Archimandrite
Saint Ambrose (known to the world with the name Alexei Anikeyevich Astakhov) was born in 1860 in the village of Borisovka, Lebedyan District, Tambov Province, into a peasant family. Until 1925, he lived in a monastery. After its closure, he settled in various villages around the Moscow region, providing spiritual guidance to the nuns and novices of the Golovinsky Monastery.
When he was arrested, the saint answered all questions about the many visitors he received, explaining that they came to seek his counsel on family matters and everyday challenges. He also spoke openly about his disagreement with the policies of the Soviet government, stating that the authorities were persecuting the Orthodox faith and the clergy. He described the regime as the power of the Antichrist, sent as a punishment upon the people. Saint Ambrose further declared that the Soviet authorities were destroying churches, exiling innocent clergymen, and persecuting the faithful. He also expressed his sorrow over the overthrow of the Tsar and the injustice that, in his view, had come to prevail throughout the country.
