Aleksandr was born in the family of
sexton Mikhail Fyodorovich Grenkov and Marfa Nikolayevna Grenkova. He was the sixth of eight children and his grandfather was the village priest. At the age of 12 Aleksandr entered the Tambov clerical school and later the Tambov theological seminary. In 1835, shortly before the graduation, Aleksandr became severely ill and made a vow if he got well to become a monk. He recovered but delayed his decision and became a private teacher in a family of a landlord and later in the
Lipetsk clerical school. During summer vacation, Aleksandr met a well-known elder Hilarion from the village of Troekurovo. Hilarion advised: "Go to Optina and you will be experienced. You could go to Sarov too, but there are no more experienced elders there" (at that time,
Seraphim of Sarov already reposed). At this time the monastery was in its spiritual heyday. 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 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 was
tonsured as a
monk, after only three years, in 1842; he was given the
religious name Ambrose in honour of
Ambrose of Milan. Known for his deep kindness and compassion, no one's question or counsel was refused. Being able to give wise advice to other people, Ambrose, due to his humility, sought advice from others without relying on his own mind even having the gift of reasoning. After the death of Macarius, having no one to turn to in his monastery, he turned first to his bishop Gregory. And over time, learning from some credible people about one hidden, wandering spiritual elder, Ambrose immediately tried to get close to him. He constantly wrote secret letters to this elder with the intention to do everything with the advice of another person in which he saw the expression of the will of God - not following one's own will. Ambrose founded
Shamordino Convent in 1884. This
convent, which is near Optina, opened its doors to women who were poor, sickly, or even blind. Most convents were very poor and had to rely on the incomes of women who had a certain personal wealth in order to remain open. Ambrose made it possible for any woman who wished to become a
nun. After the death of the first abbess, Mother Sophia, Ambrose went there in June 1890 to put the convent's affairs in order. He was unable to return to Optina due to illness, and died in the Shamordino cloister on October 10, 1891, and was buried in the Optina "desert" (
poustin). His
relics were placed in the Vvedensky Church of the Monastery; in 1998, they were moved to the church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. ==Cultural allusions==