Archbishop Ambrose - the last true bishop

Ambrose (Ermakov)

Ermakov Vitaly Anatolievich

1970

Russian Orthodox Church

Third generation of modernists

San: Metropolitan

Graduated from: MDS, MDA, Russian Academy of Public Administration, Institute of Friendship of the Peoples of the Caucasus

Taught at: Sretensky Theological Seminary, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, MDA, MDS

Organizations: Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church, Synodal Biblical Theological Commission, Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints, Coordination Center for the Development of Theological Science in the Russian Orthodox Church, Working Group on Cooperation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of St. Petersburg dioceses, Interdepartmental Coordination Group for the Teaching of Theology in Universities

Press: Father online (project)

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Sreda (publishing house)
Direction: false missionary

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ecumenism
Modernism

(1970 - ) - bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, participant in the ecumenical movement, figure in Church reform.

education

Graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary (1995)[1].

In June 1999, he graduated from the academy with a candidate of theology degree, having defended a dissertation in the department of patrolology on the topic “The Soteriology of St. John Chrysostom.” After graduating from the Moscow Theological Academy, he remained in theological schools as a teacher and director of the academic choir[1].

In August 2000, he was appointed vice-rector of pastoral courses, which were later transformed into the Sretensky Theological Seminary, at the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.

In 2003, he completed training at the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation under the program “Fundamentals of State-Church Relations”[1].

By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 6, 2008, he was appointed Bishop of Gatchina, vicar of the St. Petersburg diocese, and rector of St. Petersburg theological schools. On October 25, he took office as rector of St. Petersburg Theological Schools[2].

From 2008 to 2022, rector of SPbDS and SPbDA. From July 14, 2022 to August 30, 2022, Rector of the MDA and MDS[3].

In 2022, he was appointed rector of Sretensky Theological Seminary[4].

hierarchy

On April 7, 1994 he was tonsured a monk.

On May 29, 1994, he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon[1]. On October 8, 1994, he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk[1].

In August 2000, by order of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', Alexy II was appointed vice-rector of pastoral courses, later transformed into the Sretensky Theological Seminary, at the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow and assigned to the brotherhood of the monastery. While staying at the Sretensky Monastery, he served as dean of the monastery and regent of the festive monastery choir[1].

On June 3, 2004 he was elevated to the rank of abbot.

On December 24, 2004, by the decision of the Holy Synod, according to the report of Archbishop of Kemerovo Sophrony (Budko), he was determined to be Bishop of Prokopyevsk, vicar of the Kemerovo diocese[5].

On December 28, 2004, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite[6].

On March 26, 2005, Patriarch Alexy II consecrated him bishop[7].

By the decision of the Holy Synod of July 19, 2006, he was appointed vicar of the Moscow diocese, Bishop of Bronnitsky[8].

By decree of Patriarch Alexy of July 26, 2006, he was appointed rector of the Moscow Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist on Presnya.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of October 6, 2008, he was appointed Bishop of Gatchina, vicar of the St. Petersburg diocese[2].

By the decision of the Holy Synod of March 12, 2013, it was determined to have the title “Peterhof”[9].

On February 1, 2014, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop[10].

Since July 14, 2022, Archbishop of Vereya, vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow.

Abbot of the Sretensky stauropegial monastery in Moscow.

From August 25, 2022, Metropolitan. Tverskoy and Kashinsky[11].

church positions

In September 1994, he was appointed regent of the newly formed academic choir of seminary and academy students[1].

Since 2009, member of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church. Member of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission; member of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints (since 10/22/2015); member of the Coordination Center for the Development of Theological Science in the Russian Orthodox Church; Chairman of the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the St. Petersburg Diocese.

On October 6, 2022, by decision of the Holy Synod (journal No. 86), a Working Group on cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland was formed, and was appointed co-chairman of the Working Group on cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland[12]. On April 4, 2022, by decision of the Holy Synod, due to a change in the place of ministry, he was released from co-chairmanship of the Working Group on Cooperation of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland[13].

pathological speech

myths

synergy

• Work, in the end, can become either co-working, cooperation with God
  - and this is its ultimate value - or it can become the construction of the Tower of Babel, fighting against God[14].

stamps

creative potential

This seemingly weak, infirm girl (St. Martyr Tatiana - Ed.), who showed the strength of her faith to such an extent that for centuries we have revere her name, has become an example for student youth, for those people who are just discovering their creative potential, who live in the happiest time of opportunity and have all those qualities of soul and body that contribute to a person becoming spiritually richer. Only this wealth makes a person an interesting, modern and full-fledged person[15].

paradigm

The Russian Orthodox Church, which has long understood the importance of dialogue between representatives of different sociocultural paradigms

, have already accumulated valuable experience in communicating with other religions and confessions, the purpose of which is “Orthodox witness, as well as joint work in the field of serving society”[16].

Vision

• The church's vision of society
  assumes that society does not have self-sufficient value, that it can be open to God and His truth. This means that work can be assessed not only on the scale of efficiency or profit, but also from the point of view of God’s commandments[14].

Openness to the world

• Today, theological schools, especially theological academies, should be quite open to the world
  [17].

pathological vocabulary

Lead, Vision, Stagnation, People, Leader, Open to the world, Paradigm, Immerse, Meaning, Man of the Church

Ambrose Ermakov left the Komsomol for the theological seminary

June 15, 1970
birthday of Vitaly Anatolyevich Ermakov

Vitaly Anatolyevich Ermakov was born on June 15, 1970 in the village of Luzhki, Kursk region. The boy grew up in a single-parent family. Dad left when the boy was four years old. He was brought up in the Soviet system: he was a member of the Pioneer and Komsomol organizations.

The future Archbishop Ambrose entered the Church from a young age, thanks to his distant relative, who was like a grandmother to him. She gave her grandson his first impression of the Orthodox Church, of God, and of prayer.

The boy felt a sense of loneliness among his peers because there were no believers in his city. He had to go with the flow and not stand out from the crowd. He did not perceive the Soviet regime as an ideology; for him it was a way to realize his energy in good deeds through the pioneer organization.

Archbishop of Peterhof Ambrose

Vitaly Anatolyevich often visited the church in the settlement and became a sexton for Archbishop Innocent. Rumors about the believing boy began to spread throughout the city. Therefore, he continued his worship in a church in the Oryol region.

On Sundays and church holidays he had to travel seventy kilometers. In this temple he was appointed to direct the choir. After some time, the boy was found again and given a choice.

He left his Komsomol card and went to study at a theological seminary. They offered to take him back and lured him with lucrative offers. But he insisted on his choice, despite all the obstacles he had to face.

essays

• Ambrose (Ermakov), bishop
  . Soteriology of St. John Chrysostom (PhD thesis).
• Ambrose (Ermakov), archbishop.
  Expanding the boundaries of the heart. - St. Petersburg: SPbDA, 2022. - 192 p. — ISBN 978-5-906627-53-7.

interview

• Bishop Ambrose of Bronnitsky: “The Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist on Presnya needs love and care.” Interview with Bishop Ambrose // Patriarchia.ru. — 2007. — July 7
• Interview with Bishop Ambrose of Gatchina: “I see a miracle in my destiny” // Patriarchia.ru. — October 5, 2011
• “On religious, educational and catechetical service in the Russian Orthodox Church.” Commentary by Bishop Ambrose of Gatchina

Works about the author

• Butkevich T.I., prot. Your Eminence Ambrose, Archbishop of Kharkov. Biographical sketch. Kharkov, 1902.
• Mitisov I. Pedagogical views of His Eminence Ambrose, Archbishop of Kharkov. Kazan, 1902.
• Vinogradov V. “The Last of the Mohicans” from the era of reforms (In memory of His Eminence Ambrose, Archbishop of Kharkov). Sergiev Posad, 1912.
• Burega V.V. Servant of the Living Word / Archbishop Ambrose (Klyucharyov). The art of preaching. M., 2006. P. 5-22.

sources

• Naming and consecration of Archimandrite Ambrose (Ermakov) as Bishop of Prokopyevsk, vicar of the Kemerovo diocese // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. - 2005. - No. 4. - P. 14-19.
• A missionary Divine Liturgy will take place in St. Isaac's Cathedral // Antimodernism.ru. — 2012. — July 13.
• Bishop Ambrose of Peterhof led the service of the missionary liturgy on the Week of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg // SPbDA. – 2013. – Date of access: 25.3.2013.
• Bishop Ambrose of Peterhof led the service of the missionary liturgy on the Week of the Triumph of Orthodoxy in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg // SPbDA. – 2013.
• Liturgy “within the framework” of the festival // Antimodernism.ru. — 2013. — March 25.
• The Vatican Ambassador to the Russian Federation visited the St. Petersburg Theological Academy // SPbDA. – 2013. – Date of access: 4.5.2014.
• Academy headed the service of the Divine Liturgy in SPbAPPO and took part in the opening of the youth forum // SPbDA. – 2013. – Date of access: 16.5.2013.
• On the anniversary of the memory of Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), ​​a funeral service was held in the academy’s home church // SPbDA. – 2013. – Date of access: 18.3.2015.
• Missionary Liturgy with multimedia accompaniment at the Savior on Spilled Blood // Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the St. Petersburg Metropolis. – 2013
• Missionary service - for the heart and mind // Department of religious education and catechesis of the St. Petersburg Metropolis. – 2013.
• Missionary Divine Liturgy with multimedia accompaniment was celebrated at the “Savior on Spilled Blood” // website of the St. Petersburg Metropolis. – 2013.

Footnotes

1. ↑ 1,01,11,21,31,41,51,6 Ambrose (Ermakov) // Orthodox Encyclopedia.
2. ↑ 2.02.1 The new rector of St. Petersburg theological schools, Bishop Ambrose of Gatchina, took office
3. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of July 14, 2022 // Patriarchy.ru. – 2022. – July 14. – Date of access: 15.7.2018.
4. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of August 30, 2022 // Patriarchy.ru. – 2022. – August 30. – Access date: 1.9.2019.
5. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of December 24, 2004. Magazine No. 88 // Patriarchy.ru. – 2005. – April 18
6. On the 75th anniversary of the repose of Hieromartyr Hilarion (Trinity), His Holiness Patriarch Alexy celebrated the liturgy at the Moscow Sretensky Monastery // Russian Orthodox Church Moscow Diocese. – 2004. – December 28
7. Bishop's consecrations in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
8. Journal No. 78 of the meeting of the Holy Synod of July 19, 2006 // Patriarchy.ru
9. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of March 12, 2013. // Patriarchia.ru.
10. Bishop Ambrose of Peterhof was elevated to the rank of archbishop.
11. Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of August 25, 2022 // Patriarchy.ru. – 2022. – August 25. – Date of access: 31.8.2020.
12. JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of October 6, 2022 // Patriarchy.ru. – 2022. – October 6
13. JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of April 4, 2022 // Patriarchy.ru. – 2022. – April 4
14. ↑ 14,014.1 Bishop Ambrose of Bronnitsky: Faith gives young people a sense of risk // Patriarchy.ru. – 2007. – April 30. – Date of access: 31.3.2018.
15. Russian Students Day was celebrated in St. Petersburg // Patriarchia.ru. – 2013. – January 25. – Access date: 11/29/2017.
16. The rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy took part in the ASEM high-level conference “Intercultural and interreligious dialogue” // Patriarchy.ru. – 2014. – July 4. – Access date: 10/27/2017.
17. Rector of SPbDAiS, Bishop of Gatchina Ambrose: Our graduates will serve God in a difficult world // Patriarchy.ru. – 2010. – August 11. – Date of access: 6.5.2018.

Archbishop Ambrose’s significant contribution to the spiritual life of students

Bishop Ambrose restored people's faith in the Church. Ambrose Ermakov's sermons were distinguished by their peaceful style. The word “love” is used more often in them than in other clergy. He tried to smooth out conflicts.

Over the ten years of his rectorship, St. Petersburg Academy has transformed: educational ratings and student living conditions have improved. He never expelled women from the temple who came in trousers and without a headdress.

Archbishop of Peterhof Ambrose Ermakov helped his students with kind words and money from his personal funds. I paid for people's surgeries. He gave forgiveness for sins that other priests did not forgive. And if he himself was wrong, he apologized.

He was always with people at liturgies, prayers and communions. Everyone around him was inspired by him and found the strength to be real. He eradicated denunciation, tyranny, and servanthood within the walls of the academy. He tried to spread a caring and friendly atmosphere. People consider him the last true bishop.

Bishop Ambrose of Gatchina with his students in France

Bishop Ambrose of Peterhof addressed the graduates of the St. Petersburg Academy with inspiring parting speeches, here are some of them:

Ambrose of Peterhof

Bishop

“On the path of serving the Church, many truly happy moments await you, but there will also be many bad ones - both inside the church fence and outside it,” said the rector. – Life will more than once put you in such circumstances when you have to choose between “to be” and “to appear,” “to have” and “to give,” “to speak” and “to remain silent.”

Looking at our not always ideal reality of life in the Church, one involuntarily asks the question: where is the line when all that remains from tracking a priest is a name and a shell developed over the years, inside which a businessman or politician already lives?

Whatever high or low, warm or difficult service Providence may call you to, remember that you are not managers, accountants or foremen, you are knights of Truth.”

“Your service is service to people,” the bishop continued. – You always need to treat people in a humane manner. No amount of fatigue after many demands, fatigue from paying bills for light in the temple, irritation at a poorly singing choir can ever justify you for a rude word addressed to a person who came to the temple.

Rich or poor, dressed in an expensive suit or in rags - he deserves basic respect from you. If you can’t give him hope for the future, consolation in grief or cast-offs, he deserves basic respect from you.

If you can’t give him hope for the future, consolation in grief or sincere participation in joy, give him what everyone in a civilized society can do – respect for the individual. Give them what is so easy to give - your prayer.”

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