The Optina elder, hieroschemamonk Ambrose was born on November 23, 1812 in the village of Bolshaya Lipovitsa, Tambov province, in the family of the sexton Mikhail Fedorovich and his wife Martha Nikolaevna. Before the birth of the baby, many guests came to his grandfather, the priest of this village.

The parent, Maria Nikolaevna, was transferred to the bathhouse. November 23 at the house of Fr. There was a great commotion in Theodora — there were people in the house, and people crowded in front of the house. On this day, November 23, Alexander was born - the future elder of the Optina Hermitage - the Monk Ambrose of Optina. The elder jokingly said: "As in people I was born, so I live in public."

Mikhail Fedorovich had eight people: four sons and four daughters; Alexander Mikhailovich was the sixth of them.

As a child, Alexander was a very lively, cheerful and intelligent boy. According to the custom of that time, he learned to read from the Slavic primer, the book of hours and the psalter. Every holiday he sang and read with his father in the kliros. He never saw or heard anything bad, because was brought up in a strictly ecclesiastical and religious environment.

When the boy was 12 years old, he was sent to the first grade of the Tambov Theological School. He studied well and after graduating from college, in 1830, he entered the Tambov Theological Seminary. And here study was easy for him. As his seminary friend later recalled: “It used to be that with the last money you buy a candle, you repeat, you repeat the assigned lessons; all ". In July 1836, Alexander Grenkov successfully graduated from seminary, but did not go either to the Theological Academy or to the priesthood. He seemed to feel a special calling in his soul and was in no hurry to adjust himself to a certain position, as if waiting for the call of God. For some time he was a home teacher in a landlord's family, and then a teacher at the Lipetsk Theological School. Possessing a lively and cheerful character, kindness and wit, Alexander Mikhailovich was very much loved by his comrades and colleagues. In the last class of seminary, he had to endure a dangerous illness, and he vowed to take monastic vows if he recovered. Upon recovery, he did not forget his vow, but postponed its fulfillment for several years, "huddled," as he put it. However, his conscience haunted him. And the more time passed, the more painful the reproaches of conscience became. Periods of carefree youthful fun and carelessness were replaced by periods of acute melancholy and sadness, intense prayer and tears.

Once, being already in Lipetsk and walking in the neighboring forest, he, standing on the bank of the stream, clearly heard in his murmur the words: "Praise God, love God ..." At home, secluded from prying eyes, he fervently prayed to the Mother of God to enlighten him mind and direct his will. In general, he did not have a persistent will and already in old age told his spiritual children: “You must obey me from the first word. In the same Tambov diocese, in the village of Troekurovo, the well-known ascetic Hilarion lived at that time. Alexander Mikhailovich came to him for advice, and the elder told him: "Go to Optina Pustyn and you will be experienced. You could go to Sarov, but now there are no more experienced elders, as before." (The elder St. Seraphim died shortly before this). When the summer holidays of 1839 came, Alexander Mikhailovich, together with his fellow at the seminary and colleague at the Lipetsk school, Pokrovsky, having equipped a wagon, went on a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra to bow to the abbot of the Russian land - St. Sergius.

Returning to Lipetsk, Alexander Mikhailovich continued to doubt and could not immediately decide to break with the world. This happened, however, after one evening at a party, when he amused everyone present. Everyone was happy and happy and went home in a good mood. As for Alexander Mikhailovich, if earlier in such cases he felt repentance, now his imagination vividly imagined his vow to God, he remembered the burning of the spirit in the Trinity Lavra and the previous long prayers, sighs and tears, the definition of God, transmitted through about ... Hilarion.

The next morning, resolve was firmly ripe this time. Fearing that the persuasion of relatives and friends would shake his resolve, Alexander Mikhailovich secretly left everyone for Optina, without even asking permission from the diocesan authorities.

Here Alexander Mikhailovich found during his lifetime the very flower of her monasticism: such pillars of her as Abbot Moses, elders Leo (Leonid) and Macarius. The head of the skete was Hieroschemamonk Anthony, brother of Fr. Moses, ascetic and seer.

In general, all monasticism under the leadership of the elders bore the imprint of spiritual virtues. Simplicity (cunning), meekness and humility were the hallmarks of Optina monasticism. The younger brothers tried to humble themselves not only in front of their elders, but also in front of their equals, fearing even offending another with a glance, and at the slightest misunderstanding they hurried to ask each other for forgiveness.

So, Alexander Grenkov arrived at the monastery on October 8, 1839. Leaving the cab at the Gostiny Dvor, he immediately hurried to the church, and after the liturgy - to Elder Leo to ask for his blessing to stay in the monastery. The elder blessed him to live for the first time in a hotel and rewrite the book "Sinful salvation" (translated from modern Greek) - about the struggle with passions.

In January 1840 he went to live in a monastery, not yet dressing in a cassock. At this time, there was a clerical correspondence with the diocesan authorities about his disappearance, and a decree from the Kaluga bishop had not yet followed to the rector Optinsky on the admission of teacher Grenkov to the monastery.

In April 1840 A. M. Grenkov was finally blessed to wear a monastic robe. For some time he was Elder Leo's cell-attendant and his reader (rule and service). At first he worked in the monastery bakery, cooked hops (yeast), baked rolls. Then in November 1840 he was transferred to the skete. From there, the young novice did not stop going to Elder Leo for edification. In the skete, he was an assistant cook for a whole year. He often had to come to Elder Macarius at work, then receive a blessing regarding the meal, then ring the bell for the meal, then for other reasons. At the same time, he had the opportunity to tell the elder about his state of mind and get answers. The goal was that not temptation would overcome man, but that man would overcome temptation.

Elder Leo especially loved the young novice, affectionately calling him Sasha. But out of educational motives, he experienced his humility in public. He pretended to thunder anger against him. To this end, gave him the nickname "Chimera". By this word, he meant the barren flowers that can be found on cucumbers. But to others he said about him: "The man will be great." Expecting an imminent death, Elder Leo summoned Father Fr. Macarius and told him about the novice Alexander: "Here is a man who is painfully huddled with us, elders. I am now very weak. So I give him to you from floor to floor, own him as you know."

After the death of Elder Leo, brother Alexander became the cell attendant of Elder Macarius (1841-46). In 1842 he was tonsured into the mantle and named Ambrose (in honor of Saint Ambrose of Mediolan, Comm. 7 December). This was followed by hierodeaconism (1843), and 2 years later - ordination as a hieromonk.

Health about. Ambrose was greatly shaken during these years. During a trip to the priestly ordination in Kaluga on December 7, 1846, he caught a cold and was ill for a long time, having received complications in his internal organs. Since then, he has never been able to truly recover. However, he did not lose heart and confessed that bodily weakness had a beneficial effect on his soul. "It is good for a monk to be ill," Elder Ambrose liked to repeat, "and in an illness one does not need to be cured, but only to be cured." And to others, as a consolation, he said: "God does not demand physical deeds from the patient, but only patience with humility and thanksgiving."

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, keeping his former name. However, quite unexpectedly for many, the patient began to recover and even go out for walks. This turning point in the course of the disease was a clear action of the power of God, and Elder Ambrose himself later said: "Merciful God! In a monastery, the sick do not die soon, but stretch and drag until the illness brings them real benefit. It is useful to be a little sick in a monastery. so that the flesh, especially among the young, is less rebellious, and trifles come to mind less. "

Not only did the Lord bring up the spirit of the future great elder during these years with bodily weaknesses, but also the communication with the elder brothers, among whom there were many true ascetics, had a beneficial effect on Father Ambrose. Let us cite as an example one case that the elder himself later related.

Soon after Fr. Ambrose was ordained a deacon and was supposed to serve the liturgy in the Vvedensky church, before the service he went to the hegumen Anthony, who was standing in the altar, to receive a blessing from him, and Fr. Antony asks him: "Well, are you getting used to it?" Fr. Ambrose answers him cheekily: "With your prayers, father!" Then Fr. Anthony continues: "To the fear of God? ..." O. Ambrose realized the inappropriateness of his tone in the altar and was embarrassed. “So, - Fr. Ambrose concluded his story, - the former elders knew how to teach us to reverence.”

Communication with Elder Macarius was especially important for his spiritual growth during these years. Despite the illness, Fr. Ambrose remained, as before, in complete obedience to the elder, giving an account to him even in the smallest thing. With the blessing of Fr. 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 Elder Macarius, Fr. Ambrose was able to learn the art of the arts - intellectual prayer without any special stumbling blocks. This monastic deed is fraught with many dangers, since the devil tries to lead a person into a state of delusion and with significant sorrow, since an inexperienced ascetic, under plausible pretexts, tries to fulfill his will. A monk who does not have a spiritual guide can seriously damage his soul on this path, as happened in his time with Elder Macarius himself, who independently studied this art. Father Ambrose, however, was able to avoid troubles and sorrows during the passage of mental prayer precisely because he had the most experienced mentor in the person of Elder Macarius. The latter was very fond of his student, which, however, did not prevent him from exposing Fr. Ambrose to some humiliation to break his pride. Elder Macarius brought up in him a strict ascetic, adorned with poverty, humility, patience, and other monastic virtues. When for Fr. Ambrose will intercede: "Father, he is a sick man!" - "And I really know you worse," - the old man will say. "But reprimands and remarks to a monk are brushes with which sinful dust is erased from his soul; and without this the monk rusts."

Even during the life of Elder Macarius, with his blessing, some of the brethren came to Fr. Ambrose to open thoughts.

Here is how Abbot Mark (who ended his life in retirement in Optina) tells about it. “As far as I could notice,” he says, “Fr. Ambrose lived at that time in complete silence. meant that he was with Elder Macarius, whom he helped in correspondence with spiritual children, or worked in translating patristic books. Sometimes I found him on the bed and with restrained and barely perceptible tears. I would always feel the presence of God, according to the psalmist: "... I will take out the foreknowledge of the Lord before me" (Psalm 15: 8), and therefore, whatever he did, he tried to do for the sake of the Lord and to please Him. Therefore, he always complained, fearing that I might offend the Lord, which was reflected on his face. Seeing such concentration of my elder, I was always in his presence in trembling reverence. Yes, otherwise I could not be. When, as usual, I knelt in front of him, so that the floor To receive a blessing, he very quietly asked me: “What do you say, brother, cute?” Perplexed by his concentration and affection, I answered: “Forgive me, for God's sake, father. Maybe I came at the wrong time? "-" No, - the elder will say, - say what is necessary, but briefly. "And, having listened to me with attention, he with reverence will give useful instruction and let go with love.

He did not teach the instructions from his own sophistication and reasoning, although he was rich in spiritual intelligence. If he taught spiritual children related to him, then, as it were, among a student, and offered not his own advice, but certainly the active teaching of the Holy Fathers. " , will say in a deplorable tone: "Brother, brother! I am a dying person. "Or:" I will die today or tomorrow. What will I do with this brother? I’m not the abbot. You need to reproach yourself, humble yourself before your brother - and you will calm down. "Such an answer evoked self-reproach in Fr. Mark's soul, and he, humbly bowing to the elder and asking for forgiveness, left reassured and comforted," as if he flew away on wings. "

Besides the monks, Fr. Macarius brought Fr. Ambrose and his worldly spiritual children. Seeing him talking to them, Elder Macarius jokingly says: "Look, look! Ambrose is taking my bread away!" Thus Elder Macarius gradually prepared himself a worthy successor. When Elder Macarius reposed (Sept. 7, 1860), then gradually the circumstances developed in such a way that Fr. Ambrose was put in his place. 40 days after the death of Elder Macarius, Fr. Ambrose moved to another building, near the skete fence, on the right side of the bell tower. On the western side of this building, an extension was made, called a "shack" for receiving women (they were not allowed into the skete). Father Ambrose lived here for thirty years (before leaving for Shamordino), serving his neighbors on his own.

He had two cell attendants: Fr. Michael and Fr. Joseph (future elder). The chief clerk was Fr. Clement (Zedergolm), the son of a Protestant pastor who converted to Orthodoxy, a learned man, a master of Greek literature.

To listen to the rule, at first he got up at 4 in the morning, rang the bell, to which the cell attendants came to him and read the morning prayers, 12 selected psalms and the first hour, after which he was alone in mental prayer. Then, after a short rest, the elder listened to the clock: the third, the sixth with the pictorial and, depending on the day, the canon with the akathist to the Savior or the Mother of God. He listened to these akathists while standing. After prayer and a light breakfast, a work day began with a short break at lunchtime. The food was eaten by the elder in such an amount that is given to a three-year-old child. During the meal, the attendants continue to ask him questions on behalf of the visitors. After some rest, the intense work resumed - and so on until late evening. Despite the extreme exhaustion and soreness of the elder, the day always ended with an evening prayer rule, which consisted of Little Compline, Canon to the Guardian Angel and evening prayers. From incessant reports, the cell attendants, who now and then led to the elder and led out the visitors, could barely keep their feet. The elder himself at times lay almost unconscious. After the canon, the elder asked for forgiveness, "the fir of those who sinned by deed, word, thought." The cell attendants received the blessing and headed for the exit. The clock will ring. “How much is it?” The elder will ask in a weak voice, “they will answer:“ Twelve. ”“ They’re too late, ”he will say.

Two years later, the elder suffered a new illness. His health, already weak, was completely weakened. Since then, he could no longer go to the temple of God and had to receive communion in a cell. In 1869, his state of health was so poor 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 vigil in cell and then unction, the elder's health succumbed to treatment, but extreme weakness did not leave him throughout his life.

Such severe aggravations were repeated more than once. It is difficult to imagine how he could, being nailed to such a suffering ailment, in complete exhaustion of strength, receive crowds of people every day and answer dozens of letters. The words came true on it: "The power of God is made perfect in weakness." If he were not the chosen vessel of God, through which God Himself spoke and acted, such a feat, such a gigantic labor could not be accomplished by any human forces. The life-giving Divine grace was clearly present here and cooperated.

The grace of God, which rested in abundance on the elder, was the source of those spiritual gifts with which he served his neighbors, comforting the grieving, confirming the doubters in the faith and edifying everyone on the path of salvation.

Among the spiritual blessed gifts of Elder Ambrose, who attracted thousands of people to him, one should first of all mention clairvoyance. He penetrated deeply into the soul of his interlocutor and read in it as in an open book, not needing his explanations. With a light, imperceptible hint to anyone, he pointed out to people their weaknesses and made them think seriously about them. One lady, who often visited Elder Ambrose, became very addicted to playing cards and was embarrassed to admit it to him. Once, at a general reception, she began to ask the elder for a card. The elder attentively, with his special, intent gaze, looking at her, said: "What are you, mother? Do we play cards in the monastery?" She took the hint and repented of her weakness to the elder. With his perspicacity, the elder greatly surprised many and disposed them to immediately completely surrender to his leadership, in the confidence that the priest knew better than them what they needed and what was useful to them and what was harmful.

One young girl who graduated from higher courses in Moscow, whose mother had long been the spiritual daughter of Fr. Ambrose, never seeing the elder, did not love him and called him "a hypocrite." Mother persuaded her to visit Fr. Ambrose. Having come to the elder for a general reception, the girl stood behind everyone, at the very door. The elder entered and, opening the door, closed the young girl with it. After praying and looking around everyone, he suddenly looked out the door and said: "And who is this giant standing? Is it - Vera came to see the hypocrite?" After that, he talked with her in private, and the young girl's attitude towards him completely changed: she loved him dearly, and her fate was decided - she entered the Shamordinsky monastery. Those who, with full confidence, surrendered to the elder's leadership, never repented of this, although they sometimes heard from him such advice that at first seemed strange and completely impracticable.

Usually many people gathered at the Elder's. And now one young woman, who was persuaded to visit Batiushka, is in an irritated state that she is being made to wait. Suddenly the door opens wide. An old man with a clear face appears on the doorstep and says loudly: "Who are impatient here, come to me." Approaches a young woman and leads her to him. After talking with him, she becomes a frequent guest of Optina and a visitor to Father Fr. Ambrose.

A group of women gathered at the fence, and one elderly woman with a sickly face, sitting on a stump, said that she walked from Voronezh with sore legs, hoping that the elder would heal her. Seven miles from the monastery, she got lost, was exhausted, hitting the snow-covered paths, and in tears fell on a fallen log. At this time, an old man in a cassock and a skufeyka approached her and asked about the reason for her tears, he indicated the direction of the path with a stick. She went in the indicated direction and, turning behind the bushes, she immediately saw the monastery. Everyone decided that it was a monastery forester or one of the cell attendants; when suddenly a clerk she knew came out onto the porch and asked loudly: "Where is Avdotya from Voronezh?" All were silent, exchanging glances. The servant repeated his question louder, adding that Father was calling her. - "My dear girls! Why, Avdotya is from Voronezh, I myself am!" - exclaimed a storyteller who had just arrived with sore legs. Everyone parted, and the wanderer, hobbled to the porch, disappeared into its door. Fifteen minutes later she left the house all in tears, and sobbing answered the questions that the old man who showed her the way in the forest was none other than Father Ambrose himself or someone very much like him. But in the monastery there was no one like Fr. Ambrose, and he himself could not leave the cell in winter due to pain, and then he suddenly appeared in the forest as a signpost to the wanderer, and then after half an hour, almost at the minute of her arrival, he already knew about her in detail!

Here is one of the cases of Elder Ambrose's sagacity, told by one of the Elder's visitors - a certain artisan: “Not long before the Elder's death, in two years, I had to go to Optina for money. I received my money and before leaving I went to Elder Ambrose to take a blessing on the way back. me in K. The elder, as usual, had death on that day. to the court, but the honor and joy of being with the elder and drinking tea with him were so great that I decided to postpone my trip until the evening in full confidence that at least I would go all night, and I would have time to get there.

Evening comes, I went to the elder. The old man received me so cheerful, so joyful that I don't even feel the earth beneath me. Father, our angel, held me for quite a long time, it was almost dusk, and he said to me: "Well, go with God. Sleep here, and tomorrow I bless you to go to mass, and from Mass, come to me for tea." How is this so? - I think. Yes, he did not dare to contradict. I spent the night, was at mass, went to the elder to have tea, and I myself grieve for my customers and I figure out everything: Perhaps, they say, I’ll have time to get to K. by evening. No way! He drank some tea. I want to say to the elder: "Bless me to go home," but he did not give me a word to say: "Come," he says, "to spend the night with me today." Even my legs gave way, but I dare not argue. A day has passed, a night has passed! In the morning I have grown bolder and I think: I was not, and today I will leave; Maybe for a day, my customers have been waiting for me. Where are you going! And the elder did not let me open my mouth. “Go,” he says, “to the all-night vigil today, and tomorrow to mass. What a parable this is! At this point I was already completely grieved and, I must confess, I sinned against the elder: here is the seer! He knows for sure that, by his grace, now a profitable business has gone out of my hands. And so I am not at peace with the elder, which I cannot convey. I had no time for prayer that time at the all-night vigil - and pushed into my head: "Here's your old man! Here's your seer ...! Your earnings are now whistling." Oh, how annoyed I was at that time! And my old man, as a sin, well, just, forgive me, Lord, in a mockery of me, such a joyful person after the all-night vigil meets me! ... I felt bitter, offended: and what, I think, is he happy about ... But all the same I dare not express my grief out loud. I spent the night in such and such an order for the third night. During the night, my grief gradually subsided: you can't turn back that which was floating but slipped through your fingers ... The next morning I come to the elder, and he told me: "Well, now it's time for you to go to the court! Go with God! God bless! But don't forget in time Thank God! "

And here all sorrow disappeared from me. I left Optina Hermitage for myself, but my heart is so light and joyful that it’s impossible to convey ... Why did the priest just tell me: “Then don’t forget to thank God!” ... I must, I think, for that, that the Lord deigned to be in the temple for three days. I am going home slowly and I don’t think about my customers at all, it was very gratifying to me that my father treated me this way. I came home, and what do you think? I am at the gate, and my customers follow me; they were late, which means they were against the agreement for three days to come. Well, I think, oh, you are my gracious old man! Truly marvelous are Thy works, O Lord! ... However, this is not the end of it all. Listen to what happened next!

Not little has passed since that time. Our father Ambrose died. Two years after his righteous death, my senior master fell ill. He was my trusted person, and he was not an employee, but just gold. He lived with me hopelessly for more than twenty years. Sick to death. We sent for a priest to confess and commune, while in memory. Only, I see, a priest comes to me from a dying man and says: "The patient is calling you to him, he wants to see you. Hurry up, as if he might die." I come to the patient, and when he saw me, he raised himself somehow on his elbows, looked at me and how he would cry: "Forgive my sin, master! I wanted to kill you ..." "What are you, God be with you! you ... "" No, master, I really wanted to kill you. Do you remember that you were three days late to arrive from Optina. After all, the three of us, according to my agreement, watched you on the road under the bridge for three nights in a row; I was carrying the iconostasis from Optina, they envied you. You wouldn’t be alive that night, but the Lord for someone’s prayers took you away from death without repentance ... Forgive me, accursed one, let me go, for God's sake, my darling in peace! " "God forgive you, as I forgive." Then my patient wheezed and began to end. The kingdom of heaven to his soul. Great was the sin, but great was the repentance!

Elder Ambrose's perspicacity was combined with another most valuable gift, especially for a shepherd - prudence. His instructions and advice were visual and practical theology for people who are thoughtful about religion. The elder often gave instructions in a half-joking form, which encouraged the despondent, but the deep meaning of his speeches was not diminished in the least. People involuntarily pondered over the figurative expressions of Fr. Ambrose and remembered the lesson given to him for a long time. Sometimes at general receptions the invariable question was heard: "How to live?" In such cases, the elder complacently replied: "We must live on the earth as a wheel turns, with one point touching the ground, and the rest tends upward; but we, as we lay down, cannot get up."

Let us cite, for example, some other statements of the elder.

"Where it is simple, there are about a hundred angels, and where it is tricky, there is not a single one."

"Do not boast of peas that you are better than beans, if you get soaked, you will burst yourself."

"Why is a person bad? - Because he forgets that God is above him."

"Whoever thinks of himself that he has something, he will lose."

The elder's prudence extended to practical questions, far from the problems of spiritual life. Here's an example.

A wealthy Oryol landowner comes to the priest and, by the way, announces that he wants to arrange a water supply system in his vast apple orchards. Batiushka is already covered by this plumbing. “People say,” he begins with his usual words in such a case, “people say that this is the best way,” and describes in detail the arrangement of the water supply system. The landowner, having returned, begins to read literature on this topic and learns that the priest has described the latest inventions in this technique. The landowner is again in Optina. "Well, what's the plumbing?" - asks the priest. Everywhere apples are spoiling, and the landowner gets a rich harvest of apples.

Prudence and foresight were combined in Elder Ambrose with an amazing, purely maternal tenderness of the heart, thanks to which he was able to alleviate the most difficult grief and console the most mournful soul.

One resident of Kozelsk, 3 years after the death of the elder, in 1894, told about herself the following: “I had a son, he served in the telegraph office, delivered telegrams. Father knew both him and me. The son often carried telegrams for him, and I went for a blessing. But my son fell ill with consumption and died. I came to him - we all went to him with our grief. He stroked my head and said: "Your telegram broke!" and I began to cry. And I felt so light in my soul from his caress, as if a stone had fallen. We lived with him, as with our own father. Now there are no such elders. Maybe God will send more! "

Love and wisdom - these are the qualities that attracted people to the elder. From morning until evening, people came to him with the most urgent questions, into which he delved deeply, with which he lived during the minute of the conversation. He always grasped the essence of the matter at once, explained it in an incomprehensibly wise way and gave an answer. But in the course of 10-15 minutes of such a conversation, more than one issue was resolved, but at this time Fr. Ambrose contained in his heart the whole person - with all his attachments, desires - all his world, internal and external. From his words and his instructions, it was clear that he loves not only the one with whom he speaks, but also everyone loved by this person, his life, everything that is dear to him. Offering his solution, Fr. Ambrose had in mind not just one case in itself, regardless of the consequences that might arise from it, both for this person and for others, but having in mind all aspects of life with which this case came into contact in some way. How much mental stress must be in order to solve such problems? And such questions were offered to him by dozens of lay people, not counting the monks and fifty letters that came and were sent every day. The elder's word was with authority based on closeness to God, which gave him omniscience. It was a prophetic ministry.

There were no trifles for the elder. He knew that everything in life has a price and consequences; and therefore there was no question to which he would not answer with sympathy and a desire for good. Once the old man was stopped by a woman who was hired by the landowner to go after turkeys, but for some reason her turkeys were dead, and the hostess wanted to calculate her. “Father!” She turned to him with tears, “I’m not strong; I don’t eat up over them myself,“ the shore is worse than eyes, but they stab. The lady wants to drive me away. Have pity on me, darling. ” Those present laughed at her. And the elder sympathetically asked her how she feeds them, and gave her advice on how to support them differently, blessed her and let her go. To those who laughed at her, he noticed that these turkeys were her whole life. After it became known that the woman's turkeys were no longer prickly.

As for the healings, they were innumerable and it is impossible to list them in this short essay. The elder covered these healings in every possible way. He sent the sick to the Hermitage to St. Tikhon Kaluzhsky, where the source was. Until Elder Ambrose, no one heard of healings in this Desert. You might think that St. Tikhon began to heal through the prayer of the elder. Sometimes Fr. Ambrose sent the sick to St. Mitrofan Voronezh. It happened that they were healed on the way there and returned back to thank the elder. Sometimes he, as if in jest, bangs his hand on the head, and the disease goes away. One day a reader who was reading prayers suffered from severe toothache. Suddenly the old man hit him. The audience chuckled, thinking that the reader must have made a reading mistake. In fact, his toothache stopped. Knowing the elder, some women turned to him: "Father Ambrose! Beat me, my head hurts."

The spiritual strength of the elder was sometimes manifested in completely exceptional cases.

Once Elder Ambrose, bent over, leaning on a stick, was walking from somewhere along the road to the skete. Suddenly he saw a picture: a loaded cart was standing, a dead horse was lying nearby, and a peasant was crying over it. The loss of a nurse's horse in peasant life is a sheer misfortune! Approaching the fallen horse, the elder began to walk slowly around it. Then, taking a twig, he lashed the horse, shouting at it: "Get up, you lazy person" - 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 prayerful intercession of the elder before God. Let us cite the memoirs of one nun, the spiritual daughter of Fr. Ambrose.

"In his cell there were lamps burning and a small wax candle on the table. It was dark for me to read from the note and there was no time. I said that I remembered, and then in a hurry, and then added:" Father, what else can I say to you? What to repent of? “I forgot." raised his hands up, as if in a prayer position. At that time it seemed to me that his feet were separated from the floor. I looked at his illuminated head and face. It was clear to me. ”A minute later, the priest leaned over me, amazed at what he saw, and, crossing me, said the following words:“ Remember, this is what repentance can lead to. Go. ”I left him, staggering, and all night cried about my foolishness and negligence. In the morning they gave us horses, and we left. During the life of the elder, I could not tell anyone this. He once and for all forbade me to talk about such cases, saying with a threat: "Otherwise you will be deprived of my help and grace."

From all parts of Russia, the poor and the rich, the intelligentsia and commoners, flocked to the old man's shack. It was attended by famous public figures and writers: F. M. Dostoevsky, V. S. Soloviev, K. N. Leontiev, L. N. Tolstoy, M. N. Pogodin, N. M. Strakhov and others. And he received everyone with the same love and benevolence. Charity was always his need, he distributed alms through his cell attendant, and he himself took care of widows, orphans, sick and suffering. In the last years of the elder's life, 12 versts from Optina, in the village of Shamordino, a female Kazan hermitage was established with his blessing, in which, unlike other convents of that time, more poor and sick women were accepted. By the 90s of the 19th century, the number of nuns in it reached 500 people.

It was in Shamordino that Elder Ambrose was destined to meet the hour of his death. On June 2, 1890, as usual, he went there for the summer. At the end of the summer, the elder tried three times to return to Optina, but could not because of ill health. A year later, on September 21, 1891, the disease intensified so that he lost both his hearing and voice. His dying sufferings began - so severe that he, as he confessed, had not experienced the likes of them in his entire life. On September 8, Hieromonk Joseph assisted him (together with Fr. Theodore and Anatoly), and the next day he gave the Holy Communion. On the same day, the abbot of Optina Hermitage, Archimandrite Isaac, came to the elder in Shamordino. The next day, October 10, 1891, at half past eleven, the elder sighed three times and crossed himself with difficulty, and died.

The funeral liturgy with the rite of funeral service was performed at the Vvedensky Cathedral of Optina Pustyn. About 8 thousand people came to the funeral. On October 15, the body of the elder was interred from the southeastern side of the Vvedensky Cathedral, next to his teacher, Hieroschemamonk Macarius. It is very noteworthy that it was on this day, October 15, and just a year before his death, in 1890, that Elder Ambrose established a feast in honor of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "The Contestant of the Breads", before which he himself many times offered up his fervent prayers.

Immediately after his death, miracles began in which the elder, as in his lifetime, healed, instructed, and called for repentance.

The years passed. But the path to the elder's grave did not overgrow. A time of great upheaval has come. Optina Pustyn was closed and ruined. The chapel on the elder's grave was wiped off the face of the earth. But the memory of the great saint of God could not be destroyed. People randomly designated the location of the chapel and continued to flow to their mentor.

In November 1987, Optina Hermitage was returned to the Church. And in June 1988, Elder Ambrose of Optina was canonized by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. On October 23 (new Art.), On the day of his death (the established day of his memory), a solemn bishop's service was performed in Optina Hermitage with a large gathering of pilgrims. By this time, the relics of the Monk Ambrose had already been acquired. All those who participated in the celebration experienced on that day that pure and inexpressible joy, which the holy elder loved so much to bestow upon those who came to him during his lifetime. A month later, on the anniversary of the revival of the monastery, by the grace of God, a miracle happened: at night after the service in the Vvedensky Cathedral, the Kazan icon of the Mother of God and relics, as well as the icon of St. Ambrose, were streaming myrrh. Other miracles were performed from the relics of the elder, with which he certifies that he does not leave us, sinners, with his intercession before our Lord Jesus Christ. Glory to Him forever! Amen.

A multitude of people flock to Optina Hermitage to the shrine with the relics of St. Ambrose of Optina. The popular veneration of this saint began long ago, during his lifetime. Ambrose did not have an important rank, was neither abbot nor archimandrite. This saint reposed in the rank of a simple hieroschemamonk. However, he achieved such holiness that word spread not only throughout Russia, but also abroad.

The beginning of life

The Monk Ambrose of Optina (biography will be described below) was born in 1812, on December 5, in a new style. In the world he bore the name 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 in total: four boys and four girls.

Informative!: what are these tablets and what is the meaning

Many guests came to the house for the birth of Alexander. On this occasion the monk would later often joke: "I was born in public and spend my whole life in public." Ros Sasha was a nimble, cheerful fidget, often naughty. I learned the letter from the Book of Hours and the Psalter. On Sunday and church holidays, the boy sang and read with his father in the kliros.

The father passed away early, leaving the mother with eight children alone. The family had to move to the priest's grandfather. When the boy was twelve years old, he was sent to a theological school.

Sasha studied well and after graduating from the educational institution entered the theological seminary, which he also graduated with honors. After that, I did not enter the theological academy and was also in no hurry to accept the rank, as if thinking about the future path.

Ambrose Optinsky in the world was distinguished by a cheerful disposition, an excellent sense of humor and was the soul of any company. He often joked and thus amused his friends.

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 fell seriously ill. And then he tearfully prayed to God for his own healing, promising to take monasticism in case of recovery. The young man recovered and did not forget his promise to the Lord, but he did not dare to have a haircut as a monk, postponing this decision. Most likely, he doubted whether he could become a good monk with such a love of life, mobility and a cheerful disposition.

So time went on, the young man worked, had fun at his leisure, spent time in noisy companies. But more and more often he felt the reproaches of his conscience, as if someone was rushing him to fulfill his promise. And then one day, while Ambrose Optinsky was walking in the forest, I heard a Voice in the murmur of a brook: “Praise God! Keep God! " Then he began to fervently pray to the Mother of God to enlighten and strengthen him.

Monasticism

At that time, the perspicacious elder Illarion lived in the Tambov province. Alexander went to him for guidance on which monastery to enter. The ascetic replied: "Go to Optina Pustyn, there you are needed." But even after that, the young man did not immediately rush to the monastery, but continued to work.

During the summer holidays, together with a colleague, we went on a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. There Alexander prayed fervently for God's help. Upon his return from the monastery, he continued to live in the world, still doubting the acceptance of monasticism.

But once, after another friendly party, Alexander especially felt remorse for an unrestrained vow to God. The future ascetic spent the whole 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 said nothing to anyone.

Arriving in the Hermitage, Alexander found the elders in full swing. Elderhood has been developed in Russia since antiquity. Usually monks were called elders who attained a certain spiritual experience through asceticism and unceasing prayer. These people had the gift of clairvoyance 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. The young Alexander Grenkov, who arrived in the Hermitage, still found Saints Leo and Macarius, the pillars of eldership, still alive. Day of arrival at the monastery - December 8, 1839.

Upon arrival in the Hermitage, Alexander immediately found Elder Leo in order to take his blessing for monastic life. The monk blessed the young man to live for the first time in a monastery hotel and to translate a spiritual book.

A month later, the elder allowed Alexander to live in the monastery itself, without wearing a cassock. It was necessary to settle matters with the administration of the school, where Grenkov taught, and to await the bishop's decree on his enrollment in the staff of the monastery.

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 the Elder Leo. The elder loved him very much, affectionately calling him "Sasha." Soon Leo, sensing his imminent demise, said to Macarius: "I convey this novice to you."

After the death of Lev, Alexander became Macarius's cell attendant. In 1841, the novice was trimmed into a cassock, and a year later - into a mantle with the name Ambrose (in honor of St. Ambrose of Mediolan). In 1843 he became a hierodeacon, and two years later - a hieromonk.

From that time on, Ambrose Optinsky felt his health deteriorating, caught a bad cold and received a serious complication in his internal organs. In his spiritual teachings, he often said that illness is of great benefit to the soul. The patient is not required to work ascetic, but only patience and prayer.

Throughout his monastic life, the saint resignedly endured constant illness. His gastritis was aggravated, vomiting began, neurological pains appeared, then kidneys ached. Despite his illness, Ambrose, with the blessing of Macarius, translated spiritual books, and most importantly, he taught the young monk unceasing intellectual prayer.

Important! The Jesus Prayer, otherwise called "smart", is done by monks and pious laity. It consists in pronouncing with the mind the words in the heart "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Usually it is helped to say a rosary - this way you can find out how many times a prayer has been recited.

Eldership

In 1860, Elder Macarius reposed, Ambrose took over the baton. By that time, he had already reached holiness and had been receiving people for 12 years with the blessing of Macarius. So 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 a 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 light and joyful in the photo of those years.

Radiant, kind eyes, an open smile are visible. In 1862 the monk finally took to bed, could no longer attend divine services, so he received communion in his cell. But, despite this, he did not stop receiving streams of visitors, answering letters.

Informative! Who is he and how does he help people

The saint had a sharp mind and an excellent sense of humor, often joked, and besides, he knew how to write poetry. The teachings of Elder Ambrose of Optinsky were almost all in a poetic, half-joking form.

Everyone knows his words:

1. "You can live in the world, but not on the Jura, but to live quietly."
2. "To live is not to grieve, not to condemn anyone, not to annoy anyone, and my respect to everyone."
3. Often the elder said: "To live in a monastery, you need patience, not a cart, but a whole train."
4. "Monks cannot be treated, but only sometimes receive medical treatment."
5. "Do not boast, peas, that you are better than beans, if you get wet, you will burst yourself."
6. “You shouldn't speak in the church. For this sorrow is sent. "

The rumor about a kind and wise old man soon spread throughout all of Russia. People of different classes traveled to Optina Pustyn: rich and poor, he did not distinguish between people, he accepted everyone equally with love. Such famous writers as Leo Tolstoy and Dostoevsky came to see the elder.

His foresight 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 up and down the room.

And when the girl was outside the door in the corner, the door suddenly swung open, the old man came out and said, looking out the door: “Who do we have here? And, 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.

Shamorda monastery

In the last years of his life, the elder took up the arrangement of the convent in Shamordino (located 12 versts from Optina Pustyn). He spiritually nourished this monastery until his death. It is known that one of the Shamorda 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: "Again they begged!"

The elder departed to the Lord on October 22, 1891 in the Shamorda monastery. Before his death, he accepted the great schema. The image of the saint formed the basis for Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. Just as in the novel, in fact, the smell of decay emanated from his relics at first. This was predicted by Ambrose during his lifetime. But later the stench disappeared, and a wonderful fragrance spread.

Useful video: the life and admonition of Ambrose Optinsky

Veneration of the 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 the day of remembrance, crowds of people flock to the Vvedensky Cathedral of the Optina Hermitage, where the relics of Ambrose of Optina rest. There is also an icon of Ambrose of Optina, from which many receive healings from diseases. The icon depicts an old man in the schema, as he was buried.

Many are interested in what helps Saint Avmrose of Optina?

They pray to the elder on various occasions:

• with various diseases of the body and mind (including demonic possessions);
• with family strife, quarrels, divorce;
• in the desire to find a companion (life partner);
• in office troubles;
• about children who are not given education;
• about admonishing lost children.

And in many ways, the saint helps people who turn to him in prayers.

The Women's Skete of Ambrose of Optina is located in Belarus at the site of the finding of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Zhirovichi. In 2005 it received the status of a skete, and it was decided to name it in honor of Ambrose of Optina. So the veneration of the saint spread outside Russia, in Belarus.

Interesting! The skete is currently under construction, although some churches are already in operation.

Useful video: showing the way to the salvation of Ambrose Optinsky

Output

Saint Ambrose of Optina made an invaluable contribution to the Russian eldership. He became a beloved 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.

In contact with

The elders who lived in Optina Hermitage played an important role in the spiritual development of our Motherland. Saint Ambrose of Optina, a simple monk who did not have high church positions, enjoys special veneration. But he possessed an imperishable treasure - humility, as well as other God's gifts.

Life of Ambrose Optinsky

Was born in the Tambov region, in a modest large family, which soon lost its breadwinner. His grandfather was a priest, his father was a sexton (bell ringer). Perhaps that is why the boy from childhood had a craving for monastic life, but he did not immediately decide on it. He studied very well, graduated from a theological school with honors. As a seminarian, Alexander fell very seriously ill. Then he promised God that he would go to the monastery if the Lord would heal him. However, several more years passed before the promise was fulfilled.

According to the ascetic himself, it was hard for him to say goodbye to worldly life. The decisive moment was a trip to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. There he met a spiritual mentor, who blessed him to go to Optina. The young man decided to follow the advice without delay, as if he was afraid to change his mind again. So he began his ascent to holiness.

The life of Ambrose of Optina in the monastery cannot be called easy. Everyone starts their way there with hard physical labor. It happened with Alexander. The young man was already in very poor health. In addition, he was very well educated, knew several foreign languages. However, he worked in the kitchen - he helped to bake bread. Those who have been to monasteries know that obedience in the kitchen is one of the most difficult. You have to get up very early and leave your workplace late at night.

But the trials did not break the young man, and soon he became a monk with the name Ambrose, after 3 years he was already a hieromonk (priest). All his life the saint endured many severe physical ailments. They even somehow prepared him for death, because it seemed to the brothers that Ambrose would not survive after another illness. But he lived to be 78 years old. He managed to do a lot for his spiritual children.

Prayer of Ambrose of Optina

Monks are special people who devote their whole lives to praying. It's not as easy as it sounds. It takes composure, diligence and will. The Holy Fathers instruct the laity to more often resort to this blessed remedy. Ambrose of Optina compiled various prayer rules that are within the power of any believer.

• When enemies (or ill-wishers) attack, during temptations - psalms 3, 53, 58 and 142. You can read not all, but those that you like best. Read every day.
• If despondency attacks, sorrow weighs heavily - psalm 101.

These prayers, compiled by King David, have great healing power.

Prayer to Ambrose of Optina helps many people in our time. Here are just a few pieces of evidence:

• The young man fell ill with an infectious lung disease. After anointing with the consecrated oil from Optina and praying to the monk, the next morning he got up healthy.
• The girl, who was unfairly fired - helped to find a job, the offer was received on the same day after the prayer in the church.
• A man who was looking for his place in life, through prayer, found a spouse and lives happily in marriage.

People are converted in a wide variety of situations. You can pray to Ambrose of Optina and for children - ask them for bodily health, academic success. The saint even composed a special prayer that mothers should read about their children.

O great elder and servitor of God, reverend our father Ambrose, the Optina praise of all Russia to the teacher of piety! We glorify your humble life in Christ, for whom God will exalt your name, even on earth you exist, especially crowning you with heavenly honor after your departure to the palace of eternal glory. Accept now the prayer of us unworthy children of your (names), who honor thee and call on your holy name, deliver us by your intercession before the throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances, mental and physical ailments, evil misfortunes, pernicious and crafty temptations, sent down to our Fatherland from our great gifts peace, silence and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery, in it you yourself have asceticised and pleased with all in the Trinity our glorified God, all glory, honor and worship, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and in eyelids of centuries.

The instructions of the saint

Ambrose Optinsky is known for his teachings. He could communicate both with the simplest people, peasants, and with the best minds of his generation. For example, he was familiar with F. M. Dostoevsky, even became a prototype for one of his heroes. His teachings were very short, figurative, simple. The meaning of many of them boiled down to the fact that life should not be complicated - it is necessary to put all cares in the hands of God, and pray ourselves, show respect for our neighbors.

After Leo and Macarius, Ambrose of Optina became the most famous elder of this illustrious monastery. Outwardly, his life did not differ from many others, but the inner growth is known only to the Almighty, and he is much more important. Thanks to the deed of prayer, the elder attained holiness.

Temples and icons

The venerable elder was numbered among the saints in 1988, but during his lifetime he earned great trust and love among the people. Today in Russia there are several churches of St. Ambrose of Optina - in the Leningrad region, in the Kirov diocese, in the Tver diocese. But the relics of the monk are in the cathedral church of Optina Hermitage. There a place was prepared near St. Makarii, there is now a chapel over the grave.

The discovery was made jointly, in 1998 - then the tombs of eight saints were opened, who rested in the monastery cemetery. The icons of Ambrose of Optina depict him as a gray-haired old man, in monastic vestments. They have a fairly strong portrait resemblance to the lifetime portraits of the saint. The saint holds a rosary in his hands (after all, monks pray for them), or a scroll.

The whole life of Ambrose of Optina was dedicated to the Lord and people. Having an excellent education, he was famous for his simplicity. He lived very humbly, meekly enduring bodily infirmities, was a spiritual light for his disciples. By the prayers of our reverend fathers, may the Lord have mercy on us!

Ambrose optinsky - prayer, life, temple, icon was last modified: June 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

From a letter to the editor of "Citizen"

Having received the news of the death of his spiritual mentor, Father Ambrose of Optina, being ill and in Sergiev Posad, he prepared this article and sent it to Prince Vladimir Petrovich Meshchersky, a well-known publicist of the protection movement, publisher of the newspaper-magazine "Citizen", in which he did not publish one of his works.

§ I

"Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good",- said Pavel.

After all, we are all: you, the prince, and I are unworthy, we are all "believers" - Orthodox Christians: let us no longer please our common enemies with petty strife, who do not sleep, as you see, and rise from different sides, and in new types and with new, heterogeneous weapons (Vl. Soloviev, L. Tolstoy, various scientists and even NN Strakhov, who recently appeared as a pitiful defender of the Yasno-Polyanskiy fool)!

Is it really good-heartedness, is it possible that "morality" will be appropriate everywhere except literature?

Is it really only in literature, under the pretext of serving "ideas", that all rancor, all bile, all poison, all stubbornness and all pride, even because of unimportant shades in these ideas, will be allowed and commendable?

No! I don’t believe it! I don’t want to believe - the incorrigibility of this evil! I don’t want to despair.

Blessed memory my mentor and so many other Russian people from Ambrose - in many and many cases was one of those peacemakers, about whom it is said that they "will be called the sons of God."

He died, burdened with years and ailments, and tired at last with overwhelming labors for the correction and salvation of our ...

I would consider myself extremely wrong if I did not offer you, prince, to reprint here, firstly, the beginning of a small note by Evgeny Poselyanin about who and what he was in the world from Ambrose, when and how he became a monk, etc. ., and then a description of his death and burial (by the same author). We need to start with this, and then, we hope, the Lord will help us to add something else from ourselves.

“Hieroskhimonk Ambrose,” says Eugene II, “the elder of the Kaluga Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage, the successor of the great elders Leonid (Leo) and Macarius, peacefully died on October 10, reaching a deep, almost 80-year old age.

He was a native of the Lipetsk district, Tambov lips, came from the clergy and was called in the world Alexander Mikhailovich Grenkov. Having successfully completed the course, he was left as a teacher at the Tambov Seminary, and no one thought that he would be a monk, since in his youth he had a sociable, cheerful and lively disposition. But while being a teacher, he began to think about the calling of man, and the thought of full dedication to God began to take possession of him more and more. Not without difficulty and not without hesitation, he decided to choose a monastic life, and so that no one could take away from him the resolve for which he feared, Alexander Mikhailovich, without anticipating anyone, 25 years old, without taking leave, secretly from everyone left Tambov for advice from Elder Hilarion. The elder told him: "Go to Optina and be more experienced." Already from Optina he sent a letter to Bishop Arseny of Tambov (later Metropolitan of Kiev), in which he asked to excuse him for his act and set out the reasons that prompted him to do so. Vladyka did not condemn him.

From his solitude, the hermit called to him one of his comrades in study and service, who later also became an Optina hieromonk, and in enthusiastic words described the spiritual happiness to which he approached.

In Optina Pustyn, Alexander Grenkov, who took the name Ambrose during the tonsure, was under the guidance of the famous elder, Father Macarius.

Foreseeing what kind of lamp was being prepared for monasticism in the person of a young monk, and loving him, Father Macarius subjected him to severe trials, in which the will of the future ascetic was tempered, his humility was brought up and monastic virtues developed.

As a close assistant to Father Macarius and as a scholar, Father Ambrose worked hard in translating and publishing famous ascetic works that owe their resurrection to Optina Hermitage.

After the death - in 1866 - of Father Macarius, Father Ambrose was elected an elder.

The elder, the leader of conscience, is the person to whom people - laymen entrust themselves in the same way as monks - who seek salvation and are aware of their weakness. In addition, believers in difficult situations, in sorrows, at hours when they do not know what to do, turn to the elders, as to inspired leaders, and ask by faith for instructions: "Tell me my way, I will go to it."

Father Ambrose was distinguished by his particular experience, boundless breadth of sight, gentleness and gentleness of children. Rumor about his wisdom grew, people from all over Russia began to flock to him, and the great and scientists of the world followed the people to him. Dostoevsky visited Father Ambrose, and Count L. Tolstoy was also there more than once.

Anyone who approached Father Ambrose endured a strong, unforgettable impression, there was something in him that acted irresistibly.

Ascetic exploits and working life have long exhausted the health of Father Ambrose, but until the last days he did not refuse advice to anyone. Great ordinances were performed in his cramped cell: here they were reborn, families were provided, sorrows subsided.

Great alms flowed from Father Ambrose to all those in need. But most of all he donated to his beloved brainchild - the female Kazan community in Shamardino, 15 miles from Optina, which has a great future. Here he spent his last days and died ”(“ Moskved ”, No. 285, 15 October). From the same No. 285 I am copying another passage from Mr. Fed. Ch., Depicting very faithfully the nature of the activity of the deceased elder.

“Optina Pustyn is a good monastery. Good order in it, good monks, this is the Athos monastery in Russia ... But there are no such shrines in it as miraculous relics, as especially glorified icons that attract Russian people to other monasteries ...

Why, why, to whom did they go and go to Optina: a village woman languishing over the belt of her only begotten "angel", who departed from her to God and took with him all her earthly joys; a man with a coarse body, who came to life "lie down and die"; a bourgeois woman with a bunch of children, who has no place to bow her head; a noblewoman who was left with nothing by her husband and daughter, and a nobleman with a family, who was left idle by old age, with eight children, who came “at least a noose around his neck”; an artisan, a merchant, an official, a teacher, a landowner - with a broken health or with a crumbling state, confusing affairs and all with broken hearts? province, for the administration of the county, the metropolitan from the capital, the Grand Duke, a member of the royal family, a writer, a colonel from Tashkent, a Cossack from the Caucasus, a whole family from Siberia, a Russian atheist who has worn out his heart and thought, a Russian semi-science entangled in matters of mind and heart, a broken heart father, husband, mother, abandoned bride ... Where, to whom did all this go? What is the key here? ..

Yes, in the fact that here, in Optina, there was a heart that contained everyone, there was light, warmth, joy - consolation, help, balance of mind and heart - there was grace from Christ, there was one who was “patient, merciful, does not envy, does not boast, does not take pride, does not rage, does not look for his own, does not get irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything "- everything for Christ's sake, everything for the sake of others, - here there was love, containing everyone, there was the elder Ambrose ... "

The following verses, taken by me from the third article of the same issue (the article is signed only with the letter A), are also very good.

Among the forests, in a land far and deaf

The peaceful abode has long been sheltered,

She fenced off the world with a white wall, -

And in the sky sends a prayer after a fiery prayer.

Peaceful abode - a shelter for sick hearts,

Broken by life, offended by fate,

Or pure-hearted souls, chosen by You,

O Almighty and Omniscient Father!

Let the storm be there in the distance, the incessant rumble of the shafts,

Let the sea foam, boil with the passions of life,

Let the terrible waves rage in the open, -

Here, the pier is quiet on the right shores ...

It rustles so prayerfully and tenderly here

The tops of the trees are a fragrant pine forest;

Having humbled my stormy run, here with a silver ribbon

The river between the bushes runs thoughtfully ...

Here are temples ... monks ... and lives for many years

In the forest, in the skete of the saint, there is an old man of sagacity;

But the world learned about him: with an impatient hand

Already knocking on his door and asking the people ...

Everyone here is accepted by him: both the master and the peasant.

The rich and the poor - everyone needs a wonderful old man:

A stream of healing in the excitement of a difficult life

Here the spiritual spring beats consolation.

Here, a fighter of our deplorable days!

To a peaceful monastery for rest and prayer:

Like an ancient husband, giant fighter Antey,

Strengthened here by strength, you will again go to battle.

It is nice here. Here you can rest

With a tired soul in the struggle for the truth of God,

And you can get fresh strength here

To a new, formidable battle with disbelief and lies.

For those who have visited Optina, especially those who have lived in it for a long time, these sincere poems, of course, will recall many familiar feelings and pictures.

§ II

In No. 295 "Moskved" dated October 25, Yevgeny Poselyanin describes in some detail the death and burial of Father Ambrose; - I will give his story in a somewhat abbreviated form:

“Father Ambrose,” says EP, “has been ill for a very, very long time. 52 years ago he came to Optina with poor health; About 25 years ago, returning in a sleigh from the Optina Monastery to the skete, he was thrown out of the sleigh, received a severe cold and dislocated arms, and suffered from poor treatment by a simple veterinarian for a long time. This incident completely undermined his health. But he continued the same exorbitant labors and the same painful existence.

Doctors, at the request of those who loved the elder, who visited him, always said that his illnesses were special, and they could not say anything. "If you were asking me about a simple patient, I would say that half an hour of life remains - and he, perhaps, will live a year." The elder existed by grace. He was 79 years old.

On July 3, 1890, he left for the Kazan women's community founded by him in Shamardin, 15–20 versts from Optina, and never returned. On this community, which was extremely dear to him, he put his last worries. Last summer he was about to go back, had already gone out on the porch to get into the carriage; he felt ill, he stayed. In winter, he got a new icon of the Mother of God from somewhere. Below, among the grass and flowers, sheaves of rye stand and lie. Batiushka called the icon "The Conqueror of Breads", composed a special refrain to the general Akathist of the Theotokos, and ordered the icon to be celebrated on October 15th.

By the end of winter, Father Ambrose became terribly weak, but in the spring his strength seemed to return. In early autumn it got worse again. Those who came to him saw how sometimes he lay, broken by fatigue, his head fell back helplessly, his tongue could barely utter an answer and admonition, a barely audible, indistinct whisper flew out of his chest, and he sacrificed himself, did not refuse anyone.

By the end of September, the elder began to rush with the Shamardin buildings, ordered to leave everything and finish as soon as possible the almshouse and the orphanage. On September 21, his near-death illness began. He developed sores in his ears, which caused him severe pain. He began to lose his hearing, but the usual activities continued, and he spoke at lengths with those who came from other places and to whom he was close. He said to one nun: “This is the last suffering”; but she understood in such a way that to all the hardships of the elder's life there must be added another test — a painful illness. The disease went on as usual, but the thought of death did not occur to anyone.

In October, new disturbances began: the diocesan authorities demanded that the elder return to Optina; the bishop had to come to express his desire. Batiushka said: “When the bishop arrives, he will have to ask the elder a lot of things; there will be many people, but there will be no one to answer him - I will lie there and be silent; but as soon as he arrives, I will go on foot to my shack. "

The last days were coming.

Great consolation was sent to the departing elder: he was left alone with himself. It was necessary to see what always, from morning to night, was happening around Fr. Ambrose in order to understand what little part of the day he could use for himself, for prayer for himself, for thoughts about his soul. A terrible struggle could darken the last days of the elder, the struggle between love for his children, who were walking in a crowd towards him, and the thirst to be left alone with God and his soul before leaving the world. He became deaf and mute.

Once once, when it got better, he said: "You all do not obey, so he took away from me the gift of speech, and took away my hearing, so as not to hear how you ask to live according to your will."

He was introduced and commanded; people went to him for a blessing, and he tried to sign the sign of the cross. Only his lively visionary eyes shone with the same wisdom and strength. And then he knew how to express his affection. So, one of the closest monks, he earlier made a hot remark on the construction site and considered himself guilty. When the priest was raised to straighten him, he put his head on the shoulder of this monk and looked at him, as if asking for forgiveness.

For the past seven days, he has not eaten at all. Hearing and speech seemed to return occasionally; on the penultimate night, he spoke with one of his assistants about Shamardin's affairs. It remained hidden forever what feelings and thoughts arose in the soul of the great righteous who left the earth; he lay dumb in his cell; the movement of his lips showed that he was whispering prayers. The strength left him completely. October 10, Thursday, he leaned to the right side; interrupted breathing still showed the presence of life; at half past eleven he suddenly quivered quietly and walked away.

The expression of serene peace and clarity captured the features of his image, during his lifetime, shone with such selfless love and such truth.

On that very day, exactly at 11½ o'clock, the bishop got into the carriage to go to the elder. When, halfway there, he was told that Father Ambrose had died and at what time, he was amazed. He wept and said: "The elder performed a miracle."

No words can describe the sorrow that the Shamardin sisters felt. At first they could not believe that the father, their Father died, that he is not with them and will not be. Heavy pictures of grief filled the monastery, and by the amazing impression that the death of Fr. Ambrose made on everyone who knew him, one can judge what Fr. Ambrose was.

Between Optina and Shamardin, negotiations were going on for a long time about where to bury the priest. The Synod decided to bury it in Optina. The inability to keep even the elder's grave was a new grief for Shamardin.

On the 13th, the priest was buried. in which he stood represents a huge hall with simple wooden walls; on the walls in some places there are paintings-images. He arranged this church himself. In the last weeks of his life, to this church, which is nothing but the hall of the landowner's house with a huge annex that stood here, a number of large rooms were finally attached to the right side, communicating directly with the church by windows and doors: here Father Ambrose planned to transfer from his shamardin almshouses of those wretched who cannot move - they will not need to be taken to church, through the windows they will always hear the service.

When the bishop came from Optina, they performed a requiem, and the bishop entered the church at the sound: "Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!"

Mass began. When they began to say the funeral orations, and then the funeral service was performed, terrible sobs arose. It was especially difficult to look at the 50 children whom the priest raised in his orphanage. During the service, an unknown woman was seen bringing a baby to the coffin, praying and crying, as if asking for protection.

On this day, an event took place that is much talked about. The philanthropist Shamardina, the wife of a very famous Moscow merchant, Mrs. P., often visited the priest. Her married daughter had no children, and she asked the priest to indicate how best to take the child for adoption. Last year, in mid-October, the priest said: "In a year I will give you a child myself."

At the funeral dinner, the young couple remembered the words of the priest and thought: "Here he died without fulfilling his promise."

After dinner, at the porch of the abbess's building, the nuns heard children's crying; a child was lying by the porch. When Mrs. P.'s daughter found out about that, she rushed to the baby, shouting: "This is the father sent me a daughter!" Now the child is already in Moscow.

On October 14, the body of Father Ambrose was transferred from Shamardin to Optina. Everyone was impressed not by a funeral procession, but by the transfer of relics. The crowd of people was enormous; the great road in its entire very considerable width was filled with moving people, and yet the procession stretched for two miles. Most of the people who saw off walked the entire long, about 20 versts, path, despite the heavy downpour that continued all the time. So he returned "on foot to his hut"! In the villages they greeted him with the ringing of bells, priests in vestments with banners left the churches. The women made their way through the crowd and put the children to the coffin. There were people who carried without changing, passing only from one side to the other.

Most of all, the next undoubted sign struck everyone. On the four sides of the coffin, the nuns carried lighted candles without any cover. And the terrible downpour not only did not extinguish a single candle from them, but there was never a crackle of a drop of water falling on the wick.

October 15 - on the same day as the priest established the icon "The Conqueror of Breads" to celebrate, he was buried. This coincidence was only guessed later. One involuntarily thinks that, leaving his children, Father Ambrose left this icon as a sign of his love and his constant concern for their urgent needs.

In the middle of the Optina Church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which the elder especially venerated, there was his coffin, surrounded by many hieromonks, during the solemn rite of the bishop's service.

Visitors to Optina remember behind the wall of the summer cathedral, to the left of the path, the white chapel over the grave of Father Ambrose's predecessor and teacher, Elder Macarius. Next to this chapel, on the very path, a grave was dug. During the work, they touched the coffin of Father Macarius; the wooden box in which he stood was completely decayed, and the coffin itself and all the upholstery remained intact after 30 years. A new coffin was placed next to this coffin, and a small hill was poured on top. This is the grave of Father Ambrose.

Those who knew what kind of life Father Ambrose lived cannot come to terms with the idea that a common fate would befall his body.

There can be no special changes in Optina Pustyn; the same archimandrite remained there; there is also the beloved disciple of Batiushkin, Father Joseph, to whom, leaving Optina, Father Ambrose entrusted his work. "

(Let us add from ourselves: his other disciple is the wandering chief, Father Anatoly, himself already an old confessor and an experienced elder.)

“But Shamardin's position is much more difficult,” says Evgeny P. Shamardino, who existed only by Father Ambrose; he is not even ten years old. The structure of life of this community, its history, the importance that Father Ambrose attached to it, his prophecies about it, all this speaks of its great lot.

But so far her cross is heavy. Every word about the death of Father Ambrose is here - the cry of a sore heart, the cry of a creature from whom everything was taken away.

Five hundred sisters were left almost without funds and without a leader.

Father Ambrose predicted that the monastery would face severe trials; but he also said: "You will be even better off without me."

Belief in the elder alone supports the sisters. "

* * *

I have almost nothing to add to the story of the devoted elder author.

Everything necessary is said, and I can only testify that he correctly and correctly evaluates the spirit and merits of our common mentor.

As for the thorough and detailed biography of Father Ambrose, it is still ahead.

There will undoubtedly be found sooner or later among his many admirers and disciples and such a person who decides to entrust himself with this pious and, of course, entertaining work.

Here, in conclusion, let me remind myself that many people think that Fr. Zosimus in Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov is more or less accurately copied from Fr. Ambrose. This is mistake. From Zosimus, only in external, physical appearance somewhat resembles Ambrose, but not in his general views (for example, on degeneration of the state in!), neither in the method of leadership, nor even in the manner of speaking - the dreamy old man of Dostoevsky does not resemble a real Optina ascetic. And in general, from Zosimus, he does not resemble any of the Russian elders who lived before and now exist. First of all, all these old men of ours are not at all so corny and sentimental as they were from Zosimus.

From Zosimus - this is the embodiment of the ideals and requirements of the novelist himself, and not an artistic reproduction of a living image from the Orthodox-Russian reality ...

Venerable AMBROSIUS OF OPTIN († 1891)

The Monk Ambrose was the third most famous and illustrious of all the Optina elders. He was not a bishop, an archimandrite, he was not even an abbot, he was a simple hieromonk. Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow once spoke very well of the humility of the saints in front of the relics of our father Sergius of Radonezh:“That’s all around I hear Your Eminence, Your Reverend, 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 F.M. Dostoevsky and L.N. Tolstoy and other, most educated people of that time. It was he who became the prototype of Elder Zosima from the novel "The Brothers Karamazov" and the spiritual mentor of all Orthodox Russia.

Alexander Grenkov, the future father of Ambrose, was born on November 21 or 23, 1812 , in the spiritual family of the village of Bolshie Lipovitsy of the Tambov Diocese, the grandfather is a priest, the father, Mikhail Fedorovich, is a sexton. Before the birth of the child, so many guests came to the priest-grandfather that the mother-in-law, Martha Nikolaevna, was transferred to the bathhouse, where she gave birth to a son named in holy baptism in honor of the faithful Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, and in this confusion she forgot which one. the number he was born. Later, Alexander Grenkov, having already become an old man, joked: "As in people I was born, so everything is in people and I live."

Alexander was the sixth of eight children in the family. At the age of 12 he entered the Tambov Theological School, which he graduated brilliantly as the first of 148 people. Then he studied at the Tambov Seminary. However, I did not go either to the Theological Academy or to the priesthood. For some time he was a home teacher in a landlord family, and then a teacher at the Lipetsk Theological School. With a lively and cheerful character, kindness and wit, Alexander was very much loved by his comrades. Before him, full of strength, talented, energetic, lay a brilliant life path, full of earthly joys and material well-being. In the last class of the Seminary, he had to endure a dangerous illness, and he vowed to take monastic vows if he recovered.

Upon recovery, he did not forget his vow, but for four years he postponed its fulfillment, “huddled,” as he put it. However, his conscience haunted him. And the more time passed, the more painful the reproaches of conscience became. Periods of carefree fun and carelessness gave way to periods of acute melancholy and sadness, intense prayer and tears. Once, being already in Lipetsk, walking in the neighboring forest, he, standing on the bank of the stream, clearly heard the words in his murmur:"Praise God, love God ...".

At home, secluded from prying eyes, he fervently prayed to the Mother of God to enlighten his mind and direct his will. In general, he did not have a persistent will and already in old age said to his spiritual children: “You must obey me from the first word. I am a compliant person. If you argue with me, I can yield to you, but it will not be to your advantage. "... Exhausted from his indecision, Alexander Mikhailovich went for advice to the famous ascetic Hilarion who lived in that area.“Go to Optina, - the elder told him,- and you will be experienced. "

After tears and prayers in the Lavra, worldly life, entertaining evenings at a party seemed to Alexander so unnecessary, unnecessary, that he decided to urgently and secretly leave for Optina. Perhaps he did not want the persuasion of friends and family to shake his resolve to fulfill his vow to dedicate his life to God.

Holy Vvedensky Stavropegic Monastery Optina Pustyn

Optina Pustyn. Vvedensky Cathedral

In the fall of 1839, he arrived at Optina Pustyn ', where he was affectionately received by the elder Leo. Soon he received tonsure and was named Ambrose, in memory of the saint of Mediolana, then was ordained a hierodeacon and, later, a hieromonk. It was five years of toil, an ascetic life, hard physical work.

When the famous spiritual writer E. Poselyanin lost his beloved wife, and 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 I will be sent to work in the stable."... It is not known what kind of obedience they would have given him, but he truly felt that the monastery would try to humble his spirit in order to turn him from a spiritual writer into a spiritual worker.

So Alexander had to work in a bakery, bake bread, cook hops (yeast), help the cook. With his brilliant abilities, knowledge of five languages, it was probably not easy for him to become just an assistant cook. These obediences cultivated in him humility, patience, the ability to cut off his will.

For some time he was a cell attendant and reader of Elder Leo, who especially loved the young novice, affectionately calling him Sasha. But out of educational motives, he experienced his humility in public. He pretended to thunder anger against him. But to others he said about him: "The man will be great." After the death of Elder Leo, the young man became Elder Makarii's cell attendant.

Venerable Leo of Optina	Venerable Macarius of Optina

Soon after his ordination, exhausted by fasting, he caught a bad cold. The disease was so serious and prolonged that it forever undermined the health of Ambrose's father and almost confined him to bed. Due to his painful condition, until his death, he could not perform the liturgy and participate in the long monastic services. For the rest of his life, he could barely move, suffered from perspiration, so he changed his clothes several times a day, could not stand the cold and drafts, he ate only liquid food, in an amount that was barely enough for a three-year-old child.

Comprehending about. Ambrose's serious illness had undoubtedly providential meaning for him. She tempered his lively character, protected him, perhaps, from the development of conceit in him and forced him to enter deeper into himself, to better understand himself and human nature. It was not for nothing that Fr. Ambrose said: “It is good for a monk to be sick. And in illness, you do not need to be treated, but only to be cured! ".

Perhaps none of the Optina elders bore such a heavy cross of illness as St. Ambrose. The words came true on it: "The power of God is made perfect in weakness." Despite his illness, Fr. Ambrose remained as before in complete obedience to Elder Macarius, giving an account of him even in the smallest thing. With the blessing of the elder, he was engaged in the translation of patristic books, in particular, he prepared for printing the "Ladder" of St. John, Abbot of Sinai, letters and biography of Fr. Macarius and other books.

In addition, he soon began to acquire the fame of an experienced mentor and leader in the affairs of not only spiritual, but also practical life. Even during the life of Elder Macarius, with his blessing, some of the brethren came to Fr. Ambrose for the revelation of thoughts. So Elder Macarius was gradually preparing himself a worthy successor, joking about this: “Look, look, look! Ambrose is taking my bread away. " When Elder Macarius reposed, circumstances developed in such a way that Fr. Ambrose gradually took his place.

He possessed an unusually lively, sharp, observant and perceptive mind, enlightened and deepened by constant concentrated prayer, attention to himself and knowledge of ascetic literature. Despite his constant illness and frailty, he combined an inexhaustible cheerfulness, and knew how to give his instructions in such a simple and playful form that they were easily and forever remembered by every listener:

"We must live on the ground like a wheel turns, just one point touches the ground, and the rest tends upward; but we, as we lay down, cannot get up."

"Where it is simple, there are about a hundred angels, and where it is tricky, there is not a single one."

"Do not boast of peas that you are better than beans, if you get soaked, you will burst yourself."

"Why is a person bad? - Because he forgets that God is above him."

"Whoever thinks of himself that he has something, he will lose."

"It's easier to live - the best. Don't break your head. Pray to God. The Lord will arrange everything, just live easier. Do not torment yourself, thinking about how and what to do. Let it be - as it happens - this is living easier."

"You need to live, not grieve, not offend anyone, not annoy anyone, and my respect to everyone."

"To live - not to grieve - to be happy with everyone. There is nothing to understand here."

"If you want to have love, then do deeds of love, even if at first without love."

Once he was told: "You, father, you speak very simply", the elder smiled: "Yes, I have asked God for this simplicity for twenty years".

The elder received crowds of people in his cell, did not refuse anyone, people flocked to him from all over the country. Thus, for more than thirty years, day after day, Elder Ambrose performed his feat. Until Father Ambrose, none of the elders opened the door of their cell to a woman. He not only accepted many women and was their spiritual father, but also founded a convent near Optina Hermitage - the Kazan Shamordinskaya Hermitage, in which, unlike other convents of that time, more poor and sick women were accepted.
The Shamorda monastery first of all satisfied that ardent thirst for mercy for the suffering, with which Fr. Ambrose. Here he sent many helpless ones. The elder took the most active part in the construction of the new monastery. They would bring, sometimes, a dirty, half-naked, covered in rags and a rash from uncleanness and exhaustion of a child. “Take him to Shamordino,” the elder orders (there is a shelter for the poorest girls). Here, in Shamordino, they did not ask whether a person is capable of being useful and to bring benefit to the monastery, but simply accepted everyone and made them feel at peace. By the 90s of the XIX century, the number of nuns in it reached 500 people.

Fr. Ambrose did not like to pray in plain sight. The cell attendant who read the rule had to stand in another room. Once they read the canon of prayer to the Mother of God, and one of the skete hieromonks decided at that time to approach the priest. Eyes about. Ambrose were staring at the sky, his face shone with joy, a bright radiance rested on him, so that the priest could not bear him.

From morning until evening, the old man, dejected by his illness, received visitors. People came to him with the most burning questions, which he assimilated to himself, with which he lived in the minute of the conversation. He always grasped the essence of the matter at once, explained it incomprehensibly wisely and gave an answer. There were no secrets for him: he saw everything. A stranger could come to him and be silent, but he knew his life, and his circumstances, and why he came here. The cell attendants, who now and then led to the elder and led out the visitors, could hardly keep their feet from the reports of the whole day. The elder himself at times lay unconscious. Sometimes, in order to somehow ease the bewildered head, the elder ordered to read one or two of Krylov's fables to himself.

As for the healings, there was no number of them and it is impossible to list them. The elder covered these healings in every possible way. Sometimes he, as if in jest, bangs his hand on the head, and the disease goes away. It happened that the reader who read the prayers suffered from severe toothache. Suddenly the old man hit him. The audience chuckled, thinking that the reader had 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. "

From all parts of Russia, the poor and the rich, the intelligentsia and commoners, flocked to the old man's shack. And he received everyone with the same love and benevolence. Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov, F.M. Dostoevsky, V.S. Soloviev, K.N. Leontiev (monk Clement), A.K. Tolstoy, L.N. Tolstoy, M.P. Pogodin and many others. V. Rozanov wrote: “Benefit from him pours spiritual, and, finally, physical. Everyone is lifted up in spirit just looking at him ... The most principled people visited him (Father Ambrose), and no one said anything negative. The gold went through the fire of skepticism and did not tarnish. "

The spiritual strength of the elder was sometimes manifested in completely exceptional cases. Once Elder Ambrose, bent over, leaning on a stick, was walking from somewhere along the road to the skete. Suddenly he saw a picture: a loaded cart was standing, a dead horse was lying nearby, and a peasant was crying over it. The loss of a horse-nurse in a peasant life is a sheer misfortune! Approaching the fallen horse, the elder began to walk slowly around it. Then, taking a twig, he lashed the horse, shouting at it: "Get up, lazy!" - and the horse obediently rose to its feet.

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 the summer, the elder tried three times to return to Optina, but could not because of ill health. A year later, the disease intensified. He was unleashed and repeatedly received communion. Suddenly, the news came that the Right Reverend himself, dissatisfied with the sluggishness of the elder, was going to come to Shamordino and take him away. Meanwhile, Elder Ambrose grew weaker every day. October 10, 1891 the old man, sighing three times and crossing himself with difficulty, died... And now, the bishop had barely managed to drive half the way to Shamordin and stopped to spend the night in the Peremyshl monastery, when he received a telegram informing him of the death of the elder. The Right Reverend changed in his face and said in embarrassment: "What does this mean?" The Right Reverend was advised to return to Kaluga, but he replied: “No, this is probably the will of God! Bishops do not service ordinary hieromonks, but this is a special hieromonk - I want to perform the elder's funeral service myself. "

It was decided to take him to Optina Hermitage, where he spent his life and where his spiritual leaders rested - the elders Leo and Macarius. A heavy death smell soon began to be felt from the body of the deceased.

However, about this circumstance he spoke directly to his cell attendant Fr. Joseph. When the latter asked why this is so, the humble elder said: "This is for me that in my life I have accepted too much undeserved honor."... But it is marvelous that the longer the body of the deceased stood in the church, the less the deathly smell began to be felt. And this despite the fact that from the multitude of people, for several days almost never leaving the coffin, there was intolerable heat in the church. On the last day of the elder's funeral service, a pleasant smell was already felt from his body, as if from fresh honey.

In the drizzling autumn rain, none of the candles that surrounded the coffin went out. The elder was buried On October 15, on that day, the elder Ambrose established a feast in honor of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "The Contestant of the Breads", before which he himself many times offered up his fervent prayers. The marble tombstone is engraved with the words of the Apostle Paul:“Fight the weak, as if I am weak, but I will gain the weak. All would be all, but I will save everyone ”(1 Cor. 9:22).

The icon over the shrine of the holy elder Ambrose is streaming myrrh.

In June 1988, the Monk Ambrose, the first of the Optina elders, was canonized by the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.On the anniversary of the revival of the monastery, by the grace of God, a miracle happened: 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 were streaming myrrh. Other miracles were performed from the relics of the elder, with which he certifies that he does not leave us, sinners, with his intercession before our Lord Jesus Christ. Glory to Him forever, Amen.

Troparion, voice 5:
As if to a healing spring, we are flowing to you, Ambrose, our father, you will truly instruct us on the path of salvation, protect us from troubles and misfortunes with prayers, comfort us in bodily and mental sorrows, and moreover teach humility, patience and love, pray to the Human Lover Christ and Assiduous intercessor, save our souls.

Kontakion, voice 2:
Having fulfilled the covenant of the Leader of the Shepherd, you inherited grace from the elders, afflicting your heart for all those who come to you with faith, the same we, your children, cry out to you with love: Father Holy Ambrose, pray to Christ God for our souls to be saved.

Prayer to the Monk Ambrose, the elder of Optina
Oh, great elder and servitor of God, reverend our father Ambrose, Optina praise and all Russia to the teacher of piety! We glorify your humble life in Christ, for whom God will exalt your name, you exist on earth, especially crowning you with heavenly honor after your departure to the palace of eternal glory. Accept now the prayer of us, unworthy of your children, who honor thee and call on your holy name, deliver us by your intercession before the Throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances, mental and physical ailments, evil misfortunes, pernicious and crafty temptations, sent down our Fatherland from our great God silence and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery, in which you have struggled in prosperity and pleased you by all in the Trinity to our glorified God, All glory, honor and worship, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and in eyelids of centuries. A min.

OPTINA DESERT (2010)