Today, October 23, the Church remembers St. Ambrose of Optinatranslated

The memory of one of the great Russian ascetics, St. Ambrose of Optina (+ 1891), is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on October 23.

Saint Ambrose (in the world - Alexander Grenkov) was born in 1812 in the family of a sexton from the village of Bolshaya Lipovitsa, Tambov province.

While studying at the theological seminary, he became seriously ill and made a vow to God that he would go to a monastery if he recovered. However, after recovery, he did not dare to leave the world for another four years.

In the fall of 1839, after meeting with one of the elders, he came to Optina Monastery, where he was accepted into the ranks of the brethren, and in 1842 he was tonsured with the name Ambrose.

A few years later he became seriously ill again, and as a result he was removed from the staff of the monastery. Illnesses did not leave the Monk Ambrose until the end of his life, but he considered them necessary for his salvation and accepted them with humility.

After the death of his spiritual mentor, Elder Macarius, Saint Ambrose became his successor. Believers from all over Russia began to come to the monk for advice and consolation; he became known for his wise teachings and instructions.

In the early 1870s, Elder Ambrose founded the Shamordino Kazan women's monastery for the poor, where he himself moved in 1890...