The Celestial Hierarchies

7/26/2019 The Celestial Hierarchies

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THE CELESTIAL HIERARCHIES

OF

DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE:

TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK

WITH COMMENTARIES

BY THE EDITORS OF

THE SHRINE OF WISDOM

Published b THE SHRINE OF WISDOM

FINTRY! BROOK

NR" GODALMING! SURREY

ENGLAND

#$%&

MADE AND PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY THE GARDEN CITY PRESS

LIMITED. LETCHWORTH, HERTS.

CONTENTS


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CHAPTER PAGE

Introduction #

I"T' ( Fell')*P+esb,e+ Ti(',h" Di'-sius ,he P+esb,e+" Th., e/e+ Di/i-eIllu(i-.,i'-! )hils, 0'i-0 1'+,h )i,h l'/e i- /.+i'us ).s ,' ,he 'b2e3,s '1 i,s

1'+e,h'u0h,! +e(.i-s '-e" N'+ is ,his .ll: i, .ls' u-i1ies ,he ,hi-0s illu(i-.,ed

&

II"Th., Di/i-e .-d Celes,i.l (.,,e+s .+e 1i,,i-0l +e/e.led e/e- ,h+'u0h u-li4e

s(b'ls5

III" Wh., is Hie+.+3h! .-d )h., ,he use '1 Hie+.+3h6 #%

I7" The (e.-i-0 '1 ,he -.(e 8A-0els8 #9

7" Wh .ll ,he Celes,i.l Bei-0s i- 3'(('- .+e 3.lled A-0els" ;

7I"Whi3h is ,he 1i+s, O+de+ '1 ,he Celes,i.l Bei-0s! )hi3h ,he (iddle! .-d )hi3h ,he

l.s,6#

7II" O1 ,he Se+.


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THE CELESTIAL HIERARCHIES

INTRODUCTION

The Celestial Hierarchiesof Dionysius th A!o"#$it is %#s& on "#ss#$s f!o'

th O(& #n& N) Tst#'nts, %ut (i* th oth! )!itin$s of this $!#t 'ysti+ it

'%o&is th ssnti#( "!in+i"(s of th No"(#toni+ t#+hin$s.

In this )o!* Dionysius !#(s th '#nn! in )hi+h, th!ou$h th 'inist!y of th

An$(i+ Hosts, th Diin P!oi&nti#( Lif is t!#ns'itt& f!o' Its u(ti'#t Sou!+ to

#(( thin$s, n to th !'otst %oun&s of t!#nsin+y, in #++o!n+ )ith th

&iin "(#n )hi+h is # "!f+t #n& h#!'onious unity )h!%y #(( %in$s #n& thin$s,

f!o' th inn!'ost to th out!'ost, "#!ti+i"#t in th P!oi&nti#( St!#' in th

'#su! of thi! +#"#+ity.

-E!y "#!ti+u(#! thin$,- s#ys P!o+(us, -n th 'ost 'inut #s )(( #s th

uni!s#(, &"n&s fo! ! u"on th %n+nt P!oi&n+ of Diinity.- An&

P(otinus )!its/ -0!o' !st to (#st P!oi&n+ &s+n&s f!o' on hi$h,

+o''uni+#tin$ Its $ifts, not #++o!&in$ to # nu'!i+#( (#) of 1u#(ity, %ut %y #((2

)is "!s+in+ #!yin$ Its o"!#tions #++o!&in$ to th n&s #n& +on&itions of

"#!ti+i"#nts.-

Th C(sti#( Int((i$n+s #! +onstitut& in th! t!i#&s, fo!'in$ nin O!&!s,

)hos n#'s !"!snt th Diin Att!i%uts )hi+h thy '#nifst to #(( %(o)

th'.

Thy h# #(so #n inn! !(#tion )ith !y hu'#n sou(, fo! th!ou$h thi!

'inist!#tions th #s"i!in$ sou( %+o's (i%!#t& f!o' '#t!i#( %on$, !+is

# *no)(&$ of its o)n "u!"os, #n& is n#%(& to (i its t!u (if #n& u(ti'#t(y to

#tt#in to th fu(( its Diin Li*nss.

The 1i+s, ,+i.d! ,he Se+.


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es,.blished i- ,he 3'-s,.-3 '1 di/i-e se+/i3e"

Th s+on& t!i#&, th Do'inions, 7i!tus, #n& Po)!s, #! $in th 'i&&( "(#+

#s in&i+#tin$ th o!&!& $o!n#n+ of P!oi&n+. Th!ou$h th' th sou( is

(i%!#t& f!o' #(( th#t is %(o) #n& #ssi'i(#t& to th#t )hi+h is #%o.

The D'(i-i'-s i(


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#n& #(( th S"i!its of P!in+i"#(itis, th An$(s, #n& th Po)!s on #!th #n& o!

th )#t!/ )ith on oi+ sh#(( thy %(ss #n& $(o!ify #n& 8#(t th Lo!&, in th

i!tu of f#ith, #n& in th i!tu of )is&o', in th i!tu of "#tin+, #n& in th

i!tu of '!+y, in th i!tu of ;usti+, #n& in th i!tu of "#+, in th i!tu of

$oo&nss, #n& sh#(( sin$ )ith on oi+/


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)hi+h #! $o!n& %y Its P!oi&n+, yt It #%i&s t!n#((y )ithin Its(f in

+h#n$(ss s#'nss, !'(y st#%(ish& in Its o)n unity, #n& (#ts to Its(f,

#++o!&in$ to thi! +#"#+ity, thos )ho tu!n to)#!&s It, #s is 't, unitin$ th' in

#++o!n+ )ith Its o)n unity. 0o! %y th#t !st Diin R#y ) +#n % n(i$htn&

on(y in so f#! #s It 4>6is hi&&n %y #((2#!ious ho(y i(s fo! ou! u"(ift'nt, #n&

ttin$(y t'"!& to ou! n#tu!s %y th P!oi&n+ of th 0#th!.

Wh!fo! th#t !st institution of th s#+!& !its, ;u&$in$ it )o!thy of #

su"!'unn +o"y of th C(sti#( Hi!#!+his, $# us ou! 'ost ho(y hi!#!+hy,

#n& &s+!i%& th#t s"i!itu#( Hi!#!+hy in '#t!i#( t!'s #n& in #!ious +o'"ositions

of fo!'s so th#t ) 'i$ht % (&, #+h #++o!&in$ to his +#"#+ity, f!o' th 'ost ho(y

i'#$!y to fo!'(ss, uni+, (#ti "!in+i"(s #n& #ssi'i(#tions. 0o! th 'in& +#n

%y no '#ns % &i!+t& to th s"i!itu#( "!snt#tion #n& +ont'"(#tion of th

C(sti#( Hi!#!+his un(ss it us th '#t!i#( $uin+ suit& to it, #++ountin$

thos %#utis )hi+h #! sn to % i'#$s of th hi&&n %#uty, th s)t

in+ns # sy'%o( of s"i!itu#( &is"ns#tions, #n& th #!th(y (i$hts # $u! of th

i''#t!i#( n(i$htn'nt. Si'i(#!(y th &t#i(s of th s#+!& t#+hin$ +o!!s"on&

to th f#st of +ont'"(#tion in th sou(, )hi( th !#n*s of o!&! on #!th !3+t

th Diin Con+o!& #n& th &is"osition of th H#n(y O!&!s. Th !+iin$ of th

'ost ho(y Eu+h#!ist sy'%o(i9s ou! "#!ti+i"#tion of =sus? #n& !ythin$ (s

&(i!& in # su"!'unn '#nn! to C(sti#( N#tu!s is $in to us in sy'%o(s.

To fu!th!, thn, th #tt#in'nt of ou! &u '#su! of &i+#tion, th (oin$ Sou!+

of #(( 'yst!is, in sho)in$ to us th C(sti#( Hi!#!+his, #n& +ons+!#tin$ ou!

hi!#!+hy #s f((o)2'inist!s, #++o!&in$ to ou! +#"#+ity, in th (i*nss of thi!

&iin 'inist!y, &"i+t& thos su"!+(sti#( Int((i$n+s in '#t!i#( i'#$s in th

ins"i!& )!itin$s of th s#+!& Wo!& so th#t ) 'i$ht % $ui&& th!ou$h th

snsi%( to th int((i$i%(, #n& f!o' s#+!& sy'%o(s to th P!i'#( Sou!+ of th

C(sti#( Hi!#!+his.


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CHAPTER II

That Divine and Celestial matters are ttingly revealed even through

unlie symbols.

I +onsi&!, thn, th#t in th !st "(#+ ) 'ust 8"(#in ou! +on+"tion of th

"u!"os of #+h Hi!#!+hy #n& th $oo& +onf!!& %y #+h u"on its fo((o)!s?

s+on&(y ) 'ust +(%!#t th C(sti#( Hi!#!+his #s thy #! !#(& in th

S+!i"tu!s? #n& n#((y ) 'ust s#y un&! )h#t ho(y $u!s th &s+!i"tions in th

s#+!& )!itin$s "o!t!#y thos C(sti#( O!&!s, #n& to )h#t *in& of "u!ity ) ou$ht

to % $ui&& th!ou$h thos fo!'s (st ), (i* th '#ny, shou(& i'"ious(y su""os

th#t thos C(sti#( #n& Diin Int((i$n+s #! '#ny2foot& o! '#ny2f#+& %in$s,

o! fo!'& )ith th %!utishnss of o8n, o! th s##$nss of (ions, o! th +u!&%#*s of #$(s, o! th f#th!s of %i!&s, o! shou(& i'#$in th#t thy #! so' *in&

of !y )h(s #%o th h#ns, o! '#t!i#( th!ons u"on )hi+h th Su"!'

Dity '#y !+(in, o! '#ny2+o(ou!& ho!ss, o! +o''#n&!s of #!'is, o! )h#t!

(s of sy'%o(i+ &s+!i"tion h#s %n $in to us in th #!ious s#+!& i'#$s of

th S+!i"tu!s.

The'l'0! i- i,s s.3+ed u,,e+.-3es 3'-3e+-i-0 ,he 1'+(less I-,elli0e-3es! d'es i-deed use


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not n&u th C(sti#( #n& Go&(i* P!in+i"(s )ith # 46'u(titu& of (o) #n&

#!th(y fo!'s. 0o! th on )ou(& +ont!i%ut in # hi$h! &$! to ou! #s+nt %y

&isso+i#tin$ in+on$!uous i'#$s f!o' th &s+!i"tions of Su"!'unn N#tu!s,

)hi( th oth! i'"ious(y out!#$s th Diin Po)!s, #n& (#&s ou! 'in&s into

!!o! )hn ) &)(( u"on su+h unho(y +o'"ositions. 0o! ) 'i$ht n thin* th#t

th su"!+(sti#( !$ions #! ((& )ith h!&s of (ions #n& ho!ss, #n& !2+ho )ith!o#!in$ son$s of "!#is, #n& +ont#in 3o+*s of %i!&s #n& oth! +!#tu!s, #n& th

(o)! fo!'s of '#tt!, #n& )h#t! oth! #%su!&, s"u!ious, "#ssion2#!ousin$ #n&

un(i* fo!'s th S+!i"tu!s us in &s+!i%in$ thi! !s'%(#n+s.

N!th(ss, I thin* th#t th insti$#tion of th t!uth sho)s th 'ost ho(y )is&o'

of th S+!i"tu!s in th !"!snt#tions of th C(sti#( Int((i$n+s )hi+h '#*s

th 'ost "!f+t "!oision in #+h +#s, so th#t nith! is &ishonou! &on to th

Diin Po)!s #s thy '#y % +#((&, no! #! ) %oun& 'o! "#ssion#t(y to

#!th %y th '#nnss #n& %#snss of th i'#$s. 0o! it 'i$ht % s#i& th#t th

!#son fo! #tt!i%utin$ sh#"s to th#t )hi+h is #%o sh#", #n& fo!'s to th#t )hi+h

is %yon& fo!', is not on(y th f%(nss of ou! int((+tu#( "o)! )hi+h is un#%(

to !is #t on+ to s"i!itu#( +ont'"(#tion, #n& )hi+h n&s to % n+ou!#$& %y th

n#tu!#( #n& suit#%( su""o!t #n& u"(ift'nt )hi+h o@!s us fo!'s "!+"ti%( to us

of fo!'(ss #n& su"!n#tu!#( +ont'"(#tions, %ut it is #(so %+#us it is 'ost ttin$

th#t th s+!t &o+t!ins, th!ou$h in@#%( #n& ho(y ni$'#s, shou(& i( #n&

!n&! &i+u(t of #++ss fo! th 'u(titu& th su%(i' #n& "!ofoun& t!uth of th

su"!n#tu!#( Int((i$n+s. 0o!, #s th S+!i"tu! &+(#!s, not !yon is ho(y, no!

h# #(( 'n *no)(&$.

A$#in, if #nyon +on&'ns ths !"!snt#tions #s in+on$!uous, su$$stin$ th#t it

is &is$!#+fu( to f#shion su+h %#s i'#$s of th &iin #n& 'ost ho(y O!&!s, it is

su+int to #ns)! th#t th 'ost ho(y Myst!is #! st fo!th in t)o 'o&s/ on,

%y '#ns of si'i(#! #n& s#+!& !"!snt#tions #*in to thi! n#tu!, #n& th oth!

th!ou$h un(i* fo!'s &si$n& )ith !y "ossi%( &is+o!n+ #n& &i@!n+. 0o!

8#'"(, th 'ysti+#( t!#&itions of th n(i$htnin$ Wo!& so'ti's +(%!#t th

Su%(i' B(ss&nss of th Su"!ssnti#( ONE #s Wo!&, #n& Wis&o', #n& Essn+?

"!o+(#i'in$ th Int((+t #n& Wis&o' of Go& %oth ssnti#((y, #s th Sou!+ of

%in$, #n& #(so #s th t!u 46C#us of 8istn+? #n& thy '#* It 1ui#(nt to

Li$ht, #n& +#(( It Lif.

N') .l,h'u0h su3h s.3+ed 1'+(s .+e ('+e /e-e+.ble! .-d see( i- '-e se-se ,' su+


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i-e11.ble I-1i-i," I1! ,he+e1'+e! ,he -e0.,i'-s i- ,he des3+i


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I- ,he 3.se '1 ,he i++.,i'-.l '+ ,he i-se-si,i/e ,hi-0s! su3h .s b+u,es .('-0 li/i-0 3+e.,u+es! '+

i-.-i(.,e 'b2e3,s! )e +i0h,l s. ,h., ,hese .+e de


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Le, ,hese ,hi-0s su11i3e ,'u3hi-0 ,he 3'+


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G'd! .-d 3'++eshie+.+3hi3.l '+de+ .-d )isd'(! bei-0 i- due (e.su+e 3'-1'+(ed ,' i,s ')- P+i-3i


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s'(e .+e


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lu(i-'us i-,elli0e-3e! dul +e3ei/i-0 .-d .0.i- sheddi-0 1'+,h ,he li0h,! .-d

2''usl #&1illed )i,h h'l b+i0h,-ess! sh'uld i(


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Sin+, in 'y o"inion, th n#tu! of # hi!#!+hy h#s %n #&1u#t(y &n&, )

'ust "!o+& to !n&! honou! to th An$(i+ Hi!#!+hy, intnt(y $#9in$ )ith

su"!'unn si$ht u"on th ho(y i'#$!y of it in th S+!i"tu!s, th#t ) '#y %

u"(ift& in th hi$hst &$! to thi! &iin "u!ity th!ou$h th#t 'ysti+#(

!"!snt#tion, #n& '#y "!#is th O!i$in of #(( hi!#!+hi+#( *no)(&$ )ith #

n!#tion )o!thy of th thin$s of Go&, #n& )ith &out th#n*s$iin$.

I- ,he 1i+s,

1i+s,! .-d i- (.- ).s! ,he Di/i-e Ms,e+ies" Whe+e1'+e ,he! .b'/e .ll! .+e


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di/i-e


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I see ,h., ,he A-0els! ,''! )e+e 1i+s, i-i,i.,ed i-,' ,he di/i-e Ms,e+ '1 esus i- His

l'/e 1'+ (.-! .-d ,h+'u0h ,he( ,he 0i1, '1 ,h., 4-')led0e ).s bes,')ed u


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CHAPTER 7

!hy all the Celestial &eings in common are called %ngels.

This, so f#! #s ) un&!st#n& it, is th !#son fo! th n#' An$( in th S+!i"tu!s.

No) I thin* ) shou(& insti$#t th !#son )hy tho(o$i#ns $i th $n!#(

n#' An$(s to #(( th C(sti#( Bin$s, %ut )hn 8"(#inin$ th +h#!#+t!isti+s of

th su"!'unn O!&!s thy s"+i+#((y $i th n#' An$( to thos )ho

+o'"(t #n& +on+(u& th Diin C(sti#( Hi!#!+his. A%o ths thy "(#+ th

+hoi!s of A!+h#n$(s, P!in+i"#(itis, Po)!s, 7i!tus, #n& thos oth! %in$s )ho #!

#+*no)(&$& %y th t!#&ition#( s+!i"tu!#( t#+hin$s to % of hi$h! !#n*.

No) ) '#int#in th#t in ths Hi!#!+his th hi$h! O!&!s "ossss th

i((u'in#tions #n& "o)!s of th (o)! !#n*s, %ut th (o)! &o not "#!ti+i"#t

1u#((y )ith thos #%o th'. Hn+ th tho(o$i#ns +#(( th hi$h! of ths

s"i!itu#( O!&!s An$(s %+#us thy, too, sho) fo!th th Diin R#&i#n+? %ut )

+#n n& no !#son fo! +#((in$ th (o)st +hoi!s of th C(sti#( Int((i$n+s

P!in+i"#(itis o! Th!ons o! S!#"hi', fo! thy &o not '#nifst in th s#' &$!

th#t su"!'(y 8+((nt "o)!?%ut ;ust #s thy $ui& ou! ins"i!& hi!#!+hs to th

Diin B!i$htnss *no)n to th', so &o thos 'ost ho(y Po)!s )hi+h #! #%o

th' (#& to th Diin M#;sty thos !#n*s )hi+h +o'"(t th An$(i+

Hi!#!+his.

. -E!ythin$ )hi+h "!o+&s in th &iin o!&!s is not n#tu!#((y

#"t& to !+i #(( th "o)!s of its "!o&u+in$ +#us. No! in

sho!t, #! s+on!y n#tu!s #%( to !+i #(( th "o)!s of th

n#tu!s "!io! to th's(s, %ut th (#tt! h# +!t#in "o)!s

8'"t f!o' thin$s in #n inf!io! o!&!, #n& in+o'"!hnsi%( %y

th %in$s "ost!io! to th's(s.- 2 P!o"osition CL.

P!o+(us,Metaphysical Elements.

A-d ,his .ls' (. be .dded! ,h., .ll 3.- +i0h,l be 3.lled A-0els i- +es


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Bu, -') le, us


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Th s+on&, h s#ys, +ont#ins th Po)!s, 7i!tus, #n& Do'inions,

#n& th (#st #n& (o)st +hoi!s of th C(sti#( Int((i$n+s #!

+#((& An$(s, A!+h#n$(s, #n& P!in+i"#(itis.

CHAPTER 7II

of the (era)him, Cherubim and Thrones, and their rst "ierarchy.

In #++"tin$ this o!&! of th ho(y Hi!#!+his ) #!' th#t th n#'s of #+h of

th C(sti#( Choi!s 8"!sss its o)n Go&2(i* +h#!#+t!isti+. W #! to(& %y

H%!) s+ho(#!s th#t th ho(y n#' S!#"hi' '#ns -thos )ho *in&( o! '#*

hot-, #n& Ch!u%i' &nots #%unn+ of *no)(&$ o! #n out3o)in$ of

)is&o'.R#son#%(y, th!fo!, is this !st C(sti#( Hi!#!+hy #&'inist!& %y th

'ost t!#ns+n&nt N#tu!s, sin+ it o++u"is # 'o! 8#(t& "(#+ th#n #(( th

oth!s, %in$ i''&i#t(y "!snt )ith Go&? #n& %+#us of its n#!nss, to it #!

%!ou$ht th !st !(#tions #n& "!f+tions of Go& %fo! th !st. Th!fo! thy#! n#'& -Th G(o)in$ Ons-, -St!#'s of Wis&o'-, -Th!ons-, in i((ust!#tion of

thi! Diin N#tu!.

. Ch!u%i' -)ho '#y % +#((& (oin$ Wis&o's, #s thos !st

'#y % +#((& )is Los. 0o! th! is in #+h %oth (o #n&

)is&o'. But in th !st, in#s'u+h #s thy #! n#!! to Go&, th

!y Sun of T!uth, this 8ists in # f#! $!#t! &$!. ... Su+h thn

is th &i@!n+ %t)n ths O!&!s/ n#'(y, th#t in th (#tt!

is *no)(&$ "!o+&in$ f!o' (o? in th fo!'! is (o

"!o+&in$ f!o' *no)(&$.- 2Co(t.

The -.(e Se+.


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,he sh.d')s '1 d.+4-ess"

The -.(e Che+ubi( de-',es ,hei+


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I, is 3le.+ ,h., ,he Hie+.+3h is si(il.+ i- i,s -.,u+e .-d h.s 3l'se .11i-i, )i,h ,h'se Fi+s, Bei-0s

)h' .+e es,.blished .1,e+ ,he G'dhe.d! )hi3h is ,he S'u+3e '1 ,hei+ Bei-0! .s ,h'u0h )i,hi- I,sP'+,.ls! ,+.-s3e-di-0 .ll*3+e.,ed

Hi(sel1"

#;

F'+ s'(e '1 ,he( .+e sh')- ,' us .s e-li0h,e-ed i- h'l (.,,e+s b ,h'se .b'/e ,he(!.-d )e le.+- ,h., He )h' i- hu(.- 1'+( .s3e-ded ,' he./e- is &L'+d '1 ,he Celes,i.l P')e+s.-d Ki-0 '1 Gl'+" A-d A-0els .+e +e


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0.+(e-,s +ed68 bu, 1i+s, e.0e+l ues,i'- '-e .-',he+! sh')i-0 ,h., ,he see4 .-d l'-0 1'+ ,he

4-')led0e '1 His di/i-e )'+ds! )i,h'u, e?

i0-'+.-3e b ,he 4-')led0e '1 ,he


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h(- '1 hi0hes,


25/51

Au,h'+i,! 1'+e/e+ '-e )i,h ,he G'dli4e S'u+3e '1 l'+dshi


26/51

b ,he( ,' ,he su


27/51

+e3ei/i-0 i,s 1'+( 1+'( ,he(! .-d bei-0 u


28/51

su


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di/i-e i++.di.,i'-s '1 P+'/ide-,i.l Li0h, 'bs3u+ed be3.use '1 ,he 1+ee)ill '1 ,h'se u-de+ I,s 3.+e@

bu, i, is ,he dissi(il.+i, '1 ,he (e-,.l ees )hi3h 3.uses ,he Li0h, s,+e.(i-0 1'+,h +es


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1'll') ,he("

CHAPTER


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eca)itulation and summary of the %ngelic "ierarchies.

We h./e .0+eed ,h., ,he ('s, /e-e+.ble Hie+.+3h '1 ,he I-,elli0e-3es! )hi3h is 3l'se ,' G'd! is

3'-se3+.,ed b His 1i+s, .-d hi0hes, R.! .-d u


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"!o"! 1u#(ity, #n& st#n&s out #n& #""#!s in its o)n n#tu!, )ith

its in&ii&u#( "o)!s #n& o+, 8hi%itin$ in its o)n &$! so'

"!f+tion in Go&, in )ho' #(( "!f+tion is in its hi$hst? n#y,

!#th!, )ho is Hi's(f th "!o"! P!f+tion of !y on,

"!f+tin$ #(( thin$s, in )ho' th! is nothin$ "!f+t %utHi's(f.- 2Co(t.

CHAPTER I


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!hy all the Celestial "ierarchies in common are called

Celestial +owers.

N') ,h., ,hese ,hi-0s h./e bee- de1i-ed! ,he +e.s'- 1'+ .


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CHAPTER II

!hy the "ierarchs among men are called %ngels.

Th'se )h' e.+-es,l s,ud ,he h'l S3+i


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CHAPTER III

The reason why the )ro)het Isaiah is said to have been )uried by the

(era)him.-

F. Th "u!i+#tion of Is#i#h !+#((s th isit#tion of th Diin

D#'on to So+!#ts. -Th D#'on of So+!#ts %in$ #((ott& #

+#th#!ti+ "+u(i#!ity #n& th sou!+ of #n un&(& (if, ... #n&

unifo!'(y "!si&in$ o! th )ho( of "u!i+#tion, s"#!#ts

So+!#ts f!o' too 'u+h +on!s )ith th


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,+.-s


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,h'se h'l .-d blessed A-0els )h'


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CHAPTER I7

!hat the traditional number of the %ngels signies.

This .ls' is )'+,h! I ,hi-4! '1 i-,elle3,u.l 3'-side+.,i'-! ,h., ,he s3+i


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CHAPTER 7

!hat is the meaning of the formal semblances of the %ngelic +owers#

!hat of the ery and the anthro)omor)hic# !hat is meant by their eyes,

nostrils, ears, mouths, touch, eyelids, eyebrows, their manhood, teeth,

shoulders, arms, hands, heart, breasts, bacs, feet, and wings# !hat are

the naedness and the vesture, the shining raiment, the )riestly insignia,

the girdles# !hat are the rods, s)ears, battle/a0es, and measuring/lines#

!hat are the winds and clouds# !hat is meant by their brass and

electron# !hat are the choirs and the cla))ing of hands# !hat are the

colours of the various jewels# !hat is the form of the lion, the o0, theeagle# !hat are the horses, and their various colours# !hat are the

rivers, the chariots, the wheels# !hat is the so/called joy of the %ngels#

Le, us! i1 'u .+e s' dis


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e?


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+es

.l,'0e,he+ he./e-l .-d u-sullied .-d u-,+.((elled i- ,hei+ u


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,').+ds ,hei+ esse-,i.l u-i,! su++'u-di-0 i, i- .


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)hi+h !(#ts ths sy'%o(i+#( i'#$s to th thin$s #%o.

FK. An #((oy of $o(& #n& si(!.

Bu, -')! si-3e ,his h.s bee- su11i3ie-,l e?


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)hi3h 1ill ,he( )i,h su

The l.s, ,hi-0 1'+ us ,' e?


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=EWELS

(howing the in1uence of Dionysius on some of the mystics.

8Whe- S," 'h- s.s ,h., G'd is . S


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l'-0e+ .- i-,e+es, i- Be0i--i-0" The+e is .- i(.0e '1 G'd

i- ,he s'ul )hi3h 3.- +ise ,' ,he Di/i-e Esse-3e! '+ S'u+3e! .-d )hi3h! u-hi-de+ed b

,he 3l'uds .-d /eils '1 3+e.,ed ,hi-0s! (. 3'-,e(


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8G'd is .


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G'd )i,h . (ee4 s,+i/i-0 '1 l'/e! .-d be ,h'u l',h ,' ,hi-4 '- .u0h, bu, Hi(sel1@ s'

,h., -.u0h, )'+4 i- ,h )i, -'+ i- ,h )ill! bu, '-l Hi(sel1" Whe- ,h'u d's, -e?,

be0i- i- ,his )'+4 ,h'u )il, 1i-d bu, . d.+4-ess . 3l'ud '1 u-4-')i-0 be,)ee-

,hee .-d ,h L'+d! s' ,h., ,h'u .+, .ble -ei,he+ ,' see Hi( 3le.+l b li0h, '1

u-de+s,.-di-0 i- ,h +e.s'-! -'+ 1eel Hi( i- s)ee,-ess '1 l'/e i- ,hi-e .11e3,i'-" Ye,

i1 e/e+ ,h'u sh.l, see Hi( '+ 1eel Hi( i- ,he (e.su+e i- )hi3h i, is

)'+,hi-ess )'uld hi-de+ ,hee i- ,his )'+4" F'+ ,h'u0h i, be 0''d ,' (use '- ,he


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Documents

The Celestial Hierarchies