SAINT AMBROSE OF OPTINA

Hieroschemamonk 'Ambrose' was a Starets in Optina Monastery.
Born sixth of eight children, Ambrose had a very lively humor and sociable character which conflicted with his more stoic spiritual discipline. Ambrose had many struggles with illness throughout his life building upon these struggles for insight into the human condition. Ambrose arrived at Optina monastery in 1839 when the monastery was in its spiritual hayday. His first guide was Starets (Elder) Leonid and then later Starets Makary, whom Ambrose shared a cell with. This gave him get help in his spiritual progress. Ambrose was tonsured as a monk after only three years. In another three years Amborse advanced and was ordained a hieromonk.
Due to illness Ambrose was forced into semi-reclusion for several years. This seclusion allowed him to concentrate on the mastering the Jesus Prayer or hesychasm and to experience the meaning of hesychia, the silence of the soul before God or theoria. Even though of a weak constitution Father Ambrose continued work assist Elder Makary with the translation of the Holy Fathers. Father Ambrose maintained his correspondence and in counsel to pilgrims, and later as a startez and elder out of love for all people he council any who sought him.
Elder Ambrose remained the principal starets of Optina for 30 years. A position he took after the death of Elder Makary. Ambrose was visited by countless people and his love for his fellow man was so strong that he would even see people when he had passed the point of exhaustition being forced to lay down. Even then he would not refuse to listen to people coming to him to seek his counsel. The starets had the gift of being able to see into men's souls where no secret could hide from him. There is abundant testimony existing to his clairvoyance. Known for his kindness and compassion no one's question or counsel was refused.
Dostoevsky stated in Elder Ambrose he had found a living example of the Christian ideal. Elder Nektary of The Brothers Karamazov referred to Ambrose as "an earthly angel and a heavenly man." Saint Ambrose was seen more than once surrounded by the uncreated light. This being the definitive sign of transfiguration and citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven to come or paradise much like had been attributed to Saint Seraphim of Sarov.

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References

★ Views of the monastery

★ Optina martyrs: the three monks murdered in 1993

★ Optina elders