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Remembering Venerable Ambrose of Optina · Saints and Scripture

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  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Saints in Scripture Podcast.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today is Saturday, october tenth, twenty twenty six.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we remember Venerable Ambrose of Optina, a holy monk and spiritual elder from Russia.
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  SPEAKER_00: Alexander Mikhailovich Grinkov was born on November twenty third, eighteen twelve in the province of Tambov.
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  SPEAKER_00: Raised in a priestly family with strict and devout parents, he entered the Tambov Theological Seminary in 1830 and was among the top students.
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  SPEAKER_00: About a year before graduating, Alexander became seriously ill.
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  SPEAKER_00: He prayed to God, promising that if he recovered, he would become a monk.
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  SPEAKER_00: God answered his prayer, but Alexander initially forgot this promise.
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  SPEAKER_00: After graduation he worked as a tutor and then as a teacher.
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  SPEAKER_00: In 1839, he and a friend visited the hermit father Hilarion, who told Alexander to go to the Optina monastery where they needed him.
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  SPEAKER_00: Though he was prepared to continue teaching, one evening he felt disgusted by his own frivolous conversation with friends.
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  SPEAKER_00: This may have reminded him of his unfulfilled promise.
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  SPEAKER_00: The next morning he quit his job and went to Optina in October 1839.
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  SPEAKER_00: After a trial period, he decided to stay and dedicate his life to God.
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  SPEAKER_00: In eighteen forty two, he was tonsured a monk and given the name Ambrose, after Saint Ambrose of Milan.
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  SPEAKER_00: Ambrose knew the spiritual elders Leonid and Macarius.
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  SPEAKER_00: He served as the cell attendant to Elder Macarius who influenced his spiritual growth.
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  SPEAKER_00: He was ordained a priest in eighteen forty five.
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  SPEAKER_00: Soon after his health declined, and he asked to be relieved of duties.
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  SPEAKER_00: In eighteen forty six he was so ill that he received holy unction.
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  SPEAKER_00: He bore his illness patiently and slowly recovered.
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  SPEAKER_00: By eighteen forty eight he could walk with a cane.
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  SPEAKER_00: He helped Elder Macarius with correspondence and worked on the Russian edition of Saint John Climachus' Ladder of Divine Ascent.
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  SPEAKER_00: When Elder Macarius went to Moscow in 1852, Ambrose took his place.
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  SPEAKER_00: He never gave personal opinions but always referred people to the Father's writings, explaining them simply when needed.
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  SPEAKER_00: After Elder Macarius died in 1860, Ambrose became the spiritual elder of the monastery.
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  SPEAKER_00: He received many visitors daily for confession and advice.
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  SPEAKER_00: He said The Lord has arranged it so that I would have to talk to people all my life.
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  SPEAKER_00: Now I would be happy to remain silent, but I cannot.
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  SPEAKER_00: His day began at four AM with prayers read by his attendant.
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  SPEAKER_00: After washing and tea, he dictated replies to letters.
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  SPEAKER_00: Visitors arrived even during breakfast.
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  SPEAKER_00: He often worked until noon, then had lunch.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the afternoon he greeted more visitors, answered questions, rested briefly, and continued until evening.
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  SPEAKER_00: After dinner he received visitors until eleven PM, then prayed and asked forgiveness from his brothers.
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  SPEAKER_00: He slept only three or four hours before starting again.
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  SPEAKER_00: Despite poor health, he maintained this demanding routine for many years.
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  SPEAKER_00: People came from all over Russia to see him.
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  SPEAKER_00: The writer Tolstoy visited him at least three times and was impressed by his wisdom.
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  SPEAKER_00: Dostoevsky came in 1878 after his son's death and was deeply affected.
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  SPEAKER_00: Dostoevsky used Father Ambrose as a model for Steret's Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov.
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  SPEAKER_00: In 1884, Saint Ambrose founded the Shamordino Convent near Optina.
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  SPEAKER_00: It welcomed poor, sick, or blind women, allowing any woman who wished to become a nun to do so regardless of wealth.
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  SPEAKER_00: After the first abbess died, the convent declined.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Ambrose went there in 1890 to help.
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  SPEAKER_00: He stayed due to illness and winter weather, continuing to see visitors despite his failing health.
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  SPEAKER_00: By September 1891, it was clear he would soon depart this life.
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  SPEAKER_00: He fell asleep in the Lord at 11 30 AM on October 10, 1891.
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  SPEAKER_00: Many attended his funeral and burial at Optina.
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  SPEAKER_00: He was succeeded by Fathers Joseph, Anthony, Benedict, and Anatole as elders until the monastery closed after the Russian Revolution.
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  SPEAKER_00: The Moscow Patriarchate authorized local veneration of the Optina elders in 1996.
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  SPEAKER_00: Their relics were uncovered in 1998 and now rest in the church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Ambrose was glorified in 1988 during the millennium celebration of the baptism of Ruth.
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  SPEAKER_00: May we remember the humility, patience, and spiritual wisdom of Venerable Ambrose of Optina as we seek to grow closer to God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord, help us to listen with humility and speak with wisdom.
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  SPEAKER_00: Give us patience in our struggles and faith in your guidance.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.