Spiritual pastoral advice according to the writings of Archimandrite Ioann (Krestyankin)

Abstract

This article analyzes the collected works of Archimandrite Ioann (Krestyankin), as well as the works of his contemporaries on pastoral care and asceticism, in order to identify the characteristics of pastoral counseling. The study revealed that Archimandrite Ioann’s writings addressed such topics as the pastor’s spiritual fatherhood, the nature of his relationships with his flock, the content of pastoral counseling, its validity in Scripture and the Sacred Tradition of the Church, its focus on purifying the heart, and the conditions of teaching. Since pastoral theology textbooks insufficiently address issues related to the structure of pastoral counseling, the materials in this article can contribute to the development of this field.