Mutual assessments of St. Ignatius and the Optina staretses in approaches to spiritual guidance

Abstract

This article discusses how St. Ignatius Bryanchaninov evaluates the spiritual leadership in the Optina tradition, and how the Optina staretses evaluate the ascetic system of St. Ignatius. The analysis is carried out mainly on the material of the epistolary heritage and personal records of the ascetics. For the first time, the personal connection of St. Ignatius with the Optina starchestvo. Particular attention is paid to the stress of D. A. Bryanchaninov from the delivery of venerable Leo of Optina. The life of the saint, made up of his closest disciples, reduces this departure from the higher, while in the Optina environment this departure is perceived with regret, since it was erroneous. Further, positive and negative reviews of the saint about Optina spirituality are analyzed. The following development can be traced: the initially benevolent and nostalgic attitude of St. Ignatius to Optina after the repose of St. Macarius of Optinsky changes to critical. Finally, studies of the opinion of the Optina staretses about the personality of St. Ignatius and his writings. The closest legacy of St. Ignatius was received by St. Barsanuphius of Optina and his disciple - St. Nikon. Positive assessments of the works of the saint can also be found in St. Ambrose and St. Anatoly Optinsky, however, wind reading videos were not played for their creation. The study showed that the main impact of the contradictions between the ascetics showed a different attitude towards the phenomenon of starchestvo and spiritual work. St. Ignatius rejects the possibility of realizing the relationship "starets-novice" in his time especially and gave preference according the works of Church fathers. The Optina tradition, in turn, put his obedience to the elder in the first place, and the study of the patristic heritage was already under supervision.