St. Ambrose Of Optina
Telling his spiritual children of the parable, the elder Ambrose of Optina pointed out that the Providence of God all sorts of circumstances of a person's life add up to his good. The old man had in mind and experience your own life changing once cool, consecrated to God.
He was born in late autumn 1812, the day of memory of Alexander Nevsky and therefore was named Alexander. Ended with the victory of the war with Napoleon, and people everywhere are celebrating the peace. Therefore, in the day of his birth in his father's house many people gathered. Reverend Ambrose of Optina later jokingly said: "the people I was born, so the people live".
Alexander Grinkov-so in the world was the name of elder Ambrose. Differed outgoing and lively character, capable of teaching Sciences, he thought to devote himself to military Affairs. However, in his youth happened to him a dangerous illness he made a vow-if I got well, to be tonsured a monk. After recovery of his vow he did not forget, but to fulfill it not in a hurry. And then one day, walking in the woods, he stood on the Bank of the Creek, clearly heard in the murmur of the words "praise God, keep God."The elder Ambrose of Optina later recalled: "for a Long time, I was listening to this mysterious voice of nature and was very surprised at this".
Soon he was visited by the famous in those days the elder Hilarion, who advised Alexander to fulfill a vow at parting, and added: "Go to Optina Pustyn, you need it".
In October 1839 Alexander Grinkov secretly went to the monastery. At that time the Optina Pustyn was not wealth, but flourished spiritual life. Simplicity, meekness and humility decorated the local monk. Younger brothers tried to come to terms not only to senior, but equal before, afraid to even look to offend the other, and at the slightest excuse asked each other's forgiveness. Among all the Optina elders were particularly emphasized Leo and Macarius. They became the spiritual mentors of the novice Alexander, he saw the light in him his successor. It happened suddenly and not immediately. Novice Alexander performed the regular work of the monastery, giving my whole time to communicate with the elders. They treated him with great love, but sakalava in the endurance of sorrows, subjected. One day, after a severe reprimand, the elder Leo, addressing the audience, said after the humble and patient young pupil, Alexander: "the Great will of the people".
In 1842 Alexander Grinkov was tonsured a monk and given the name Ambrose in honor of Saint Ambrose Mediolanskogo.
"Then the Lord begins to show his strength when you see that all human means of charity assistance to the needy in this man exhausted"-said the elder Ambrose, recollecting his great life experience, for soon after the tonsure again happened to him a serious illness. And then not once he was on the verge of death. Each time through the prayers of the brethren and the help of God returning to life to carry the feat of spiritual care pricecash people to him. The disease that from a young age has confined him to bed, it seemed that only strengthened his spirit, showing strength in weakness.
During the life of elder Macarius to father Ambrose began to come people, and the demise of his spiritual father, he has become the heart of the monastery Optina. Advice and guidance their it is usually taught in an intimate conversation in a manner cordial and simple. The elder preached humility-the basis of spiritual life, without which, according to John Chrysostom, it is impossible to escape.
In Optina Pustyn to the elder flocked so many people that at the entrance to the monastery he built a cabin he called the shack. Everything that surrounded the old man, produced a beneficial effect on people. His words are informed by faith was the law, the blessing or special attention was considered a great happiness. Love and wisdom-these qualities attracted people to the starets. He was and Leo Tolstoy, and Fyodor Dostoevsky, which is the old man with all his shrewdness
The venerable elder Ambrose of Optina died in 1891, and immediately after his death miracles began, in which man, as in life, healed, edified, called to repentance. The years went by. Came a time of serious upheaval. The Optina monastery was ruined. Wiped off the face of the earth and the chapel on the grave of the elder, but the memory of the great ascetic was impossible to destroy. People randomly marked the place of the chapel and continued to throng to his mentor.
In November 1987 the Optina Hermitage was returned to the Church. And in 1988, the elderAmbrose of Optina was canonized. The source of the blessings and consolations for thousands of his contemporaries, elder Ambrose of Optina and now comforting every soul who turns to him.
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