Понятието „свободна воля“ в светоотеческата мисъл
The concept of "free will" in patristic thought

Summary/Abstract: This study examines the concept of freedom of will within the patristic theological tradition by analyzing its ontological, anthropological, and soteriological dimensions. It explores the understanding of self-determination (αὐτεξούσιον) and the relationship between desire (βούλησις) and free choice (προαίρεσις) in the context of the rational nature of the human being created “in the image of God.” The distinction betweennatural and free will is investigated, as well as their role in the dynamics of human volition and personal responsibility. Particular attention is devoted to the ontological boundary between the divine and human will, viewed not as identity but as reflection of the archetype.From patristic perspective, freedom is affirmed as both a gift and a vocation, through which the human person realizes their divine purpose in communion with God. The Fathers of the Church reject the notion of fate and all forms of determinism while upholding human responsibility in the choice between good and evil. Evil is understood not as an ontological reality but as a negative consequence of the misuse of free will and deviation of the human being from divine grace. Thus, freedom of will is revealed not merely as a moral category but as an ontological principle, through which participation in divine providence and the human path toward deification (θέωσις) is accomplished.

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