MORAL CONSCIENCE IN PHILOKALIC SPIRITUALITY: INTRODUCTORY REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITINGS OF ABBA DOROTHEUS OF GAZA
MORAL CONSCIENCE IN PHILOKALIC SPIRITUALITY: INTRODUCTORY REFLECTIONS ON THE WRITINGS OF ABBA DOROTHEUS OF GAZA

Summary/Abstract: Moral Conscience in Philokalic Spirituality: Introductory Reflections on the Writings of Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. This study explores the central role of moral conscience in Philokalic spirituality, with particular reference to the writings of Abba Dorotheus of Gaza. As one of the most profound spiritual teachers of early monasticism, Abba Dorotheus offers a unique synthesis of ascetic psychology and theological anthropology, revealing how conscience operates as the inner voice of divine truth within the human soul. His pedagogical method—marked by realism, pastoral sensitivity, and clarity—illustrates the dynamic interplay between divine grace and human freedom in the moral formation of the person. By uncovering the subtle mechanisms of temptation and self-deception, Dorotheus provides a timeless spiritual framework for understanding the discernment of good and evil in everyday life. In a secularized and morally fragmented world, his vision of the conscience as the “eye of the soul” regains special relevance, inviting contemporary readers to rediscover the integrity of the inner life and the responsibility of authentic spiritual freedom. Thus, the Philokalic approach to conscience articulated by Abba Dorotheus remains a living contribution to both Orthodox theology and the broader discourse on moral transformation and spiritual authenticity.

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