontiev, L. N. Tolstoy, M. P. Pogodin, N. N. Strakhov, P. D. Yurkevich and others. A. became a link between the educated classes, the people and the Church in the 60s -80s XIX century, when in Russian. the society had extremely strong anti-church sentiments.
A. covered all his extraordinary talents with the gift of humility, which he sought to pass on to his spiritual children. The elder never taught directly from himself, he referred to the Holy Spirit. Scripture or hid his knowledge behind the words “people say.” A. hid the gift of healing by sending the sick to famous miraculous springs and shrines. Often, the elder put his teachings in the form of rhymed, easily remembered sayings, close to proverbs: “We need to live unhypocritically and behave exemplarily, then our cause will be right, otherwise it will be bad,” “You can live in the world, but not in the South, but live quietly”, “Live - don’t bother, don’t judge anyone, don’t annoy anyone, and my respect to everyone.”
Despite the many visitors and constant illness, A., even during the life of St. Makaria participated in the book publishing activities of Optina Pust. When St. Macarius published only patristic ascetic literature in the 60-80s. XIX century under the leadership of A. and with the active participation of Rev. Clement (Zederholm), archimandrite. Leonidas (Kavelina), Venerable Anatoly (Zertsalova), Fr. Agapit (Belovidov) and others prepared and published church-historical works of Optina Hermitage itself: “The Legend of the Life and Deeds of the Elder of Optina Hermitage, Hieroschemamonk Macarius” (compiled by Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin). M., 1861, 18812); “Historical description of the monastery at the Kozel Optina Hermitage” (compiled by Hierom. Leonid. M., 18622); “Collected letters of the Optina elder Hieroschemamonk Macarius of blessed memory” (1862-1863. 4 volumes); “Letters to various persons of Abbot Anthony, former abbot of the Maloyaroslovets Nikolaevsky Monastery” (M., 1869); “Biography of the abbot of the Maloyaroslovetsky Nikolaevsky Monastery, Abbot Anthony” (compiled by Hieronymus Clement. M., 1870); “Historical description of the Kozelsk Optina Hermitage, with appendices” (compiled by Hierarch Leonid. M., 18763); “The Biography of the Optina Elder Hieromonk Leonid (in the schema of Leo)” (compiled by Hierom. Clement. M., 1876; Od., 1890); “Biography of the rector of the Kozelskaya Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage, Archimandrite Moses” (compiled by Archimandrite Yuvenaly. M., 1882). In addition, 20 brochures were published and previously published works were republished. The books were sent to diocesan bishops, to the churches of Mont-Rei, academies, and seminaries and distributed to pilgrims.
The name of A. is associated with the establishment of the Shamorda wife in 1884. Mon-rya, in which, unlike other mon-rays, poor and sick women were accepted. With the blessing of the elder, in 1890 the artist. D. M. Bolotov (later Hierom Daniel) created the icon of the Mother of God “Control of the Loaves” for the monastery. A. spent the last year and a half of his life in the Shamorda monastery. On June 2, 1890, as usual, he went there for the summer; he tried three times to return to Optina, but due to ill health he could not leave and died in Shamordin. Oct 15 In 1891, the holy relics of A. were transferred to Optina Pust. and buried to the southeast. side of the Vvedensky Cathedral, next to St. Makariy. Many times after death, A. appeared to the sick in a dream with the command to serve a prayer service to St. Ambrose of Milan, sometimes ordered him to drink water from a well near the monastery. There are known cases of healing from bodily illnesses and demonic possession after serving a requiem service at the grave of A.
On June 6, 1988, at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, A. was canonized and all-Russian veneration was established for him. Oct 16 1988, during excavations in Optina, empty. The honest remains of one of the Optina elders were found, mistakenly mistaken for the remains of A. and later. identified as the remains of St. Joseph (Litovkin). A.’s relics were found on July 10, 1998, together with the relics of 6 more Optina monks, and to this day. for a time they rest in the chapel in the name of Ambrose of the Vvedensky Cathedral of the monastery. Optina is empty. The icon of the Mother of God “The Spreader of the Loaves” from A.’s cell and things that belonged to the monk (skufia, stick-staff, award cross, korets) are kept. For the glorification of A., a troparion was written (project by Abbot Andronik (Trubachev)) and a kontakion (project by Archimandrite Innocent (Prosvirnin)), followed by a Service with an akathist (project by Archpriest Vadim Smirnov, later by Abbot Nikon).
Essays: Sayings... written down mainly by the sisters of the Shamorda community // DC. 1892. Part 1. pp. 176-195, 383-385, 527-530; Part 2. pp. 151-154; Part 3. pp. 370-371; Sat. letters and articles. M., 1894. Part 1; 1897. Part 2; Favorite passages from letters to family members. M., 1897; Soulful instructions. M., 1898; Collection letters... to worldly persons. Serg. P., 1908. Part 1. M., 1991; Collection letters... to monastics. Serg. P., 1908. Issue. 1; 1909. Issue. 2; Same. Kozelsk, 1995r; Prayers for help and other everyday matters: Advice from St. Ambrose of Optina. M., 1995; Prayer rule of St. Ambrose of Optina, read during times of sorrow and temptation. M., 1996; Collection letters... [to monastics and laity]: At 3 p.m. Moscow, 1997r; Three unknown compositions. St. Petersburg, 1997; Teachings of Elder Ambrose: Selections. sayings, extracted from various sources / Comp. Schema-archim. John (Maslov). M., 1998.
Literature: Agapit (Belovidov), archimandrite. Biography in Bose of the deceased Optina elder Hieroschim. Ambrose. M., 1900. Serg. P., 1992r; E[rast] V[ytropsky], monk. A short story about the life of the Optina elder Hieroschim. Father Ambrose: With adj. fav. his teachings. Serg. P., 19083; Chetverikov S., prot. Description of the life of the Optina elder Hieroschim of blessed memory. Ambrose in connection with the history of Optina Pustyn and its eldership. Shamordino, 1912; Gayun A. Shepherding the Hieroschim. Ambrosia: Cand. dis. / MDA. Zagorsk, 1987; Akathist St. Ambrose, the Optina elder and wonderworker. M., 1991; Andronik (Trubachev), abbot. Venerable Ambrose of Optina: Life and Creations. M., 1993; John (Maslov), archimandrite. Venerable Ambrose of Optina and his epistolary heritage. M., 1993; Venerable Optina Elders / Ed. Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn. M., 1998. S. 202-223.
Mon. Ekaterina (Filippova)
Iconography dedicated to St. Ambrose Optinsky
A significant number of surviving picturesque portraits of A. were made by Rev. Daniil (Bolotov). One of the earliest signatures is a portrait of 1892 (TsAK MDA), created a year after the death of the elder, on the day of his death: A. is depicted in a monastic robe and hood, with a pectoral and award cross in memory of the Crimean War, with a staff and wand rosary in hands. Several author's repetitions of the portrait, where the elder is depicted lying on pillows, in a white cassock, dark robe and skufya, with a rosary in his hands, written by Hierarch. Daniel, for example. 1892 (Church Historical Museum of St. Daniel Monastery); 1899 (comes from the Linen Factory; currently in a private collection) - A. together with O. K. Goncharova; 1902 (TsAK MDA); 2 portraits from Optina are empty. (without the artist’s signature; Pyukhtitsky Assumption Monastery). Apparently, the work of Hierarch. There are also chest-to-chest images of the old man of Daniel. XIX - early XX century (Optina is empty; MF - from the collection of Archbishop Sergius (Golubtsov)). In addition, there are several. portraits created by unknown artists (2 in the State Metallurgical Museum; in the Church Historical Museum of St. Daniel's Monastery; in Optina empty); in the portrait of con. XIX century (TsAK MDA) the monk is depicted sitting in the courtyard, with a stick and rosary in his hands (judging by the inscription on the stretcher, it belonged to M. A. Lesenkova).
In the ranks of the newly glorified saints, the image of A. was placed in 1989 in the altar of the Intercession Church of the Moscow Academy of Arts and Sciences. After the canonization, icons appeared, in which the elder is depicted blessing, in a monastic robe, in a doll or with his head uncovered, often with an unfolded scroll in his left hand (for example, with the inscription: “We need most of all to have sincere humility before God ]gom and before people” - on the icon of 1990 by L. Shekhovtsova) or in an epitrachelion and skufya, with a stick-staff (icon of 1993 by A. Dydykin). Hagiographical iconography of A. was developed (for example, the 1997 icon by the monk Artemy (Nikolaev) over the saint’s shrine in the Vvedensky Cathedral of Optina Pust.), an embroidered cover was created on the shrine (1990, workshop of the Princess of the female monastery in Bulgaria), banners and embroidered icons (late 90s of the 20th century, Optina’s workshop is empty).
Literature: Pavlovich N. A., Tolmachev A. L. On the biography of the artist Bolotov // Prometheus. M., 1983. [Issue] 13; Spiritual luminaries of Russia. pp. 235-239. Cat. 214, 215; Soloviev V. Paintings of the Linen Factory // Russian Gallery. 2001. No. 1. P. 85-89.
Many people flock to Optina Pustyn to the shrine with the relics of St. Ambrose of Optina. Popular veneration of this saint began a long time ago, during his lifetime. Ambrose did not have an important title; he was neither abbot nor archimandrite. This saint reposed in the rank of simple hieroschemamonk. However, he achieved such holiness that rumor spread not only throughout Russia, but also abroad.
The beginning of life's journey
The Monk Ambrose of Optina (biography will be described below) was born in 1812, December 5, according to the new style. The world's name was Alexander Mikhailovich Grenkov. The life of Ambrose Optinsky began in the village of Bolshaya Lipovitsa, Tambov province. Sasha's grandfather was a priest in the village, and his father served as a sexton. The boy was the sixth child, after which two more children were born. There were eight children in the Grenkov family: four boys and four girls.
Informative!: what are these tablets and what is the meaning
Many guests came to the house for Alexander’s birth. About this, the monk subsequently often joked: “I was born in public and spend my whole life in public.” Sasha grew up smart, cheerful and fidgety, often playing pranks. I learned to read and write from the Book of Hours and the Psalter. On Sundays and church holidays the boy sang and read with his father in the choir.
The father passed away early, leaving the mother alone with eight children. The family had to move in with their grandfather, a priest. When the boy was twelve years old, he was sent to a religious school.
Sasha studied well and after graduation he entered a theological seminary, which he also graduated with honors. After that, he did not enter the theological academy and was also in no hurry to accept the priesthood, as if reflecting on his future path.
Ambrose Optinsky was distinguished throughout the world by his cheerful disposition, excellent sense of humor and was the soul of any company. He often joked and thereby made his friends laugh.
After graduating from the seminary, Alexander Grenkov taught for some time at the Lipetsk Theological School and gave private lessons to the children of landowners.
When he was still in his last year of seminary, he became seriously ill. And then he tearfully prayed to God for his own healing, promising to become a monk if he recovered. The young man recovered and did not forget his promise to the Lord, but he did not yet decide to cut his hair as a monk and postponed this decision. Most likely, he doubted whether he could become a good monk with such love of life, mobility and cheerful disposition.
So time passed, the young man worked, had fun in his spare time, and spent time in noisy companies. But more and more often he felt pangs of conscience, as if someone was rushing him to fulfill what he had promised. And then one day, during a walk in the forest, Ambrose of Optina heard a Voice in the murmuring stream: “Praise God! Save God! Then he began to fervently pray to the Mother of God to enlighten him and strengthen him.
Monasticism
At that time, the perspicacious old man Hilarion lived in the Tambov province. Alexander went to him for instructions on which monastery to enter. The ascetic replied: “Go to Optina Pustyn, you are needed there.” But even after this, the young man did not immediately rush to the monastery, but continued to work.
During the summer holidays, my colleague and I went on a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. There Alexander fervently prayed for God's help. Upon returning from the monastery, he continued to live in the world, still doubting his acceptance of monasticism.
But one day, after another friendly party, Alexander especially felt remorse for his unrestrained vow to God. The future ascetic spent the entire night in repentance and tearful prayer, and in the morning he left home forever. Fearing that his loved ones would interfere with his plans, he did not say anything to anyone.
Arriving in Pustyn, Alexander found the eldership in full swing. Eldership has been developed in Rus' since ancient times. Usually, elders were monks who achieved a certain spiritual experience through asceticism and unceasing prayer. These people had the gift of insight and healing, so people from all over the country flocked to them to receive advice and spiritual guidance.
The first Optina elder was the Monk Leo (1768–1841), who laid the foundation for the eldership in this monastery. Then his followers were: Macarius, Moses, Anthony, Hilarion. Young Alexander Grenkov, who arrived in Pustyn, found the monks Leo and Macarius, the pillars of eldership, still alive. The day of arrival at the monastery was December 8, 1839.
Upon arrival in Pustyn, Alexander immediately found Elder Leo with the goal of taking his blessing for monastic life. The monk blessed the young man to live for the first time in the monastery hotel and translate the spiritual book.
A month later, the elder allowed Alexander to live in the monastery itself, without putting on a cassock. It was necessary to settle matters with the authorities of the school where Grenkov taught and wait for the bishop’s decree to enroll him in the monastery’s staff.
Only six months later Alexander was allowed to put on a cassock and live as a novice in the Desert. At first he worked in a bakery and was a cell attendant for Elder Leo. Then the young novice was transferred to the Skete, where he often saw Elder Macarius.
There Alexander also worked as a cook, and in his free time he went to Elder Leo. The elder loved him very much, affectionately calling him “Sasha.” Soon Leo, feeling his approaching death, said to Macarius: “I hand over this novice to you.”
After Leo's death, Alexander became Macarius' cell attendant. In 1841, the novice was cut into a cassock, and a year later - into a mantle with the name Ambrose (in honor of St. Ambrose of Milan). In 1843 he became a hierodeacon, and two years later - a hieromonk.
From then on, Ambrose Optinsky felt a deterioration in his health, caught a severe cold and suffered a serious complication in his internal organs. In his spiritual instructions he often said that illnesses bring great benefits to the soul. The patient is not required to perform ascetic labors, but only patience and prayer.
Throughout his monastic life, the saint resignedly endured constant illness. His gastritis worsened, vomiting began, neurological pain appeared, and his kidneys hurt. Despite his illnesses, Ambrose, with the blessing of Macarius, translated spiritual books, and most importantly, taught the young monk unceasing mental prayer.
Important! The Jesus Prayer, otherwise called the “smart” prayer, is performed by monks and pious laymen. It consists of saying with your mind the words in your heart, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Usually it is helped by saying the rosary - this way you can find out how many times the prayer has been read.
Eldership
In 1860, Elder Macarius reposed, and Ambrose took over the baton. By that time, he had already achieved holiness and had been receiving people for 12 years with the blessing of Macarius. Thus the words of Saint Hilarion came true; Ambrose of Optina became an elder after the death of Macarius.
In the photo, the saint is often depicted lying on the bed (in this position he received visitors because he did not have the strength to get up due to illness). But the face is always bright and joyful in the photos of those years.
Radiant, kind eyes and an open smile are visible. In 1862, the monk finally took to his bed and could no longer attend services, so he took communion in his cell. But, despite this, he did not stop receiving streams of visitors and answering letters.
Informative! Who is he and how does he help people?
The saint had a sharp mind and an excellent sense of humor, he often joked, and he also knew how to write poetry. Almost all of the teachings of Elder Ambrose of Optina were in poetic, half-joking form.
Everyone knows his words:
- “You can live in peace, but not in the south, but live quietly.”
- “To live is not to bother, not to judge anyone, not to annoy anyone, but my respect to everyone.”
- The elder often said: “To live in a monastery, you need patience, not a cartload, but a whole convoy.”
- “Monks cannot be treated, but only sometimes treated.”
- “Don’t boast, peas, that you are better than beans; if you get wet, you’ll burst.”
- “You shouldn’t talk in church. For this, sorrows are sent.”
The rumor about the kind and wise old man soon spread throughout Rus'. People of different classes traveled to Optina Pustyn: rich and poor, he made no distinction between people, he accepted everyone equally with love. Such famous writers as Leo Tolstoy and Dostoevsky came to the elder.
His insight was amazing. There was a case when an unbelieving young lady was brought to him, who all the way called Ambrose a hypocrite and did not believe in his holiness. When all the people were waiting for the elder to come out, Vera (that was the name of the unbelieving young lady) walked nervously back and forth around the room.
And when the girl found herself behind the door in the corner, the door suddenly swung open, an old man came out and said, looking behind the door: “Who do we have here? Oh, this is Vera, she came to look at the hypocrite!” It was so sudden and amazing that the girl immediately forgot about her disbelief and fell to her knees.
Shamordino monastery
In the last years of his life, the elder began arranging a convent in Shamordino (located 12 versts from Optina Pustyn). He spiritually cared for this monastery until his death. It is known that one of the Shamordin nuns was Leo Tolstoy’s sister, Maria Nikolaevna Tolstaya.
The nuns loved the monk and often prayed for his health. Sometimes the monk even got angry with them: “They begged for it again!”
The elder reposed in the Lord on October 22, 1891 in the Shamordino Monastery. Before his death, he accepted the great schema. The image of the saint formed the basis of Dostoevsky’s work “The Brothers Karamazov”. Just as in the novel, in fact, the smell of decomposition initially emanated from his relics. Ambrose predicted this during his lifetime. But later the stench disappeared and a wonderful fragrance spread.
Useful video: life and instructions of Ambrose of Optina
Veneration of a saint
Saint Ambrose of Optina was canonized by the Orthodox Church in 1988, the day of remembrance is October 23 and July 10 according to the new style. On Memorial Day, crowds of people flock to the Vvedensky Cathedral of Optina Pustyn, where the relics of Ambrose of Optina rest. There is also an icon of Ambrose of Optina, from which many receive healing from illnesses. The icon depicts the elder in the schema, as he was buried.
Many people are interested in what Saint Abrosius of Optina helps with?
The Elder is prayed to on various occasions:
- for various physical and mental illnesses (including demonic possession);
- in case of family discord, quarrels, divorce;
- in the desire to find a companion (life partner);
- in official troubles;
- about children who are unable to study;
- about admonishing lost children.
And the saint helps people who turn to him in prayer in many other ways.
The women's monastery of Ambrose of Optina is located in Belarus on the site of the discovery of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Zhirovichi. In 2005, it received the status of a monastery, and it was decided to name it in honor of Ambrose of Optina. Thus, the veneration of the saint spread beyond Russia, to Belarus.
Interesting! The hermitage is currently under construction, although some churches are already in operation.
Useful video: showing the way to salvation for Ambrose of Optina
Conclusion
Saint Ambrose of Optina made an invaluable contribution to the Russian eldership. He became a favorite saint for many people. They pray to him in various troubles and needs, and the monk always helps. Even after death, he continues to love the people and cordially responds to requests addressed to him.
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