THE MYSTERY OF SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY: BIBLICAL AND PATRISTIC REFERENCES
THE MYSTERY OF SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY: BIBLICAL AND PATRISTIC REFERENCES
Author(s): Sergiu V. MelegSubject(s): Theology and Religion, Islam studies, Religion and science , History of Islam, Contemporary Islamic Thought, Sociology of Religion, History of Religion, Qur’anic studies, Psychology of Religion
Published by: Editura Arhipelag XXI
Keywords: the spirituality of the Egyptian desert; Abba; spiritual father; disciple; confession; thoughts;
Summary/Abstract: According to patristic texts, the spiritual father is defined as an abbot (αββα) and never as a teacher (διδασκαλον), who trains his disciples based on a set of purely theoretical knowledge. An αββα is an αντροπος πνευματικος, that is, a spiritual man who has extensive ascetic experience and who, through this experience, has mastered the mysteries of the spiritual life. Thus, a key characteristic of an authentic spiritual father (πατερ πνευματικος) is that he does not impart to his disciples an abstract doctrine or certain esoteric concepts. For the Desert Fathers (πατερες ερημιάς), the art of spiritual guidance was practiced through the discipline of ασκεσις. And these ascetic practices or struggles were the fruit of the answers the Elders gave to the disciples’ questions, which the disciples posed in various contexts.
Journal: Journal of Romanian Literary Studies
- Issue Year: 2026
- Issue No: 45
- Page Range: 1287-1294
- Page Count: 8
- Language: Romanian
