Features of St. Philaret Drozdov’s Approach to the Orthodox Ascetics Principles Interpretation in the Practice of the Spiritual Guidance of Maria Tuchkova and Ekaterina Novosilceva
The article examines the various manifestations of spiritual guidance within the Orthodox ascetic tradition, depending on the individual characteristics. The material used is the epistolary heritage of the outstanding Orthodox pastor St. Philaret (Drozdov). In contemporary discussions of the pastoral practice of the Church it is possible to encounter the view that in the Orthodox Church there is no tradition of an individual and respectful approach to people, and that the characteristics of the individual are not taken into account. At the same time, according to believers themselves, people in similar life situations can receive different advice from clergy. The aim of the present study is to reveal the relationship between the Orthodox ascetic tradition and individual spiritual experience in the pastoral practice of St. Filaret (Drozdov). The text analyzes the biographical facts of the saint’s addressees, the nature of his correspondence, and his pastoral techniques in relation to the healing of sorrows. In the course of the study it is shown that the saint is characterized by an individual approach to pastoral care, and the addressees’ adherence to the spiritual guidance of St. Filaret (Drozdov) resulted in their spiritual exploits.