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On the Celestial Hierarchy

Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite · c. 500 AD

The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite (Parker), John Parker, The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite, 2 vols., London: James Parker & Co. (Skeffington), 1897–1899; transcribed by Roger Pearse, tertullian.org.

Anonymous Greek-writing theologian active c. 500 AD, writing under the pseudonym 'Dionysius the Areopagite' (the Athenian convert of St Paul in Acts 17:34). His Corpus Areopagiticum — the Divine Names, Mystical Theology, Celestial Hierarchy, Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, and ten Letters — synthesizes late Neoplatonic metaphysics with Christian doctrine and became foundational for Orthodox apophatic theology. The Orthodox tradition receives the corpus critically (recognizing its pseudonymity) while reading it as a vital expression of mystical theology: cited extensively by St Maximus the Confessor, St John of Damascus, and the hesychast tradition through St Gregory Palamas.

Contents

  1. Caput I — To my Fellow Presbyter Timothy. Dionysius the Presbyter.(3 chapters)
  2. Caput II — That Divine and Heavenly things are appropriately revealed, even through dissimilar symbols.(5 chapters)
  3. Caput III — What is Hierarchy? and what the use of Hierarchy?(3 chapters)
  4. Caput IV — What is meant by the appellation "Angels?"(4 chapters)
  5. Caput V — For what reason all the Heavenly Beings are called, in common, Angels.(1 chapter)
  6. Caput VI — Which is the first Order of the Heavenly Beings? which the middle? and which the last?(1 chapter)
  7. Caput VII — Concerning the Seraphim and Cherubim and Thrones, and concerning their first Hierarchy.(4 chapters)
  8. Caput VIII — Concerning Lordships and Powers and Authorities, and concerning their middle Hierarchy.(2 chapters)
  9. Caput IX — Concerning the Principalities, Archangels, and Angels, and concerning their last Hierarchy.(4 chapters)
  10. Caput X — A Repetition and Summary of the Angelic discipline.(3 chapters)
  11. Caput XI — For what reason all the Heavenly Beings, in common, are called Heavenly Powers.(2 chapters)
  12. Caput XII — Why the Hierarchs amongst men are called Angels.(3 chapters)
  13. Caput XIII — For what reason the Prophet Isaiah is said to have been purified by the Seraphim.(4 chapters)
  14. Caput XIV — What the traditional number of the Angels signifies.(1 chapter)
  15. Caput XV(9 chapters)