Abba Dorotheus is one of the most revered Christian saints. He is known primarily as the author of moral teachings, which will be discussed in this article.
Biography of St. Abba Dorotheus
Despite the fact that this saint is widely known beyond religious circles, little is known about his life. He lived in the 6th century, at a young age he studied secular sciences, for which he did not have a particular craving, but over time he fell in love with reading instructive literature. These books seemed to him so interesting that sometimes it was impossible to tear him away from his favorite pastime. After some time, the young man felt a craving for monasticism - so he began asceticism in the monastery of Abba Serida, which was in Palestine.
Life in a holy monastery
In the monastery, in addition to performing obediences, he studied the teachings and lives of the holy fathers of the church, and was engaged in arranging visitors to the monastery in the monastery. For this reason, he had to communicate with people of all ages, statuses and positions, many of whom needed comfort and protection. This allowed him to learn humility and enrich his life.experience.
He spent about ten years in the holy monastery, managed to build a hospital during this time, where he worked himself. All this time he was a novice of the Monk John the Prophet, and after his death he left the monastery of Abba Serida for the desert. Soon pilgrims began to come to him - as a result, the abba had his own monastery, where he lived for the rest of his life, instructing his students. During this long time, Abba Dorotheos created a large number of moral instructions.
Teachings of Abba Dorotheus
The Monk Abba left behind him several epistles, more than twenty teachings and 87 answers from his spiritual father John the Prophet and the Monk Barsanuphius the Great to his various questions. In addition, letters written by Abba Dorotheus were published. All these works are presented in a clear, refined and at the same time simple language, they are distinguished by accessibility and wisdom. Through all the texts of the authorship of the abba passes the idea that the necessary virtues for spiritual life are humility, combined with love for God and for one's neighbor. The manner of presentation is artless and very well reflects the character of the reverend. As one of his disciples described him, the abba addressed the brethren bashfully, affably, and with great humility. In dealing with people, he was good-natured and simple - this is precisely the beginning of unanimity, the basis of other virtues.
His compositions were and remain popular. Previously, they were obligatorily copied in many monasteries, but now they are regularly reprinted. Probably there is noone Orthodox monastery, in the library of which there would not be a publication of the teachings of the abba. There are cases when famous saints of Russia copied his books by hand. This happens because although the texts are addressed to the monks, in fact, the advice, instructions and soulful teachings of Abba Dorotheus are the basis for everyone who has embarked on the path of spiritual perfection and strives to fulfill God's commandments. His books become a reliable guide to achieve this goal, they can be called a kind of alphabet. The works of the abba were highly appreciated by St. Theodore the Studite and the Optina elders.
Heartful Teachings
One of the most significant ascetic works provides answers to the main questions of monastic life and spiritual achievement. In fact, this is a detailed guide for the inhabitants of the monasteries, since the instructions given in the book are accurate and specific - there are practically no general arguments. In this book, the venerable abba sums up the tradition of ascetic experience formed at that time.
Reverend's opinion on spiritual life
Abba Dorotheos believed that the main thing in spiritual feat is cutting off one's own desires, that is, obedience to the chosen spiritual father and humility - this is how the path to good begins. It is also an opportunity for dispassion, since the reason to worry about your unfulfilled desires disappears, and attention is directed to spiritual work. But you need to obey only the elders, who in essence are charismatics, like the first man Adam, whoduring his stay in paradise, he constantly glorified God with prayer and was in a state of contemplation - sin violated his original state.
In the book "Teachings of Abba Dorotheus" there are only twenty-one teachings, each of which is devoted to some aspect of monastic life. Basically, the monk talks about sins that should be got rid of: about lies, about vindictiveness, about condemning one's neighbor. Abba Dorotheos recalls that in no case should you rely on your own reason - this means that there is a need for spiritual leaders, you need to live in constant fear of God. He talks about how to endure temptations and doubts, how to create a house for virtues in the soul.
In addition to purely practical instructions, the book also contains a chapter with brief and concise sayings of Abba Dorotheus, as well as appeals to specific persons in the monastery, for example, to the cellars. At the end of each of the teachings, the abba not only reveals the essence of the subject to which the chapter is devoted: he calls on readers to fight this or that sin, to strengthen a certain virtue.
Reissues of works
At the end of many editions of the works of the abba, epistles and his questions to the great saints are usually added to the main teachings.
There are also modern reprints of this work, for example, "Instructions of the Monk Abba Dorotheus for each day of the week", which are a brief summary of the teachings of the abba, corresponding to the days of the week. It was created with the aim that believers could more often turn tothe teachings of the holy father. In fact, the book is a collection of wise quotes.
Thus, the works of the Monk Abba Dorotheus are addressed not only to monks, but to all Christians who want to save their souls, since his instructions solve the main issues of spiritual life, which is so important for every believer. That is why the texts of the abba continue to be relevant to this day.
