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In June 1988, the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox the church, the elder Ambrose the first of the elders of Optina desert was numbered saints. And five months later, on the anniversary the revival of the monastery, a miracle happened: at night after service in The Vvedensky cathedral of the desert pacified the Kazan icon of God Mothers, relics and icon of the Monk Ambrose. He was the most famous and celebrated of all the Optina elders, spiritual mentor of Orthodox Russia. To his words with attention Vladimir Solovyov and Fedor Dostoevsky listened, and the tormented person really wanted to talk in detail with the old man doubts Leo Tolstoy. A boy was born in the village of Big Lipovitsa Tambov province November 21, 1812 in a pious family Grenkov, closely related to the church: grandfather was a priest, father, Mikhail Fedorovich is a sexton. Alexander was the sixth of eight children in the family. He grew up alive, smart, brisk, therefore in strict the family sometimes even got it for childish pranks. At 12 years old entered the Tambov Theological College, which he brilliantly graduated from the first of 148 people and was accepted into the public account in Tambov Theological seminary, where he studied from 1830 to 1836. Possessing alive and cheerful character, kindness and wit, Alexander was very loved by our comrades. Before him, strong, talented, energetic, lay a brilliant life path full of earthly joys and material well-being. But the ways of the Lord are inscrutable … In In 1835, shortly before the end of the seminary, the young man became dangerously ill. This disease was the first of many ailments that tormented old man all his life. The disease was so severe that doctors could not cope with her in any way. And then the young seminarian gave vow in case of recovery become a monk. However, he could not decide to fulfill this vow. Some time was a home teacher in one landlord family, and then a teacher of Lipetsk spiritual school. Decisive for him was a trip to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, prayers at the relics of St. Sergius Radonezh. The famous recluse Hilarion whom he met there a young man prophetically instructed him: “Go to Optina deserts, you need there. “It was here that Alexander became a student of the great old men – Leo and Macarius. Two years later, he received monastic tonsure with the name Ambrose. In 1843 he became a hierodeacon, in 1845 he became a hieromonk. Behind these short lines – five years of work, ascetic life, hard physical work. Rising at the dawn, a young monk worked in bakery, kneading dough, baking bread, boiling hops (yeast), helped to the cook. With his brilliant abilities, knowledge of five languages to him, Of course, it was not easy to be just an assistant cook. But these obedience fostered in him humility, patience, the ability to cut off your will. Vigilantly guessing in the youth the gifts of the future elder, Rev. Leo and Macarius took care of his spiritual growth. For a while he was the cell-man of the elder Leo, his reader, regularly came to the service of the elder Makariy and could ask him any questions about spiritual life. Rev. Leo especially loved a young novice, affectionately calling him Sasha. But in educational in order to experience his humility in public. Often pretended angry at him. But he said to others about Ambrose: “The great will be man. “After the death of the elder Leo, the young man became the cell-man of the elder Macarius. During a trip to Kaluga for ordination in hieromonk Father Ambrose, exhausted by fasting, caught a cold and a bad sore got sick. Since then, he could never fully recover. Throughout the rest of his life barely moved, suffered from perspiration, so changed clothes several times a day, could not stand the cold and drafts, I used only liquid food – in an amount that barely enough for a three year old child. Several times he visited death, but miraculously, by the grace of God, came back to life. From September 1846 to the summer of 1848, the state Ambrose’s health was so menacing that he was in his cell He was tonsured in a schema with the preservation of the former name. However quite unexpectedly for many, the patient began to recover. In 1869 his health condition was again so poor that lose hope of amendment. The Kaluga miraculous was brought icon of the Mother of God. After a prayer service and a cell vigil, and then Soborovaniya health elder succumbed to treatment. Especially important for the spiritual development of the Monk Ambrose during these years was communication with Elder Macarius. With his blessing, he was engaged in translation religious books, in particular, he was prepared to print a large the work of St. John, Father Superior of Sinai. Thanks leadership the elder father Ambrose was able to learn the art of clever prayer. So his mentor was preparing himself a worthy successor. When is Macarius died in 1860, then Father Ambrose was put on his a place. At that time, the Optinsky monastery built in the forest was one very large garden with many apple trees. In the middle stood a wooden church, and between the trees were scattered simple little houses, in one of which lived Ambrose. In summer, the entire desert fragrant with large flower beds with beautiful flowers. Daily old man hosted crowds of people in his cell: people flocked to him from all ends of Russia. Ambrose rose at four to five in the morning, called to himself Keleynikov, spent with them morning service. Thereafter the old man prayed alone. At nine o’clock the reception began: first monks, then lay. At about two o’clock they brought me scarce food, after which he remained alone for an hour and a half. Then read Vespers, and the reception was resumed until night. Hours at 11 committed long evening service, and not until midnight he stayed, finally one. How much time it took to sleep is unknown, but it is possible suggest that, being a true ascetic, of his four complete the night man spent most of his time for prayer. Sometimes in daylight hours for about 10 minutes left his cell and, bending over, leaning on a stick, walked along the paths. Most of the day spent reclining on his bed. So for over thirty years, day after day, Elder Ambrose performed his feat. To father Ambrose none of the elders opened the doors of his cell to a woman. is he he not only received many women and was their spiritual father, but and founded a convent near the Optina Desert – Kazan Chamordin deserts, in which, unlike other women’s monasteries of that time, took more poor and sick women. By the 90s of the nineteenth century, the number of nuns in it reached 500 human. Over time, the old man showed an exceptional gift. Our contemporaries would say that he was both a telepathist and clairvoyant, and a visionary and bioenergotherapist. There were no secrets for him; he I saw everything. A stranger could come to him and be silent, and he knew his life and its circumstances, the mental state of the sufferer and why did he come here. For example, when near his cell was going to many people awaiting reception, a cell maker could go out on the porch Ambrose and loudly call: “Where is Timothy from Voronezh with urgent matter? Go out of turn. “Sometimes the elder himself went around people awaiting his blessing, peering carefully at each, overshadowing the sign of the cross, in other words a few words. Once a young man from the middle class turned to him with his hand on bandage and began to complain that he could not cure her. Not he managed to finish: “Everything hurts, it hurts a lot,” as his elder interrupted: “And it will hurt, why did the mother offend?” Young man embarrassed, and Ambrose continued: “Behave yourself, be loving son, then the illness will recede. “An example of the elder’s visionary gift Ambrose may serve such a case. Come to him in Optina deserts two sisters. Younger – bride, in love, happy; the eldest is quiet, brooding, praying. First asks bless her choice, the second asks for tonsure. Elder serves the bride is clear, and the elder says: “What a monastery! You are married you will go out, but not at home. “And he called the province where the sisters never went. Both are returning to Petersburg. The bride learns that beloved man cheated on her. It made a terrible change in her, her thoughts turned to God, and soon one nun became more. Meanwhile the older sister received a letter from a distant province, from a forgotten aunts, a pious woman who lived next door to some monastery. She called her to take a closer look at the life of the nuns. But it turned out differently. At this aunt, she met a man who was no longer young, but very suited to her character, and married him. what regarding healing, they had no number. Moreover, Elder Ambrose tried his best not to be credited with his wonderful gift. For example, sometimes he would joke like a joke on the head, and the disease goes away. Once a reader who read prayers suffered a strong toothache. Suddenly the elder hit him. Those present grinned thinking that the reader, correctly, made a mistake in reading. In fact, he has toothache stopped. Upon learning of such an unusual way healing, people turned to the old man-healer: “Father Abrosim! Beat me, my head (chest, stomach) hurts. “And after this “medical procedure” patients recovered. Healing gift the elder sometimes appeared in completely unusual cases, similar to miracle. Once Ambrose, bent, leaning on a wand, from somewhere walked along the road to the monastery. Suddenly a picture appeared before him: a loaded cart is standing, a dead horse lies nearby, and crying over it peasant. The loss of a breadwinner is a real thing in peasant life trouble! Approaching the fallen horse, the old man slowly became her get around. Then, taking the twig, he quipped the horse, shouting at her: “Get up, you lazy dog!” And the horse obediently got to her feet. To many people, Elder Ambrose appeared at a distance, like to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker: either for the purpose of healing, or for disaster relief. Moreover, God’s gift was combined in it with amazing, purely maternal tenderness of the heart, due to which he knew how to alleviate the worst grief and comfort the most mournful soul. Love and wisdom – these are the qualities that attracted people to the old man. The hour of his death, the elder Ambrose was destined to meet in Chamordino. On June 2, 1890, as usual, he went there for the summer. At the end of summer, I tried three times to return to Optina, but could not cause of ill health. After a year, the disease intensified. He was seduced and repeatedly communed. October 10, 1891, the elder, three times sighing and having crossed himself with difficulty, he died. Coffin the miracle worker under the drizzling autumn rain was moved for burials in Optina deserts, and not one of the candles surrounding him went out. And more than eight thousand gathered to spend ascetic man … Vadim Merkulov “Secret Power”
Time Life Health Russia
