WEBVTT
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Welcome to the Saints in Scripture Podcast.
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Today is Saturday, october tenth, twenty twenty six.
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Today we remember Venerable Ambrose of Optina, a holy monk and spiritual elder from Russia.
00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:20.320
Alexander Mikhailovich Grinkov was born on November twenty third, eighteen twelve in the province of Tambov.
00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:30.079
Raised in a priestly family with strict and devout parents, he entered the Tambov Theological Seminary in 1830 and was among the top students.
00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:34.640
About a year before graduating, Alexander became seriously ill.
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:39.039
He prayed to God, promising that if he recovered, he would become a monk.
00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:43.679
God answered his prayer, but Alexander initially forgot this promise.
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.600
After graduation he worked as a tutor and then as a teacher.
00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:56.719
In 1839, he and a friend visited the hermit father Hilarion, who told Alexander to go to the Optina monastery where they needed him.
00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:03.759
Though he was prepared to continue teaching, one evening he felt disgusted by his own frivolous conversation with friends.
00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.519
This may have reminded him of his unfulfilled promise.
00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.480
The next morning he quit his job and went to Optina in October 1839.
00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:17.519
After a trial period, he decided to stay and dedicate his life to God.
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:24.959
In eighteen forty two, he was tonsured a monk and given the name Ambrose, after Saint Ambrose of Milan.
00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:29.120
Ambrose knew the spiritual elders Leonid and Macarius.
00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:34.000
He served as the cell attendant to Elder Macarius who influenced his spiritual growth.
00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.280
He was ordained a priest in eighteen forty five.
00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:42.319
Soon after his health declined, and he asked to be relieved of duties.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.799
In eighteen forty six he was so ill that he received holy unction.
00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:50.400
He bore his illness patiently and slowly recovered.
00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.200
By eighteen forty eight he could walk with a cane.
00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:02.159
He helped Elder Macarius with correspondence and worked on the Russian edition of Saint John Climachus' Ladder of Divine Ascent.
00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:07.760
When Elder Macarius went to Moscow in 1852, Ambrose took his place.
00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:14.960
He never gave personal opinions but always referred people to the Father's writings, explaining them simply when needed.
00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:21.039
After Elder Macarius died in 1860, Ambrose became the spiritual elder of the monastery.
00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.560
He received many visitors daily for confession and advice.
00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:29.439
He said The Lord has arranged it so that I would have to talk to people all my life.
00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:33.360
Now I would be happy to remain silent, but I cannot.
00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:38.159
His day began at four AM with prayers read by his attendant.
00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.319
After washing and tea, he dictated replies to letters.
00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.199
Visitors arrived even during breakfast.
00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:48.719
He often worked until noon, then had lunch.
00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:56.319
In the afternoon he greeted more visitors, answered questions, rested briefly, and continued until evening.
00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:03.199
After dinner he received visitors until eleven PM, then prayed and asked forgiveness from his brothers.
00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:07.199
He slept only three or four hours before starting again.
00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:11.759
Despite poor health, he maintained this demanding routine for many years.
00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:14.719
People came from all over Russia to see him.
00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:19.919
The writer Tolstoy visited him at least three times and was impressed by his wisdom.
00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:25.439
Dostoevsky came in 1878 after his son's death and was deeply affected.
00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:32.400
Dostoevsky used Father Ambrose as a model for Steret's Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov.
00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:37.599
In 1884, Saint Ambrose founded the Shamordino Convent near Optina.
00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:45.680
It welcomed poor, sick, or blind women, allowing any woman who wished to become a nun to do so regardless of wealth.
00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:48.639
After the first abbess died, the convent declined.
00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:52.000
Saint Ambrose went there in 1890 to help.
00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:58.800
He stayed due to illness and winter weather, continuing to see visitors despite his failing health.
00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:03.520
By September 1891, it was clear he would soon depart this life.
00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:09.360
He fell asleep in the Lord at 11 30 AM on October 10, 1891.
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:13.120
Many attended his funeral and burial at Optina.
00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:21.360
He was succeeded by Fathers Joseph, Anthony, Benedict, and Anatole as elders until the monastery closed after the Russian Revolution.
00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:28.079
The Moscow Patriarchate authorized local veneration of the Optina elders in 1996.
00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:36.000
Their relics were uncovered in 1998 and now rest in the church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:43.120
Saint Ambrose was glorified in 1988 during the millennium celebration of the baptism of Ruth.
00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:52.720
May we remember the humility, patience, and spiritual wisdom of Venerable Ambrose of Optina as we seek to grow closer to God.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:54.800
Let us pray.
00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.920
Lord, help us to listen with humility and speak with wisdom.
00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.600
Give us patience in our struggles and faith in your guidance.
00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:07.680
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:08.240
Amen.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.560
Welcome to the Saints in Scripture Podcast.
00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:06.719
Today is Saturday, october tenth, twenty twenty six.
00:00:06.959 --> 00:00:13.759
Today we remember Venerable Ambrose of Optina, a holy monk and spiritual elder from Russia.
00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:20.320
Alexander Mikhailovich Grinkov was born on November twenty third, eighteen twelve in the province of Tambov.
00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:30.079
Raised in a priestly family with strict and devout parents, he entered the Tambov Theological Seminary in 1830 and was among the top students.
00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:34.640
About a year before graduating, Alexander became seriously ill.
00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:39.039
He prayed to God, promising that if he recovered, he would become a monk.
00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:43.679
God answered his prayer, but Alexander initially forgot this promise.
00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:47.600
After graduation he worked as a tutor and then as a teacher.
00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:56.719
In 1839, he and a friend visited the hermit father Hilarion, who told Alexander to go to the Optina monastery where they needed him.
00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:03.759
Though he was prepared to continue teaching, one evening he felt disgusted by his own frivolous conversation with friends.
00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:07.519
This may have reminded him of his unfulfilled promise.
00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:12.480
The next morning he quit his job and went to Optina in October 1839.
00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:17.519
After a trial period, he decided to stay and dedicate his life to God.
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:24.959
In eighteen forty two, he was tonsured a monk and given the name Ambrose, after Saint Ambrose of Milan.
00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:29.120
Ambrose knew the spiritual elders Leonid and Macarius.
00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:34.000
He served as the cell attendant to Elder Macarius who influenced his spiritual growth.
00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.280
He was ordained a priest in eighteen forty five.
00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:42.319
Soon after his health declined, and he asked to be relieved of duties.
00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:46.799
In eighteen forty six he was so ill that he received holy unction.
00:01:47.200 --> 00:01:50.400
He bore his illness patiently and slowly recovered.
00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.200
By eighteen forty eight he could walk with a cane.
00:01:53.359 --> 00:02:02.159
He helped Elder Macarius with correspondence and worked on the Russian edition of Saint John Climachus' Ladder of Divine Ascent.
00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:07.760
When Elder Macarius went to Moscow in 1852, Ambrose took his place.
00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:14.960
He never gave personal opinions but always referred people to the Father's writings, explaining them simply when needed.
00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:21.039
After Elder Macarius died in 1860, Ambrose became the spiritual elder of the monastery.
00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.560
He received many visitors daily for confession and advice.
00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:29.439
He said The Lord has arranged it so that I would have to talk to people all my life.
00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:33.360
Now I would be happy to remain silent, but I cannot.
00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:38.159
His day began at four AM with prayers read by his attendant.
00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.319
After washing and tea, he dictated replies to letters.
00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.199
Visitors arrived even during breakfast.
00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:48.719
He often worked until noon, then had lunch.
00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:56.319
In the afternoon he greeted more visitors, answered questions, rested briefly, and continued until evening.
00:02:56.639 --> 00:03:03.199
After dinner he received visitors until eleven PM, then prayed and asked forgiveness from his brothers.
00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:07.199
He slept only three or four hours before starting again.
00:03:07.439 --> 00:03:11.759
Despite poor health, he maintained this demanding routine for many years.
00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:14.719
People came from all over Russia to see him.
00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:19.919
The writer Tolstoy visited him at least three times and was impressed by his wisdom.
00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:25.439
Dostoevsky came in 1878 after his son's death and was deeply affected.
00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:32.400
Dostoevsky used Father Ambrose as a model for Steret's Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov.
00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:37.599
In 1884, Saint Ambrose founded the Shamordino Convent near Optina.
00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:45.680
It welcomed poor, sick, or blind women, allowing any woman who wished to become a nun to do so regardless of wealth.
00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:48.639
After the first abbess died, the convent declined.
00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:52.000
Saint Ambrose went there in 1890 to help.
00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:58.800
He stayed due to illness and winter weather, continuing to see visitors despite his failing health.
00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:03.520
By September 1891, it was clear he would soon depart this life.
00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:09.360
He fell asleep in the Lord at 11 30 AM on October 10, 1891.
00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:13.120
Many attended his funeral and burial at Optina.
00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:21.360
He was succeeded by Fathers Joseph, Anthony, Benedict, and Anatole as elders until the monastery closed after the Russian Revolution.
00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:28.079
The Moscow Patriarchate authorized local veneration of the Optina elders in 1996.
00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:36.000
Their relics were uncovered in 1998 and now rest in the church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:43.120
Saint Ambrose was glorified in 1988 during the millennium celebration of the baptism of Ruth.
00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:52.720
May we remember the humility, patience, and spiritual wisdom of Venerable Ambrose of Optina as we seek to grow closer to God.
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:54.800
Let us pray.
00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:59.920
Lord, help us to listen with humility and speak with wisdom.
00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.600
Give us patience in our struggles and faith in your guidance.
00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:07.680
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God.
00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:08.240
Amen.
