Teachings of St. Ambrose of Optina. To Spouses and Parents

The book contains 112 letters from St. Ambrose of Optina (1812-1891), addressed to laypeople and monastics. They cover a wide range of life topics: family relationships, child rearing, overcoming illnesses, and spiritual quest. The letters combine wisdom and simplicity, love for people, and subtle humor. St. Ambrose of Optina is a great Russian elder to whom people from all over the Russian Empire came for advice and consolation. His image inspired F. M. Dostoevsky when creating the elder Zosima in the novel "The Brothers Karamazov."