Iconography of St. Ambrose of Optina

Abstract

The Russian land is rich in holy people. One of the bright lights in the host of holy saints of God is St. Ambrose of Optina. One of the first images of St. Ambrose in the face of newly glorified saints was painted in the Pokrovsky Cathedral in Tambov on the eve of the millennium of the Baptism of Rus in 1988. This cathedral became the first place in the Tambov land where they began to iconographically depict Tambov saints (locally venerated)2. The image of the saint can be seen on the fresco of the upper church. It was made by a group of artists led by Nikolai Borisovich Titov. In the center of the composition is depicted the Mother of God with the Savior in her arms, to the left of Her in prayerful intercession for the Tambov land are Saints Pitirim of Tambov and Theophan the Recluse of Vyshensky, to the right - Saints Seraphim of Sarov and Ambrose of Optina. Later, other icons of the saint began to be painted: full-length, waist-length, shoulder-length, chest-length, on which the elder is depicted blessing, in a koukol (koukol - a pointed headdress with a veil, part of the vestments of schemamonks) or with an uncovered head, often with an unfolded scroll in his left hand. On all the icons, Saint Ambrose is painted as a kind elder with a gray beard, who is ready to receive everyone, calm, help.