Ambrose and Anthony of Optina. Instructions with proverbs and sayings, spiritual teachings and reflections

Contents From the compiler This book was conceived for middle-aged and older Orthodox children with the goal of introducing them to patristic literature in a form accessible to them. But it turned out that the manuscript also attracted the attention of adults. The book consists of two parts: the first is dedicated to the Optina elder Venerable Ambrose, and the second to another Optina elder, Saint Anthony. The first part was based on the letters of the Monk Ambrose to his spiritual children (monastics) and the “Biography of the Optina Elder Hieroschemamonk Ambrose,” compiled by Schema-Archimandrite Agapit (Belovidov), who himself began his monastic feat in the Optina Hermitage. The book uses not only selected passages from these letters, but also oral teachings and instructions from Elder Ambrose, reflections on spiritual topics, and examples from his life given from the memories of students and eyewitnesses. In the second part, dedicated to St. Anthony, letters from the elder to various persons are used. The book consists of sections, and each section begins on a new page, on which a proverb or saying is placed as the title, which will be clear when you start reading this book. Small fragments are taken from the letters. Sometimes these passages are followed by text in italics. These are the words of the elders, taken from other letters. They clarify or supplement the previous text. If the text is taken not from a letter, but from another source (“Biography”, etc.), then it is placed in quotation marks and a footnote indicating the source is given at the end of the text. At the end of each part, brief information about the Elders is given. The letters of Saints Ambrose and Anthony were written more than 150 years ago. Naturally, our language has undergone some changes during this time, so to make it easier to read, we have provided the necessary explanations. The publishers express great gratitude to the reviewer of this book, Abbot Peter (Pigol). The book was compiled by sisters of mercy from the Sisterhood in honor of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus' (at the Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Arbat). The spiritual leader and consultant is the confessor of the Sisterhood, Archpriest Mikhail Krutin. A PROVERB is a short saying, more in the form of a parable, an allegory, or in the form of an everyday sentence. A PROVERB is the essence (wealth) of language, folk speech, it is not composed, but is born on its own; this is the walking mind of the people. It turns into a proverb or a simple figure of speech, and says about itself: The proverb is not said for nothing. The proverb does not speak into the wind. According to the proverb, no trial, no punishment. A good proverb hits the spot, not the eye. It’s a good proverb, in good order. They don't sell proverbs in the market. Not every word is a proverb. This proverb is not for Kuzma Petrovich. Not every proverb is said to everyone. The old proverb does not go unnoticed. PROVERB - a collapsible, short speech, current among the people, but not constituting a complete proverb; teaching in accepted common expressions. A saying is a flower, a proverb is a berry. You can’t erase the word from the proverb. Not every saying is for our Egorka. There is a saying for every Yegorka.