What do you think?
Rate this book
The Celestial and Ecclesiastical Hierarchy of Dionysius the Areopagite
About the Book
Books about the History of Christianity discuss the fundamental Christian religion that is the largest in the world, and has fragmented into a large number of denominations. Beginning with the birth of Jesus Christ in Palestine during the Roman occupation, Christianity has survived Roman persecution, schism and invasion, while carrying its message to the world. Titles include: A History of the Origin of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Christian Church, Canons of the Primitive Church: Together with the Creeds of Nicaea and Constantinople, and the Definition of the Faith Set Forth at Chalcedon, Christianity and the Roman government, Clement of Alexandria, Deism Or Christianity? Four Discourses, Die Mariologie Des Hl. Augustinus, Die Origenistischen Streitigkeiten im Sechsten Jahrhundert und das F�nfte Allgemeine Concil, Egyptian mythology and Egyptian Christianity, Europe and the faith, Gleanings from British and Irish Ecclesiastical History: From the Introduction of Christianity to the Period of the Reformation, and Lives of the Twelve Apostles: With Explanatory Notes.
About us
Trieste Publishing's aim is to provide readers with the highest quality reproductions of fiction and non-fiction literature that has stood the test of time. Our titles are produced from scans of the original books and as a result may sometimes have imperfections. To ensure a high-quality product we have:
thoroughly reviewed every page of all the books in the catalog repaired some of the text in some cases, and rejected titles that are not of the highest quality. You can look up "Trieste Publishing" in categories that interest you to find other titles in our large collection.
Come home to the books that made a difference!
Books about the History of Christianity discuss the fundamental Christian religion that is the largest in the world, and has fragmented into a large number of denominations. Beginning with the birth of Jesus Christ in Palestine during the Roman occupation, Christianity has survived Roman persecution, schism and invasion, while carrying its message to the world. Titles include: A History of the Origin of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Christian Church, Canons of the Primitive Church: Together with the Creeds of Nicaea and Constantinople, and the Definition of the Faith Set Forth at Chalcedon, Christianity and the Roman government, Clement of Alexandria, Deism Or Christianity? Four Discourses, Die Mariologie Des Hl. Augustinus, Die Origenistischen Streitigkeiten im Sechsten Jahrhundert und das F�nfte Allgemeine Concil, Egyptian mythology and Egyptian Christianity, Europe and the faith, Gleanings from British and Irish Ecclesiastical History: From the Introduction of Christianity to the Period of the Reformation, and Lives of the Twelve Apostles: With Explanatory Notes.
About us
Trieste Publishing's aim is to provide readers with the highest quality reproductions of fiction and non-fiction literature that has stood the test of time. Our titles are produced from scans of the original books and as a result may sometimes have imperfections. To ensure a high-quality product we have:
thoroughly reviewed every page of all the books in the catalog repaired some of the text in some cases, and rejected titles that are not of the highest quality. You can look up "Trieste Publishing" in categories that interest you to find other titles in our large collection.
Come home to the books that made a difference!
- GenresReligion
114 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 490
1 person is currently reading
100 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 23, 2018
First, the translation. This is a Victorian translation. I found it, by and large, fluid, but I suspect many will not. I do question some of his choices, and some things do not work in current English. One problem that is not John Parker's fault is the fact that I kept on wanting to know what the Greek of the terminology was. When Dionysius talks about what Parker translates as nature in relation to Christ, is it actually physis? Given that the Areopagite is popular both sides of the Chalcedonian divide, this is a question of moment.
Second, Parker's introduction. He does a good job of ... introducing the pseudonymous author. And then he gives the circumstantial arguments for the authenticity of the Dionysian corpus. I would like to say that it should not detract from the potency and truth of a document such as this if it turns out to be a forgery (which I think it is). But I am not writing in 1894.
Third, the actual text. Ps-Dionysius has written two treatises translated here, 'The Celestial Hierarchy' and 'The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy'. They go together. The second, in particular, makes no sense without the first, and you really do need the definition of hierarchy the first treatises provides. Moreover, the first treatise is of less moment for the Christian community without the second.
'The Celestial Hierarchy' divides the celestial beings into three orders and explains their functions. Here we see a deft affirmation of the transcendent God, totally Other from His creation, alongside the Neo-Platonic idea of divinity being communicated through what Plotinus would call 'emanations.' Each order of angelic beings helps the order below it fulfil its destiny and function in the hierarchy, a main part of which is coming to as full a knowledge of God as each nature was designed to have. While those at the top have the fullest knowledge, those at the bottom are able to comprehend and contemplate as much of the divine majesty as they can due to the ministrations of the intervening orders. It is a harmonious whole, working together.
This translates into the second treatise. 'The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy' is a meditation on the liturgical rites of the Byzantine church in relation to those who perform them. Once again, from the bishop to the excommunicated, the grace of God is communicated through the sacraments, the Scriptures, the preaching, and the communal worship. Each order, clerical, lay, and monastic, has its own special role and place in the apprehension and contemplation of God, and all depend upon each other to fulfil their role.
It is easy to say of the first treatise, 'Sure, sounds good to me,' but the idea that, by virtue of his consecration, my bishop is closer to God than I am -- that idea is hard to stomach, especially when you consider how many evil men and women, heretics and heterodox, have had hands laid on them. Yet somehow, we lay people are to find peace in resting in our place within the hierarchy. I do wonder what this looks like in practical terms beyond attentively listening to preaching and receiving the sacraments at the hands of the clerics at our churches.
Finally, the whole corpus of Ps-Dionysius is highly influential in both the eastern church and the western church. It is probably worth getting to know, although I think less worth your time than, say, Anselm of Canterbury.
Second, Parker's introduction. He does a good job of ... introducing the pseudonymous author. And then he gives the circumstantial arguments for the authenticity of the Dionysian corpus. I would like to say that it should not detract from the potency and truth of a document such as this if it turns out to be a forgery (which I think it is). But I am not writing in 1894.
Third, the actual text. Ps-Dionysius has written two treatises translated here, 'The Celestial Hierarchy' and 'The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy'. They go together. The second, in particular, makes no sense without the first, and you really do need the definition of hierarchy the first treatises provides. Moreover, the first treatise is of less moment for the Christian community without the second.
'The Celestial Hierarchy' divides the celestial beings into three orders and explains their functions. Here we see a deft affirmation of the transcendent God, totally Other from His creation, alongside the Neo-Platonic idea of divinity being communicated through what Plotinus would call 'emanations.' Each order of angelic beings helps the order below it fulfil its destiny and function in the hierarchy, a main part of which is coming to as full a knowledge of God as each nature was designed to have. While those at the top have the fullest knowledge, those at the bottom are able to comprehend and contemplate as much of the divine majesty as they can due to the ministrations of the intervening orders. It is a harmonious whole, working together.
This translates into the second treatise. 'The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy' is a meditation on the liturgical rites of the Byzantine church in relation to those who perform them. Once again, from the bishop to the excommunicated, the grace of God is communicated through the sacraments, the Scriptures, the preaching, and the communal worship. Each order, clerical, lay, and monastic, has its own special role and place in the apprehension and contemplation of God, and all depend upon each other to fulfil their role.
It is easy to say of the first treatise, 'Sure, sounds good to me,' but the idea that, by virtue of his consecration, my bishop is closer to God than I am -- that idea is hard to stomach, especially when you consider how many evil men and women, heretics and heterodox, have had hands laid on them. Yet somehow, we lay people are to find peace in resting in our place within the hierarchy. I do wonder what this looks like in practical terms beyond attentively listening to preaching and receiving the sacraments at the hands of the clerics at our churches.
Finally, the whole corpus of Ps-Dionysius is highly influential in both the eastern church and the western church. It is probably worth getting to know, although I think less worth your time than, say, Anselm of Canterbury.
January 10, 2022
A profoundly influential book, not only on mystical Christianity, but on philosophy, art and architecture. It is fascinating the way something which is cobbled together from a variety of sources becomes so important to so many.
December 19, 2023
Important for you to read and apply to your Bible reading. His overall argument/presentation I am on board with. Some of the details less so.
April 23, 2025
Not a big fan of the writing but certainly communicates the glory and splendor of the hierarchy and divine gifts established in the Church by Christ.
February 13, 2013
Classic Pseudopygrapha
November 27, 2013
Celestial hierarchies was too much, but the ecclesiastical hierarchies was amazing reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews