https://doi.org/10.21697/ct.2019.89.1.06
In the works of St. Mark the Ascetic, the notion of virtue exists on
three levels: 1) theological-speculative, 2) anthropological-axiological and
3) ascetic-practical. On the theological-speculative level, Mark shares his
reflections on virtue in the treatise De lege spirituali. In this case, he speaks
about God as the source of virtues and about the fact that the nature
of virtue remains one, but it differs in its practical implementation. The
anthropological-axiological level of virtue is discussed by St. Mark in Justif.
24 and Bapt. IX 78-79. In this case, we can see the author’s striving to
emphasize the role of God and his grace in the work of human salvation. Salvation is seen as an action that transcends human nature, and virtue
remains a natural state of man, a state that is in turn not possible without
the help of God’s grace. The ascetic-practical level is related to looking at
virtue in the context of prayer. Prayer is a mediator between God and man.
Through it, man receives the grace that generates virtue in him, that is why
it can be called “mother of virtues”.
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