Akathist to the Holy Venerable Ambrose, Elder of Optina and Wonderworker

Alexander Grenkov, the future father Ambrose, was born on November 21 or 23, 1812 in the spiritual family of the village of Bolshiye Lipovitsy, Tambov diocese. Having graduated from theological school, he then successfully completed a course at the theological seminary. However, he did not go to the Theological Academy or become a priest. For some time he was a home teacher in a landowner family, and then a teacher at the Lipetsk Theological School. Possessing a lively and cheerful character, kindness and wit, Alexander Mikhailovich was very loved by his comrades and colleagues. In his last year at the seminary, he had to suffer a dangerous illness, and he vowed to become a monk if he recovered.

Upon recovery, he did not forget his vow, but for several years he put off fulfilling it, “repenting,” as he put it. However, his conscience did not give him peace. And the more time passed, the more painful the remorse became. Periods of carefree fun and carelessness were followed by periods of acute melancholy and sadness, intense prayer and tears. Once, when he was already in Lipetsk, walking in a nearby forest, he, standing on the bank of a stream, clearly heard in its murmur the words: “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 he said to his spiritual children: “You must obey me from the first word. I am a compliant person. If you argue with me, I may give in to you, but it will not be to your benefit.” Exhausted by 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.” Grenkov obeyed. In the fall of 1839, he arrived in Optina Pustyn, where he was kindly received by Elder Leo.

Soon he took monastic vows and was named Ambrose, in memory of St. Milan, then he was ordained a hierodeacon and later a hieromonk. When Father Macarius started his publishing business, Fr. Ambrose, who graduated from the seminary and was familiar with ancient and modern languages (he knew five languages), was one of his closest assistants. Soon after his ordination he fell ill. The illness was so severe and prolonged that it forever undermined the health of Father Ambrose and almost confined him to bed. Due to his illness, until his death he was unable to perform liturgies or participate in long monastic services.

Having comprehended Fr. Ambrose's serious illness undoubtedly had providential significance for him. She moderated his lively character, protected him, perhaps, from the development of conceit in him and forced him to go deeper into himself, to better understand himself and human nature. It is not for nothing that subsequently Fr. Ambrose said: “It is good for a monk to be sick. And when you are sick, you don’t need to be treated, but only healed!” Helping Elder Macarius in his publishing activities, Fr. Ambrose continued to engage in this activity after his death. Under his leadership the following were published: “The Ladder” by Rev. John Climacus, letters and biography of Fr. Macarius and other books. But publishing activity was not the focus of Fr.’s senile works. Ambrose. His soul sought living, personal communication with people, and he soon began to gain fame as an experienced mentor and leader in matters not only of spiritual, but also of practical life. He had an unusually lively, sharp, observant and insightful mind, enlightened and deepened by constant concentrated prayer, attention to himself and knowledge of ascetic literature. By the grace of God, his insight turned into clairvoyance. He penetrated deeply into the soul of his interlocutor and read in it, as in an open book, without needing his confessions. His face, a Great Russian peasant, with prominent cheekbones and a gray beard, shone with intelligent and lively eyes. With all the qualities of his richly gifted soul, Fr. Ambrose, despite his constant illness and frailty, had inexhaustible cheerfulness and was able to give his instructions in such a simple and humorous form that they were easily and forever remembered by everyone who listened. When necessary, he knew how to be exacting, strict and demanding, using “instruction” with a stick or imposing penance on the punished. The elder did not make any distinction between people. Everyone had access to him and could talk to him: a St. Petersburg senator and an old peasant woman, a university professor and a metropolitan fashionista, Solovyov and Dostoevsky, Leontiev and Tolstoy.

With whatever requests, complaints, with whatever sorrows and needs people came to the elder! A young priest comes to him, a year ago appointed, of his own free will, to the very last parish in the diocese. He could not stand the poverty of his parish existence and came to the elder to ask for a blessing to change his place. Seeing him from afar, the elder shouted: “Go back, father! He is one, and there are two of you! The priest, perplexed, asked the elder what his words meant. The elder replied: “But there is only one devil who is tempting you, but your helper is God! Go back and don't be afraid of anything; It’s a sin to leave the parish! Serve the liturgy every day, and everything will be fine!” The delighted priest perked up and, returning to his parish, patiently carried on his pastoral work there and many years later became famous as the second Elder Ambrose.

Tolstoy after a conversation with Fr. Ambrose joyfully said: “This Fr. Ambrose is a completely holy man. I talked to him, and somehow my soul felt light and joyful. When you talk to such a person, you feel the closeness of God.”

Another writer, Evgeny Pogozhev (Poselyanin) said: “I was struck by his holiness and the incomprehensible abyss of love that was in him. And looking at him, I began to understand that the meaning of the elders is to bless and approve of life and the joys sent by God, to teach people to live happily and to help them bear the burdens that befall them, whatever they may be.” V. Rozanov wrote: “Benefits flow from him spiritually, and, finally, physically. Everyone is lifted up in spirit just by looking at him... The most principled people visited him (Fr. Ambrose), and no one said anything negative. Gold has passed through the fire of skepticism and has not tarnished.”

The old man had one Russian trait to a very strong degree: he loved to arrange something, to create something. He often taught others to undertake some business, and when private people came to him for a blessing on such a thing, he eagerly began to discuss and gave not only a blessing, but also good advice. It remains completely incomprehensible where Father Ambrose got the deepest information on all branches of human labor that were in him.

The outer life of the elder in the Optina monastery proceeded as follows. His day began at four or five in the morning. At this time, he called his cell attendants to him, and the morning rule was read. It lasted more than two hours, after which the cell attendants left, and the elder, left alone, indulged in prayer and prepared for his great daytime service. At nine o'clock the reception began: first for the monastics, then for the laity. The reception lasted until lunch. At about two o'clock they brought him meager food, after which he was left alone for an hour and a half. Then Vespers was read, and the reception resumed until nightfall. At about 11 o'clock the long evening ritual was performed, and not before midnight the elder was finally left alone. Father Ambrose did not like to pray in public. The cell attendant who read the rule had to stand in another room. One day, one monk violated the prohibition and entered the elder’s cell: he saw him sitting on the bed with his eyes directed to the sky and his face illuminated with joy.

So for more than thirty years, day after day, Elder Ambrose accomplished his feat. In the last ten years of his life, he took on another concern: the founding and organization of a women’s monastery in Shamordin, 12 versts from Optina, where, in addition to 1000 nuns, there was also an orphanage and a school for girls, an almshouse for old women and a hospital. This new activity was not only an unnecessary material concern for the elder, but also a cross placed on him by Providence and ending his ascetic life.

1891 was the last year in the elder’s earthly life. He spent the entire summer of this year in the Shamordino monastery, as if in a hurry to finish and arrange everything unfinished there. Urgent work was going on, the new abbess needed guidance and instructions. The elder, obeying the orders of the consistory, repeatedly set the days of his departure, but deteriorating health and ensuing weakness - a consequence of his chronic illness - forced him to postpone his departure. So the matter dragged on until the fall. Suddenly news came that the bishop himself, dissatisfied with the elder’s slowness, was going to come to Shamordino and take him away. Meanwhile, Elder Ambrose grew weaker every day. And so, the bishop had barely managed to travel half the way to Shamordin and stopped to spend the night in the Przemysl monastery when he was given a telegram informing him of the death of the elder. The Eminence changed his face and said embarrassedly: “What does this mean?” It was the evening of October 10 (22). The Eminence was advised to return to Kaluga the next day, but he replied: “No, this is probably the will of God! Bishops do not perform funeral services for ordinary hieromonks, but this is a special hieromonk - I want to perform the funeral service for the elder myself.”

It was decided to transport him to Optina Pustyn, where he spent his life and where his spiritual leaders, the elders Leo and Macarius, rested. The words of the Apostle Paul are engraved on the marble tombstone: “For I was weak, as I was weak, that I might gain the weak. I would be everything to everyone, that I might save everyone” (1 Cor. 9:22). These words accurately express the meaning of the elder’s life feat.

Akathist to Ambrose of Optina

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A wise mentor, a sincere and zealous man of prayer, and a comforter, the Monk Ambrose truly became the crown and adornment of the Optina eldership. Throughout his life, many people came to the door of his cell for advice, consolation and help.

He refused no one and prayed for absolutely everyone. The elder became famous for his gift of healing people and healing spiritual wounds.

Even today many Orthodox believers come to his icon to read an akathist to Ambrose of Optina for help or to offer words of gratitude.

Prayer to Saint Ambrose

Admit your sin. When saying prayers, you must admit that you have this illness. This prayer appeal is ideal for a couple who wants to get rid of this sinful addiction together.

What do they pray to St. Ambrose for?

Prayer to Ambrose of Optina grants pilgrims healing in illnesses, help in everyday needs, consolation in sorrows, invisible assistance in the Christian upbringing of children, and strengthening in the Orthodox faith.

Venerable Ambrose of Optina

People turn to the saint in various life situations; you can pray to him:

about your beloved children; about granting them health and success in their studies.

How does prayer help Ambrose of Optina?

In the Vvedensky Cathedral of Optina Pustyn there are the holy relics of St. Ambrose of Optina. We still resort to his help and prayers to the saint in various troubles in life. Miracles happen with the relics, believers gain health, and many, including incurable diseases, recede.

Prayers to Ambrose of Optina help everyone who asks for many troubles and needs. They pray to him:

about healing in various diseases, sometimes incurable; in various everyday and everyday needs; about good morals and Christian education of children and adolescents; about the granting of strengthening in the Orthodox faith.

Great is the intercession before God for those who pray to the venerable elder Ambrose of Optina. The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church was the first of all the Optina elders to canonize him. This happened in 1988. After this, miracles began to happen: the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the relics and the icon of St. Ambrose streamed myrrh.

Prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina for healing

There are many known cases of Ambrose of Optina healing those who came to him. In this he attached great importance to prayer. Elder Ambrose appeared to some at a great distance for the purpose of healing or deliverance from disasters. He also helped members of his brethren completely unnoticed. It often happened that the monk himself already felt with what illness the person came to him.

O great elder and servant of God, reverend our father Ambrose, praise to the Optina and all Rus' teacher of piety! We glorify your humble life in Christ, by which God has exalted your name while you were still on earth, especially crowning you with heavenly honor upon your departure to the chamber of eternal glory. Accept now the prayer of us, your unworthy children, who honor you and call on your holy name, deliver us through your intercession before the Throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances, mental and physical ailments, evil misfortunes, corrupting and evil temptations, send peace to our Fatherland from the great-gifted God, peace and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery, in which you yourself labored in prosperity and you have pleased our glorified God with all in the Trinity, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Ambrose of Optina for every day

Great things always bear the stamp of modesty and simplicity. The words of Ambrose of Optina’s prayer for every day are just as simple. Accessible and understandable to everyone, it helps to face all the worries and news of the current day with mental firmness, instills wise humility, gives strength and strengthens in faith.

Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that the coming day will bring me. Let me completely surrender to Your holy will. For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything. Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and a firm conviction that everything is Your holy will. In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings. In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You. Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without confusing or upsetting anyone. Lord, give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day. Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love. Amen.

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