Prayers to St. Ambrose of Optina. Prayers to the Venerable Ambrose of Optina Troparion to the Venerable Ambrose of Optina

Born on November 21 or 23 (December 6), 1812 in the village of Bolshaya Lipovitsa, Tambov province, into a pious family. His grandfather was a priest, his father, Mikhail Fedorovich, a sexton. He was the sixth of eight children.

In 1825, twelve-year-old Sasha Grenkov entered the Tambov Theological School, which he graduated with flying colors.

In 1830-1836. studied at the Tambov Seminary. In his last year at the seminary, he suffered a dangerous illness and vowed to become a monk if he recovered.

On October 8, 1839, he arrived in Optina Pustyn, where he was kindly received by Elder Lev (Nagolkin), with whom he became a cell attendant. Soon he took monastic vows and was named Ambrose, in memory of St. Ambrose of Milan.

Summer 1841 - tonsured into the ryassophore, in 1842 - into the mantle.

In 1843 he was ordained a hierodeacon. On December 7 of the same year, on the way to Kaluga, he caught a cold and fell seriously ill. December 9, 1845 ordained hieromonk; due to illness he was almost unable to serve. He was tonsured into the great schema without changing his name.

The marble tombstone is engraved with the words of the Apostle Paul: “I was weak, as I was weak, that I might gain the weak. I would be everything to everyone, but I’ll save everyone.” () .

Troparion to St. Ambrose of Optina, tone 5

Like a healing source, / we flow to you, Ambrose, our father, / you faithfully instruct us on the path of salvation, / you protect us from troubles and misfortunes with prayers, / you comfort us in bodily and mental sorrows, / and above all, you teach us humility, patience and love ; / pray to the lover of mankind, Christ / and the zealous Intercessor, / to save our souls.

Kontakion to St. Ambrose of Optina, tone 2

Having fulfilled the commandment of the Chief Shepherd, / you inherited the grace of eldership, / your heart ached for everyone who flows to you with faith. / Likewise, we, your children, cry out to you with love: / Holy Father Ambrose, // pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

Troparion of the Council of the Reverend Elders of Optina, tone 6

The lamps of the Orthodox faith, the unshakable pillars of monasticism, the consolation of the Russian land, the venerable Elders of Optinstia, having acquired the love of Christ and laid down your souls for your children, pray to the Lord that your earthly fatherland may establish your earthly fatherland in Orthodoxy and piety and save our souls.

Kontakion of the Council of the Venerable Elders of Optina, tone 4

Truly marvelous is God in His saints, the wilderness of Optina, like the helipad of eldership, revealed, where the enlightenment of the fathers, the secret of the human heart, the leader of the people of God, the sorrowful people of goodness appeared: these are for the path of repentance burdened by sin, instructing those wavering in faith with the light of Christ’s teaching, enlightening and teaching God’s wisdom, to the suffering and the weak he gave suffering and healing. Now, abiding in the glory of God, we pray unceasingly for our souls.

Troparion to the Saint Ambrose Optinsky, voice 5

Like a healing source, we flow to you, Ambrose, our father, for you faithfully instruct us on the path of salvation, protect us with prayers from troubles and misfortunes, comfort us in bodily and mental sorrows, and, moreover, teach us humility, patience and love; pray to Christ, the lover of mankind and zealous Intercessor, for our souls to be saved.

Kontakion to St. Ambrose of Optina, tone 2

Having fulfilled the covenant of the Chief Shepherd, you inherited the grace of eldership, your heart aching for all who flow to you with faith. Likewise, we, your children, cry out to you with love: Holy Father Ambrose, pray to Christ God to save our souls.

First prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina

O great elder and servant of God, reverend our father Ambrose, praise to the Optina and all Rus' teacher of piety! We glorify your humble life in Christ, by which God has exalted your name while you were still on earth, especially crowning you with heavenly honor upon your departure to the palace of eternal glory. Accept now the prayer of us, your unworthy children, who honor you and call on your holy name, deliver us through your intercession before the Throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances, mental and physical ailments, evil misfortunes, corrupting and evil temptations, send peace to our Fatherland from the great-gifted God, peace and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery, in which you yourself labored in prosperity and you have pleased our glorified God with all in the Trinity, to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina

O venerable and God-bearing Father Ambrose! You, desiring to work for the Lord, lived here and labored untiringly in labor, vigils, prayers and fasting, and you were a mentor to monastics, and a zealous teacher to all people. Now, after your departure from the earthly, standing before the Heavenly King, pray to His goodness to show mercy to the place of your settlement, this holy monastery, where you continually abide in the spirit of your love, and to all your people, who fall with faith in the race of your relics, for the good petition fulfill them. Ask our merciful Lord to grant us an abundance of earthly blessings, even more so for the benefit of our souls, and may we be worthy to end this temporary life in repentance, and on the day of judgment may we be worthy of standing and enjoying His Kingdom forever and ever. . Amen.

Third prayer to St. Ambrose of Optina

O all-honorable elder of the glorious and wondrous Optina Hermitage, venerable and God-bearing Father Ambrose! Our Church is a good decoration and a gracious lamp, illuminating everyone with heavenly light, the red and spiritual fruit of Russia and all the sunflowers, abundantly delighting and cheering the souls of the faithful! Now, with faith and trembling, we fall before the celibate reliquary of your holy relics, which you have mercifully granted for comfort and help to the suffering, we humbly pray to you with our hearts and lips, holy father, as an all-Russian mentor and teacher of piety, a shepherd and a doctor of our mental and physical ailments: look for your children, who greatly sin in words and deeds, and visit us with your much and holy love, with which you gloriously succeeded even in the days of earth, especially after your righteous death, instructing the saints and God-enlightened fathers in the rules, admonishing us in the commandments of Christ, in You were jealous of their goodness until the last hour of your difficult monastic life; ask us, weak in soul and in distress in sorrow, a favorable and saving time for repentance, true correction and renewal of our life, in which we, sinners, have become vain in mind and heart, having given ourselves over to indecent and cruel passion, vice and lawlessness, of which there is no number; accept therefore, protect and cover us with the shelter of your many mercies, send us a blessing from the Lord, so that we may bear the good yoke of Christ in long-suffering until the end of our days, looking forward to the future life and the Kingdom, where there is no sorrow or sighing, but life and endless joy, abundantly flowing from the One, All-Holy and Blessed Source of immortality in the Trinity of the worshiped God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Akathist to Ambrose of Optina

Troparion, tone 5

Like a healing source, we flow to you, Ambrose, our father, for you faithfully instruct us on the path of salvation, protect us from troubles and misfortunes with prayers, comfort us in bodily and mental sorrows, and, moreover, teach us humility, patience and love, pray to Christ the Lover of Mankind and Intercessor diligent to save our souls.

CANON. Voice 8th

Song 1

Irmos: Sometimes immerse the miraculous rod of Moses in the chariot of the persecutor of Pharaoh, striking the cross in the shape and dividing the sea, but Israel saved the fugitive, saved the pedestrian, chanting the song of God.

Chorus:

The Church now triumphs, brightly celebrating your holy memory, and with joy sings your song of praise, glorifying the Lord, wondrous in His saints.

You have known the sweetness of life in Christ and, without hesitation, you have left the charm of earthly blessings and the vanity of the world, submitting everything to God.

Who will honor the deeds you have endured for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven, strengthening your spirit in singing, vigil and fasting.

Glory: You rose from strength to strength in doing good in the commandments of Christ and you acquired the gift of the Holy Spirit, through His action you saved many Christian souls.

And now: O Ever-Virgin Mother of God, Mary, extend my merciful right hand to help, begging Thy Son and God: for I am vulnerable to cruelty, and I have placed my hope in Thee, Thou art merciful to me.

Song 3

Irmos: Establish at the beginning Heaven with your mind and the earth on the waters; establish me, O Christ, on stone, Thy commandments, for there is nothing holy, more than You, the One Lover of Mankind.

Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pray to God for us

By perfect obedience you rejected your own will and thereby rejected the passions of the being of fallen Adam, committing everything to the guidance of the God-wise elders and fathers of the Desert, who also grew you to the measure of your spiritual age.

Your pure soul has acquired the beauty of chastity, having put off the old man through the power of repentance and in spiritual success having put on Christ.

You hated the riches of the corruptible world and you were like a stranger and a stranger on earth, seeking the Heavenly City, and the Lord of the House led you into the palace of His glory.

Glory: Christ God has enriched you with the gift of miracles, and you have healed many illnesses of the afflicted; do not forsake us, who expect grace-filled help from you.

And now: Our hope and hope, Lady of the world, good Helper, save and in the fortress lift up the Orthodox and our people from all troubles and from various conditions of freedom.

Lord have mercy (three times).

Sedalen, voice 4th

The face of the monks now glorifies you, Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pleasing your honorable memory, and the whole monastery triumphs in joy, honoring your pure life in virtues and the many miracles you performed. In the same way, we all cry out together: save us with your prayers, Ambrose, our father.

Glory, and now: Flowing under Your compassion, we pray, Virgin Mother of God, do not despise our sobs and prayers, but hasten to deliver unrequited people from troubles and sorrows: You alone art the most well-known hope for Christians, and to You we all resort to salvation.

Song 4

Irmos: You are my strength, Lord, You are my strength, You are my God, You are my joy, do not leave the bosom of the Father and visit our poverty. To those with the prophet Habakkuk I call Ti: Glory to Your power, Lover of mankind.

Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pray to God for us

You were the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit and you poured out currents of miracles. Accept our prayers and heal us from the wounds of sin and passions.

Having learned the power of prayer for the salvation of the soul, teach us to pray soulfully to the merciful Savior of all, Jesus.

Establish the true Orthodox faith in your people, who honor you as a zealot of the teachings of Christ.

Glory: What shall we reward you, our blessed father, for everything that you have rewarded us, your children, who honor your honorable memory.

And now: From Your most pure loins, Mother of God, the Word of God came forth unspeakably, enfolding Him, begging to deliver those who call from evil: glory to Your power, Lord.

Song 5

Irmos: Thou hast cast me away from Thy presence, O Light of the Unstoppable, and an alien darkness has covered me, the accursed one, but turn me, and direct my path to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pray to God for us

Enlightened by the light of Christ’s teaching, you have swept away the darkness of sinful error, and have taught us, darkened by passions, in the light of God’s commandments.

A new light has risen by you, father, to the Russian lands, illuminating the whole earth with the light of Divine love. Enlighten us, God-bearer, your unworthy children, with the light of the commandments of Christ.

You have loved your neighbor and lifted up his burden of sins and sorrows, so that he may see the light of truth and correct his steps to do the commandments of Christ.

Glory: Thou hast inherited the Kingdom of Heaven, where those who celebrate the unceasing voice and endless sweetness of those who behold the inexpressible kindness of God.

And now: Undefiled Lamb and the Virgin Mary, strengthened by Your prayers, the saints conquered the demonic powers: likewise, for us who trust in You, quickly appear to help, so that all who are Your evil servant will be put to shame and fall.

Song 6

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for my iniquities are many, and bring me up from the depths of evil, I pray: I have cried out to You, and hear me, O God of my salvation.

Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pray to God for us

Be a strong intercession to all who come to your help in illness and sorrow, Our Father Ambrose, Great Starce of the Optina monastery.

Deliver us from the deceit of evil spirits and bring us out of the depths of sin, so that Christ God will cleanse us from our iniquities and save our souls.

What do you think of your good deeds to people who suffer and humiliate? How shall we sing a song of thanksgiving to you? Accept now the song of praise of your unworthy children.

Glory: Visit our infirmities by your mercy, heal spiritual wounds with the power given by your grace from above, so that we may arise from the deathly sleep of sin.

And now: Eloquently, O Pure One, incarnated from Thy womb, we glorify Thee as the Mother of God.

Lord have mercy (tr izhdy). Glory to this day:

Kontakion, voice 2

Having fulfilled the covenant of the shepherd leader, you inherited grace, being sick in heart for all those who flow to you with faith, and we, your children, cry out to you with love: Holy Father Ambrose, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

Ikos

You showed a good life and with your virtues you illuminated the entire Russian land, you attracted all the ends of our fatherland to yourself, caring for the countless flock of your faithful children, whom you looked upon with love like a child-loving and merciful father. In the same way, having gathered together on the day of your repose, we call with tenderness: Rejoice, ascetic of piety, having received the rich gifts of the All-Holy Spirit; Rejoice, the height of humility and patience, in the image of which you teach your faithful children; Rejoice, fruitful tree, with which you have nourished many who hungered for eternal life; Rejoice, flower fragrant with the love of the Divine, with whom the grieving and sick are comforted; Rejoice, source of ever-flowing miracles and blessings, from them the sick are healed and the perishing are saved; Rejoice, our bold intercessor before the righteous Judge; Rejoice, glorious helper to us in all circumstances; Rejoice, God-wise Ambrose, great All-Russian Elder.

Song 7

Irmos: God's descent of fire was ashamed in Babylon sometimes. For this reason, the youths in the cave, with joyful feet, like in a flower bed, rejoiced, girded: Blessed are you, God of our fathers.

Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pray to God for us

Thou hast moved into the heavenly chambers, and there behold the ineffable glory of the Eternal God, calling: Blessed art thou, God of our fathers.

In the host of holy saints you now glorify the all-wise Creator and the Lord of Powers, singing: blessed be the God of our fathers.

From the faces of the Angels and Archangels stand before the face of the Almighty and eat there silently: blessed be the God of our fathers.

Glory: Enter into the joy of the Lord, for you were His good and faithful servant on earth, and now you cry in heaven: Blessed are you, God of our fathers.

And now: See the Lady of my soul, the stinking wounds, which the accursed self willingly picked up, and I cannot apply a plaster, but I am barely alive and cry out: have mercy on me, the Physician of all and God, create with Your prayers as a Mother, so that I may sing to You: Blessed, Most Pure One, is the Fruit of Your womb.

Song 8

Irmos: By the sevenfold, the cave of the Chaldean tormentor furiously kindled the godly, but by the best power they were saved, having seen this, they cried out to the Creator and Savior: fathers, bless, priests, sing, O people, exalt to all ages.

Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pray to God for us

The Church now rejoices, celebrating your blessed memory, most praiseworthy Father, and sings with joy: may all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him forever.

Having now gathered in the monastery of holy monks, there are many monks who bless your honorable memory and sing with joy: may all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him forever.

Shepherds and teachers flocked to this habitable city, where you flourished in virtues, singing: may all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him forever.

Glory: Old and young, strong and weak, came now to the house of the Lord to glorify the venerable Elder and Father, crying out: may all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him forever.

And now: In You, Most Holy Theotokos, living water was poured out to wash away the filth of the world, with which you deign to cool my heart and sprinkle the dew of prayers in the blood of Your blood forever.

Song 9

Irmos: Heaven and the ends of the earth were terrified at this, for God had appeared as a man in the flesh, and Your womb was more spacious than Heaven. Thus the Mother of God, the Angels and the people of the ranks magnify Thee.

Reverend Our Father Ambrose, pray to God for us

Now the Orthodox Church preaches your exploits, as an All-Russian saint of God, and honors your memory, praising your angelic life.

Look down from heaven, our Father Ambrose, on your faithful people, and send down from above a helping hand to all who worship your honest image.

Hear the voice of our prayer, visit with your mercy the illnesses and infirmities of your children who come running to you with faith, our most wonderful Father.

Glory: We fall in the tenderness of our hearts at your feet, great Elder of our land, we ask and pray: do not forget to visit those who honor your most honorable memory.

And now: What gift shall we bring to You, Mother of God? Or what do imams say about sins? We cry out tenderly, praying: save Thy servants, O God-gracious Young Lady, as we magnify Thee forever.

Troparion to St. Ambrose of Optina, tone 5

Like a healing source, we flow to you, Ambrose, our father, for you faithfully instruct us on the path of salvation, protect us with prayers from troubles and misfortunes, comfort us in bodily and mental sorrows, and, moreover, teach us humility, patience and love, pray to the Lover of Mankind and Christ Zealous Intercessor for the salvation of our souls.

Having fulfilled the covenant of the Chief Shepherd, you inherited the grace of eldership, sick at heart for all those who flow to you with faith, and we, your children, cry out to you with love: Holy Father Ambrose, pray to Christ God to save our souls.

Lord, You alone weigh everything, you can do everything, and you want everyone to be saved and to come to the mind of Truth. Give some sense to my children (names) knowledge of Thy truth and Thy Holy will and strengthen them to walk according to Thy commandments and have mercy on me, a sinner.

O venerable and God-bearing Father Ambrose! You, desiring to work for the Lord, lived here and labored tirelessly, in vigils, in prayers and fasts, and you were a mentor to monastics, and a zealous teacher to all people. Now, after your departure from earthly presence before the Heavenly King, pray to His goodness to be generous to the place of your settlement, this holy monastery, where you continually abide in the spirit of your love, and to all your people, who with faith fall to the race of your relics, for the good of their petitions fulfill. Ask our merciful Lord to grant us an abundance of earthly blessings, even more so for the benefit of our souls, and may he grant us the opportunity to end this temporary life in repentance, and on the day of judgment may he be worthy of standing and enjoying His Kingdom forever and ever. . Amen.

O all-honorable elder of the glorious and wondrous Optina Hermitage, venerable and God-bearing Father Ambrose! Our Church is a good decoration and a gracious lamp, illuminating everyone with heavenly light, the red and spiritual fruit of Russia and all the sunflowers, abundantly delighting and cheering the souls of the faithful! Now, with faith and trembling, we fall before the celibate reliquary of your holy relics, which you have mercifully granted for comfort and help to the suffering, we humbly pray to you with our hearts and lips, holy father, as an all-Russian mentor and teacher of piety, a shepherd and a doctor of our mental and physical ailments: look for your children, who greatly sin in words and deeds, and visit us with your abundant and holy love, with which you gloriously succeeded even in the days of earth. And especially after your righteous death, instructing the saints and God-enlightened fathers in the rules, admonishing us in the commandments of Christ, you were jealous of them until the last hour of your difficult monastic life; ask us, weak in soul and distressed in sorrow, a favorable and saving time for repentance, true correction and renewal of our life, in which we, sinners, have become vain in mind and heart, having given ourselves over to indecent and cruel passion, vice and lawlessness, of which there is no number ; accept therefore, protect and cover us with the shelter of your many mercies, grant us blessings from the Lord, so that we may bear the good yoke of Christ in long-suffering until the end of our days, looking forward to the future life and the Kingdom, where there is no sorrow or sighing, but life and endless joy, abundantly flowing from the one, all-holy and blessed source of immortality, in the Trinity worshiped God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O great elder and servant of God, reverend our father Ambrose, praise to the Optina and all Rus' teacher of piety! We glorify your humble life in Christ, by which God exalted your name while you were still alive on earth, especially crowning you with heavenly honor after your departure to the palace of eternal glory. Accept now the prayer of us, your unworthy children, who honor you and call on your holy name, deliver us through your intercession before the throne of God from all sorrowful circumstances, mental and physical ailments, evil misfortunes, corrupting and evil temptations, send peace to our Fatherland from the great-gifted God, peace and prosperity, be the immutable patron of this holy monastery, in which you yourself labored in prosperity and you pleased our glorified God with all in the Trinity, and to Him belongs all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Reverend Father Ambrose, you, having boldness before the Lord, beg the Greatly Gifted Master to give me quick help in the fight against unclean passion.

God! Through the prayers of Your saint, the Venerable Ambrose, cleanse my lips, purify my heart and fill it with the fragrance of Your Holy Spirit, so that the evil tobacco passion will run far away from me, back to where it came from, into the belly of hell. Amen.

Prayer rule one of St. Ambrose of Optina

Lord, why have you multiplied the cold? Many people rise up against me, many people say to my soul: there is no salvation for him in his God. It's you. Lord, my Protector, be my glory and lift up my head. With my voice I cried to the Lord, and He heard me from His holy mountain. I fell asleep and fell asleep, and arose, as if the Lord would intercede for me. I will not be afraid of the people around me who attack me. Arise, Lord, save me, my God, for You have struck down all those who were at enmity with me in vain: You have crushed the teeth of sinners. Salvation is the Lord's, and Your blessing is upon Your people.

God, in Your Name save me, and in Your power judge me. God, hear my prayer, inspire the words of my mouth. As if strangers rose up against me and were strong, they sought my soul, and did not offer God before them. Behold, God helps me, and the Lord is the protector of my soul. Evil will turn away my enemy; consume them with Thy truth. I will devour You with my will; let me confess to Your name, O Lord, that it is good, that You have delivered me from all sorrow, and that My eye has looked upon my enemies.

Deliver me from my enemies, O God, and deliver me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from workers of iniquity and save me from bloodshed. For behold, having caught my soul, the mighty ones have attacked me, lower is my iniquity, lower is my sin, O Lord. Having flown without iniquity and corrected it, arise to meet me and see. And you, O Lord God of hosts, God of Israel, visit all nations, and do not show mercy to all those who practice iniquity. They will return in the evening and will hunger like a dog and will go around the city. These people answer with their lips, and the sword is in their mouth, as if anyone heard? And You, Lord, laugh at them and abase all languages. I will preserve my power towards You, for You, God, are my Protector. My God, His mercy will precede me, my God will show me in all my misfortunes. Do not kill them, lest they forget Your law, scatter me with Your power and bring me down, my Protector, Lord. The sin of their lips, the word of their lips, and let them be in their pride, and from oaths and lies they will be proclaimed in their death. In the wrath of death, they will not and will take away, for God rules over Jacob and the ends of the earth. They will return in the evening, and will hunger like a dog, and will go through the city. Tia will be bursting with food. Or if they are not satisfied, they will grumble. I will sing of Your power and rejoice in the morning about Your mercy, for You were my Intercessor and my Refuge in the day of my sorrow. Thou art my helper, I sing to Thee: for thou art my God, my Protector, my God, my mercy.

Lord, hear my prayer, inspire my prayer in Thy truth, hear me in Thy righteousness, and do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, for no one living will be justified before You. As if the enemy drove my soul, he humbled my belly to eat, he planted me to eat in dark, like dead centuries. And my spirit is depressed within me, my heart is troubled within me. I have remembered the days of old, I have learned in all Your works, I have learned Your hand in all creation. My hands have lifted up to You, my soul, like a waterless land to You. Hear me soon, Lord, my spirit has disappeared, do not turn Your face away from me, and I will become like those who go down into the pit. I hear Thy mercy upon me in the morning, for I trust in Thee. Tell me, Lord, I will go the other way, because I have taken my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, I have fled to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your Good Spirit will guide me to the right land. For Thy name's sake, O Lord, live me, by Thy righteousness remove my soul from sorrow. And by Thy mercy consume my enemies and destroy all my cold souls, for I am Thy servant.

Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to You. Do not turn Your face away from me: even if I mourn for a day, incline Your ear to me: even if I call on You for a day, hear me soon. As if my days had disappeared, like smoke, and my bones had dried up. I was wounded like grass, and my heart was gone, as if I had forgotten to bear my bread. Because of the voice of my groaning my bone cleaves to my flesh. We became like the tawny owl of the desert, like a nighttime corvid on its dive. Bdekh and bykh like a special bird here. All day long I reproach you, and those who praise me curse me. Ashes are gone, like bread is eaten, and my drink is dissolved with tears. From the presence of Thy anger and Thy wrath: as Thou hast exalted and cast down me. My days have turned away like the shade, and I have dried up like hay. But You, Lord, remain forever, and Your memory endures forever. You have risen, having shown mercy to Zion, for the time has come to show mercy to it, for the time has come. For Thy servants will take pleasure in his stone, and his dust will blight him. And the nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory. For the Lord of Zion will build and appear in His glory. Consider the prayer of the humble, and do not despise their prayers. May this be written for generations, and the people of the land will praise the Lord. As from His holy heights, the Lord looked down from Heaven to earth, to hear the groaning of the chained, to allow the sons of the slain, to proclaim the Name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem: when the people and the king will gather together to work for the Lord. I answered him on the way of his strength: I will build up the humiliation of my days. Do not bring me to the end of my days: Thy years are in the generation of generations. In the beginning, O Lord, You founded the earth, and the works of Your hand are the Heavens. They will perish, but You remain: and all, like a robe, will be promised, and like a garment, I will be changed. You are the same, and your years will not become scarce. The sons of Your servants will dwell, and their seed will be corrected forever.

Second prayer rule of St. Ambrose of Optina

Do not be jealous of those who are evil, nor be jealous of those who commit lawlessness. Like the grass, the grass will soon dry up, like the potion of grain will soon disappear. Trust in the Lord and do good deeds, and populate the earth, and enjoy its wealth. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will grant you the petitions of your heart. Open your way to the Lord and trust in Him, and He will do it: and He will bring forth your righteousness like the light and your destiny like the noonday. Obey the Lord and beg Him. Do not be jealous of the one who sleeps on his way, the person who commits a crime. Stop being angry and abandon rage, do not be jealous or cunning. Those who are evil will be consumed, but those who endure the Lord will inherit the earth. And yet a little, and there will be no sinner, and you will seek his place, and will not find it. The meek ones will inherit the earth and enjoy the abundance of the world. The sinner despises the righteous and gnashes his teeth. The Lord will laugh at him and foresee that his day will come. The sinner has drawn the sword, strained her bow, cast down the wretched and the poor, and slain the upright in heart. Let their sword enter into their hearts, and let their bows be broken. A little is better for the righteous than much for the riches of sinners. The sinners' muscles will be broken, but the Lord confirms the righteous. The Lord knows the way of the blameless, and their success will endure forever. They will not be ashamed in times of cruelty, and in days of famine they will be satisfied, as sinners will perish. Defeat the Lord, become famous for them and ascend, vanishing like smoke. The sinner borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. For those who bless Him will inherit the earth, but those who curse Him will be consumed. From the Lord, man’s feet are straightened, and his ways are greatly admired. When he falls, he will not be broken, for the Lord strengthens his hand. The youngest was, for he grew old, and did not see the righteous man left, below his seed asking for bread. All day long the righteous man shows mercy and gives back, and his seed will be a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell in the age of the century. For the Lord loves judgment and will not forsake His saints; they will be preserved forever. The wicked will become wives, and the seed of the wicked will be consumed. The righteous will inherit the earth and dwell in it forever and ever. The mouth of the righteous will learn wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment. The law of his God is in his heart, and his feet will not falter. The sinner looks at the righteous and seeks to kill him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand; he will judge him lower when he judges him. Be patient with the Lord and preserve His path, and He will exalt you to inherit the earth, never to be consumed by a sinner. I saw the wicked exalted and towering like the cedars of Lebanon. And he passed by, and behold, he was not there, and he sought him, and his place was not found. Maintain kindness and see righteousness, for there is a remnant for a peaceful man. The wicked will be consumed together: the remnants of the wicked will be consumed. The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, and their Protector is in time of trouble. And the Lord will help them, and deliver them, and remove them from sinners, and save them, because they trusted in Him.

The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Protector of my life, from whom shall I fear? Sometimes those who are angry approach me and destroy my flesh; those who insult me ​​and defeat me become exhausted and fall. Even if a regiment takes up arms against me, my heart will not fear, even if it rises up to fight me, I will trust in Him. I have asked one thing from the Lord, and this I will require: that I may live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the beauty of the Lord, and that I may visit His holy temple. For He hid me in His village in the day of my evil, for He covered me in the secret of His village, and lifted me up on a stone. And now, behold, I have lifted up my head against my enemies: I have died and devoured in His village a sacrifice of praise and shouting, I will sing and sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, my voice to which I cried: have mercy on me and hear me. My heart says to you, I will seek the Lord. I will seek Your face, O Lord, I will seek Your face. Do not turn Your face away from me and do not turn away in anger from Your servant: be my helper, do not reject me, and do not forsake me, O God of my Savior. For my father and mother have abandoned me, but the Lord will receive me. Give me the law, O Lord, in Thy way and guide me on the right path for my enemy’s sake. Do not betray me into the souls of those who are afflicted by me, as if I stood up as a witness to unrighteousness and lied untruthfully to myself. I believe in seeing the good of the Lord on the land of the living. Be patient with the Lord, be of good courage and let your heart be strong, and be patient with the Lord.

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from rebellious words, His splash will overshadow you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in the darkness, from the cloak, and from the demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will fall at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, otherwise you will look at your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not approach your body, as His angel commanded you to keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot on a stone, step on an asp and a basilisk, and cross a lion and a serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him, and I will glorify him, I will fill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.

Having endured, I endured the Lord, and listened to me, and heard my prayer. And bring me up from the pit of passions, and from the clay of the mire, and set my feet on stones, and straighten my steps, and put into my mouth a new song, singing to our God. Many people will see and fear, and trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man for whom the name of the Lord is his hope, and he will not despise false vanity and confusion. Thou hast done many things, O Lord, my God, Thy wonders, and by Thy thought there is no one who is like Thee. Announced and verbs, multiplying more than the number. You did not desire sacrifices and offerings, but you fulfilled my body, you did not require burnt offerings, and you did not ask for sin. Then he said: “Behold, I have come; in the chapter of the book it is written about me: I have willed to do Thy will, O my God, and Thy law is in the midst of my womb.” I will not withhold the gospel of the truth in the great church; behold, I will not withhold from my lips: Lord, you have understood. I have not hidden Your righteousness in my heart, I have not hidden Your truth and Your salvation, I have not hidden Your mercy and Your truth from the multitude. But You, Lord, do not remove Your compassions from me: I will take Your mercy and Your truth away, intercede for me. As if evil has taken possession of me, which has no number, my iniquities have befallen me, and I was not able to see, multiplying more than the hair of my head, and forsake my heart. Deign, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, come to my aid. Let those who seek to take my soul be ashamed and put to shame, and let those who wish me evil turn back and be ashamed. May those who say: better, better, accept their bitterness. Let all who seek You, O Lord, rejoice and rejoice in You, and let them say: May the Lord be magnified in those who love Your salvation. But I am poor and wretched, the Lord will take care of me. Thou art my Helper and my Protector, O my God, do not become stubborn.