Archimandrite Ambrose, Abbot of Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos, passed away on Monday at the age of 85, as announced by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
Father Ambrose (Tyrolenkov) graduated from the Sofia Theological Seminary near Cherepish, Bulgaria. In 1973, he entered Bačkovo Monastery as a novice, and four years later, he was tonsured as a monk.
In 1981, he moved to Mount Athos, where he was appointed Abbot of Zograf Monastery in 1997.
Under his leadership, Zograf Monastery experienced significant cultural and educational activity. Hundreds of Orthodox books, lives of saints, patristic works, and publications on contemporary topics were published.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Archimandrite Ambrose and the monastic brotherhood, the monastery was partially restored following a devastating fire. New facilities for pilgrims were built, and a modern library was established for the monastic community.
Zograf Monastery and Its Connection to Romania
Romania has long-standing ties with the Athonite Zograf Monastery. Saint Stephen the Great, a revered Romanian prince, was one of the monastery’s most prominent benefactors, overseeing its near-complete restoration between 1466 and 1502.
Saint Stephen the Great is depicted in the monastery’s narthex among its founders, positioned to the left of the Byzantine emperors of Serbia, between princes Alexandru Lăpușneanu and Vasile Lupu.
In modern times, Zograf Monastery was led by a Romanian abbot, Archimandrite Dometie Trihenea, who served for a decade starting in 1965.
Photo: Bulgarian Orthodox Church
