„Rozeznawanie duchów” (διάκρισις) według św. Doroteusza z Gazy (505–560/580)
“Discernment of Spirits” (διάκρισις) according to St. Dorotheus of Gaza (505–560 / 580)

Summary/Abstract: Description of spiritual fatherhood with its supreme authority of “discernment of spirits”, which we find in the texts of St. Dorotheus of the Thawath monastery at Gaza did not lead to the absolutization of this ascetic power. Father’s spiritual guidance did not bear the responsibility of the individual student. The spiritual power of discernment represented by the spiritual father should help the student shape his conscience properly and support him in the process of recognizing what he pleases. The spiritual father’s advice that followed the student’s “disclosure of thoughts” was to help the latter firmly reject bad thoughts. By gradually renouncing their own will, based on spiritual obedience to the spiritual father as a guide in faith, the monks of Thawatha gradually broke free from the power of passion. The conditions postulated by Dorotheus as necessary for the discernment itself are also significant: gentleness and humility, rejection of the attitude of justification and acceptance of repentance, and the constant fight against passions. These attitudes should be shaped in monks, but also in everyone who “tries to unite with God through humble life”.

• Details
• Contents