The formation of dogmatic consciousness according to Saint Sophronius the Sainttranslated
The most complete expression of empirical theology for Saint Sophronius is the Dogma. The dogma is not the fruit of intellectual evolution, but a verbal expression of an "obvious truth", that of the supreme fact, which causes transcendence of formal logic. Nikolaos Koios, Content Coordinator – Quintessential
In the history of the Church, great effort was required for the expression of doctrinal consciousness. Dogmatic consciousness is the "other", "expressed" one could say, side of spiritual life. The experience and the dogmatic consciousness, the two aspects of the spiritual life, although they seem to be separated up to a point as to their "formed manifestation", in essence they are indivisible life. This has as a result every change in the ascetic's doctrinal consciousness to change the spiritual practice and existence accordingly. And conversely, any deviation from the truth in the inner spiritual life, should bring about a change in the dogmatic consciousness.
Based on the historical facts of the Church, Elder Sophronios defines as doctrinal consciousness the spiritual knowledge, which is formed after the passage of many years of practice, necessary for assimilation...
