SKU: 21785610232

Elder Ambrose of Optina

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Description

Elder Ambrose of OptinaElder Ambrose (18121891) is considered the pinnacle of Eldership in Optina. He embodied the virtues of all the elders in the highest degree divine humility, purity of mind and heart, overflowing love, and total self sacrifice for thesalvation of his fellow man. So great were his gifts that hundreds of people flocked daily to his humble cabin at Optina, including the writers Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, and Leontiev. Elder Ambrose (1812 1891) is considered

Elder Ambrose (1812–1891) is considered the pinnacle of Eldership in Optina. He embodied the virtues of all the elders in the highest degree--divine humility, purity of mind and heart, overflowing love, and total self-sacrifice for thesalvation of his fellow man. So great were his gifts that hundreds of people flocked daily to his humble cabin at Optina, including the writers Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, and Leontiev.

Elder Ambrose (1812-1891) is considered the pinnacle of Eldership in Optina. He embodied the virtues of all the elders in the highest degree; divine humility, purity of mind and heart, overflowing love, and total self-sacrifice for the salvation of his fellow man. Because he had attained the depths of humility, the Lord blessed him with spiritual gifts by which to heal suffering souls. He read human hearts, was granted to know the past, present and future of people, and spoke to them the direct, revealed word of God. So great were his gifts that hundreds of people flocked daily to his humble cabin in central Russia. Among these were the writers Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, Leontiev and Solovyev. Dostoyevsky was so moved by his pilgrimage to Optina and Elder Ambrose that he wrote his last and greatest novel, The Brothers Karamazov, with the specific intention of depicting the spiritual image of Optina Monastery and the Elder. The fictional character of Elder Zosima in his book was modelled after Elder Ambrose, whose words of counsel Dostoyevsky put directly into the mouth of his unforgettable character. "Whoever has an unfeeling heart should not despair, because with God's help a man can change his heart. You need only to watch yourself attentively, and not miss a chance to be useful to your neighbor, reveal your thoughts to the elder more often, and force yourself to give alms. Of course, it's impossible to do this right away, but the Lord is longsuffering. He only cuts short a man's life when He sees either that he is prepared to pass into eternity or that there is no hope for his correction."

This edition of Elder Ambrose's life is a faithful English translation of the original Optina edition, printed in Russia in 1912. Through its pages we enter the world of a heavenly man, an angel in the flesh who beheld the mysteries of the future age: the perfect love and silent oneness of immortal spirits.

"I sank into eternal rest. No longer was my spirit disturbed by anything. And I knew nothing else earthly. None of the tribulations of my heart came to mind, even for a minute. It seemed that everything that I had experienced before on earth never existed." Elder Ambrose of Optina

*Paperback 470 pp.

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SKU: 21785610232

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James Garcia
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Good looking shelves
Size: 11.6"D x 15.7"W, Color: Black, Size: 11.6"D x 15.7"W, Color: Black
These shelves turned out perfect for my bedroom project! I read lots of reviews about people having trouble with the wall anchors not holding up, but I’m going to equate that to user error. I had no trouble installing these and even took a couple shortcuts. I only used two wall anchors per shelf, but also pre checked the holes for studs. I used one dry wall screw per shelf as well. Knowing how wall anchors can be, I used one drill bit size smaller than the directions suggested. They said use 1/4, but I used 15/64. Probably could have gotten away with one smaller than that at 7/32. With all screws, I made sure not to press too hard into the wall and just turn the screw. That helps the anchors and threads stay snug in the dry wall. There was only one shelf that came out feeling a little saggy, but I think it’s because the holes in the shelf are not quite right. However, it still holds strong and no problem with a box of shoes on it. All this being said, I pre weighed my shoe boxes and knew I only needed to hold about 5-7 lbs. I was super detailed with measuring the bracket spots to make sure everything was spaced and leveled appropriately. The wood on the shelves does feel a little cheap, but it looks great so I couldn’t care less. I would purchase these shelves again and might have to as my display collection continues to grow.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2026
K
Verified Purchase
KREY
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Easy install, wide and sturdy
Size: 10"D x 15.7"W, Color: Brown, Size: 10"D x 15.7"W, Color: Brown
I put these shelves in a strange little cubby that was created in my kitchen by removing the sad excuse for a pantry that was once there. Super easy to hang, I’ve only hung two here and have other plans for the 3rd one. Good purchase for sure. Very sturdy and look expensive, without the high cost.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2025
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Tyra Church
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 4
Great shelves!
Size: 12"D x 35.4"W, Color: Black
These were perfect for what I needed & easy to install with included hardware; looks great and looks like quality item. I like that they will hold 20 lbs so I can change what I place on them with no worries.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2025
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Stephanie L Trott
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Easy installation
Size: 11.6"D x 15.7"W, Color: Black
Nice and sturdy
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
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kittybee
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Sleek and attractive
Size: 12"D x 23.6"W, Color: Black, Size: 12"D x 23.6"W, Color: Black
While these didn't come in the color I was looking for, the size and price point were just what I was looking for. Installing them didn't take too long and was simple enough, but the end result did seem a little more wobbly than expected. I used them to display mine and my boyfriend's boots, and they held up fine, but I think 22 lbs per shelf would be pushing it. I was able to easily cover the shelves with wood grain look contact paper and easily trim the excess off with an Exacto knife to get the look I wanted. I'm happy with how it turned out.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2026

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