In the city of Ivanovo, in its very center, stands a large old church of red brick, surrounded by numerous intricate buildings. Today, there is the Vvedensky convent for women, and once, during the years of Soviet rule, this wonderful temple was adapted for the State Archive.
At that time, it seemed inconceivable to return the cathedral to the wing of the Russian Orthodox Church. Believers wrote to different authorities - everything was useless. The miracle happened when Archimandrite Ambrose (Yurasov) got down to business.
The history of the Vvedensky temple is one of the brightest and at the same time tragic pages in the difficult life of the priest, and in our article we will cover this event in more detail. We will also tell about the biography of Father Ambrose, about his tireless preaching and enlightening activities in the name of the glorification and triumph of the Orthodox Faith.
Ambrose (Yurasov): biography
The future father was born in the Altai Territory, in a. Lights in 1938 in a poor large peasant family. Parents were very religious people, from a young age they were able to instill in their son an ardent love for God. The boy’s father died in the war in 1941, and mother God gave his mother a long life. Shortly before her death, she accepted the Great Schema. Father Ambrose from childhood knew hunger, saw persecution of Orthodoxy. Having become older, he entered the mine as a worker, then he served in the army and played sports.
The young man was surrounded by atheists. It would seem that it was difficult to maintain faith in such an environment, nevertheless, the young man entered the Moscow Theological Seminary and successfully graduated from it, having received the degree of candidate of theology. From 1965 to 1975, the priest served in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where he subsequently took monastic tonsure and ordained in the hieromonk.
In 1976, Fr. Ambrose was transferred to the Pochaev Lavra and elevated to the rank of hegumen. He stayed there for 5 years and all these years he was engaged in quiet, humble service to God: he professed a monastic brethren, preached and conducted excursions for visitors. But the time has come difficult: the authorities threatened to close the Lavra and evict the monks. With the blessing of his confessor, Father Superior Amvrosiy (Yurasov) is hiding from persecution in the Caucasus Mountains, where he carries a prayer and hermit lifestyle.
The foundation of the Holy Vvedensky Convent in Ivanovo
In 1983, Father Ambrose was enrolled in the Ivanovo diocese. His first arrival was the village of Zharki, remote from the center, where there were only five houses, then the priest served in the village of Krasnoye near the famous Palekh. And now the time has come when he was elevated to the honorary rank of archimandrite and assigned to a new place of service: the Transfiguration Cathedral in Ivanovo.
Archimandrite Amvrosiy (Yurasov) quickly won the love of the parishioners, who even in the regional center were few in fact, because godlessness reigned in the country. Nevertheless, a circle of truly believing people rallied around the priest. Together they decided to win the “Red Church” (the popular name of the Holy Vvedensky Cathedral) from the atheists.
At first, the priest and his parishioners took up the matter peacefully: they wrote, went with requests to the authorities, but soon realized that all this was useless. Another would be in place of. Ambrosia retreated, despaired, but he decided to go all the way.
One morning, the surprised residents of Ivanov saw a tent near the "Red Church" and four women sitting next to them in monastic attire. These were the spiritual children of Father Ambrose, whom he blessed on a hunger strike in protest against the arbitrariness of the authorities. For that time it was an unprecedented move! The whole city was buzzing, newspapers and radio poured mud on the father of Ambrose, the temple was cordoned off by police cordons. From all over the city, people flocked to the church to look at courageous women. The protest lasted a long 16 days and attracted the attention of the international community.
In the end, the Red Church was returned to the Ivanovo diocese, and Archimandrite Ambrose (Yurasov) became rector of the new church parish. On March 27, 1991, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy, the Vvedensky Convent was founded here. Father Ambrose became his spiritual leader and mentor. Over time, the monastery grew, the number of sisters grew to one and a half hundred. Father Ambrose to this day leads this monastery.
Social activities of the father
Today, the monastery’s sisters and clergy conduct extensive public activities: they visit drug centers and prisons, publish religious literature, speak at the Orthodox radio station Radonezh, feed homeless people, people with disabilities and orphans, and work on the city's Helpline. And all these works with patience and love are led by Father Ambrose (Yurasov).
The sermons of the priest are so popular that pilgrims come from all over Russia to listen to them. And although the Father is an extremely busy person, he still finds time to receive and listen to people, help with advice, and give comfort.
Spiritual Assistance to Prisoners
Not far from the Vvedensky monastery is a women's colony. Father Ambrose jokingly called her another monastery compound. Father and nuns constantly visit the condemned, they bring the word of God to them. For 20 years, the priest tirelessly visits the colony, of which there are many in the Ivanovo region.
Archimandrite Amvrosiy (Yurasov) was one of the first to go to death row, to punishment cells, to tuberculosis units. Confessed, baptized and served prisoners with Christian love commanded by Christ himself. With the support of Fr. Ambrose on the territory of the colonies built temples.
Published works of Archimandrite Ambrose
- "Confession: to help the penitents."
- "God be with us."
- "In the days of fasting."
- "Orthodoxy and Protestantism."
- "A word of comfort."
- "Monastery".
- "Lord bless."
- "Vocation".
- "In the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Final word
How wonderful it is that on Russian soil there are such pillars of the Orthodox faith as Father Priest Ambrose Yurasov! Reviews about him as a talented preacher, a perspicacious old man and a faithful Christian are abundant in many Orthodox forums. I would like to wish this courageous and active person health and long life, so that as long as possible he lights up the hot lamps of the Orthodox faith in the frozen souls of modern people.