Archimandrite Pavel Stefanov

Sarah Klitenic Wear and John Dillon
Dionysius the Areopagite and the Neoplatonist Tradition: Despoiling the Hellenes
Aldershot, Ashgate, September 2007
Series : Ashgate Studies in Philosophy & Theology in Late Antiquity
Format: 234 x 156 mm
Extent: 152 pages
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-0-7546-0385-6
Price : £50.00 » Online: £45.00

‘Dionysius the Areopagite’ is arguably one of the most mysterious and intriguing figures to emerge from the late antique world. Writing probably around 500 CE, and possibly connected with the circle of Severus of Antioch, Dionysius manipulates a Platonic metaphysics to describe a hierarchical universe: as with the Hellenic Platonists, he arranges the celestial and material cosmos into a series of triadic strata. These strata emanate from one unified being and contain beings that range from superior to inferior, depending on their proximity to God. Not only do all things in the hierarchy participate in God, but also all things are inter-connected, so that the lower hierarchies fully participate in the higher ones. This metaphysics lends itself to a sacramental system similar to that of the Hellenic ritual, theurgy. Theurgy allows humans to reach the divine by examining the divine as it exists in creation.

Although Dionysius’ metaphysics and religion are similar to that of Iamblichus and Proclus in many ways, Pseudo-Dionysius differs fundamentally in his use of an ecclesiastical cosmos, rather than that of the Platonic Timaean cosmos of the Hellenes. This book discusses the Christian Platonist’s adaptation of Hellenic metaphysics, language, and religious ritual. While Dionysius clearly works within the Hellenic tradition, he innovates to integrate Hellenic and Christian thought.

Contents: Introduction; God as Monad in the Divine Names; God as Trinity in the Divine Names; On hierarchy; The problem of evil; Scriptural interpretation as onomastic theurgy; Hierourgia and Theourgia in sacramental activity; Union and return to God: The Mystical Theology and the first hypothesis of the Parmenides; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author: Sarah Klitenic Wear teaches at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, USA. John Dillon is Regius Professor of Greek at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Contents

Acknowledgements vii
List of Abbreviations ix
1 Introduction 1
2 God as Monad in the Divine Names 15
3 God as Trinity in the Divine Names 33
4 On Hierarchy 51
5 The Problem of Evil 75
6 Scriptural Interpretation [Theoria] as Onomastic Theurgy 85
7 Hierourgia and Theourgia in Sacramental Activity 99
8 Union and Return to God: The Mystical Theology and the
First Hypothesis of the Parmenides 117
9 Conclusion 131
Bibliography 135
Index 141

Rosemary A. Arthur
Pseudo-Dionysius as Polemicist: The Development and Purpose of the Angelic Hierarchy in Sixth Century Syria
Aldershot, Ashgate, March 2008
Series : Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies
Format: 234 x 156 mm
Extent: 226 pages
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-0-7546-6258-7
Price : £50.00 » Online: £45.00

The anonymous theologian known as Pseudo-Dionysius, who was responsible for arranging the angelic hierarchy into nine orders, had a significant influence on mediaeval European mysticism. This book places him in his religious and political context in sixth century Syria, and uncovers the hidden agenda which lies behind his writings. New evidence is presented to establish the dating of the corpus more accurately than has been done before. Rather than analysing the minutiae of Dionysius’ thought, Rosemary Arthur focuses on his sources for, and treatment of, the Angelic Hierarchy and the Dazzling Darkness, with a view to ascertaining his motive for writing, his relationship with his opponents and his need to hide his identity.

Contents: Preface; Christian and non-Christian sources; The angelic hierarchy; The unknowability of God; The monophysite connection; Summa or polemic?; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Rosemary A. Arthur
Pseudo-Dionysius as Polemicist: The Development and Purpose of the Angelic Hierarchy in Sixth Century Syria
Aldershot, Ashgate, March 2008
Series : Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies
Format: 234 x 156 mm
Extent: 226 pages
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-0-7546-6258-7
Price : £50.00 » Online: £45.00

The anonymous theologian known as Pseudo-Dionysius, who was responsible for arranging the angelic hierarchy into nine orders, had a significant influence on mediaeval European mysticism. This book places him in his religious and political context in sixth century Syria, and uncovers the hidden agenda which lies behind his writings. New evidence is presented to establish the dating of the corpus more accurately than has been done before. Rather than analysing the minutiae of Dionysius’ thought, Rosemary Arthur focuses on his sources for, and treatment of, the Angelic Hierarchy and the Dazzling Darkness, with a view to ascertaining his motive for writing, his relationship with his opponents and his need to hide his identity.

Contents: Preface; Christian and non-Christian sources; The angelic hierarchy; The unknowability of God; The monophysite connection; Summa or polemic?; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.