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Dionysius the Areopagite: Works

Dionysius the Areopagite (Pseudo-Dionysius) · translated by John Parker · c. 500; translation 1897–1899

The Divine Names, the Mystical Theology, the Celestial and Ecclesiastical Hierarchies and the Letters: written about 500 under the name of Paul's Athenian convert, and read as an authority by East and West alike.

Edition: CCEL · www.ccel.org

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From the opening: Lucius Flavius Dexter

Dexter was a friend of Jerome. Jerome even addresses him as "filius amicus," and describes him as "clarus apud saeculum et Christi fidei deditus."

Dexter became Prefect of the Pretorian Oriental Guards, and was one of the most illustrious statesmen of his time. He resided two years in Toledo. From the archives of the Church of Toledo and other cities he compiled a chronicle from A.D. 1 to A.D. 430, giving a brief summary of the Church events in Spain. That chronicle he dedicated to Jerome, who, enrolled both Chronicle and Author amongst his "illustrious men." It was at the request of Dexter that Jerome wrote his book on Ecclesiastical Writers. Among the earliest Bishops of Toledo, Dexter describes a remarkable man,--Marcellus,--surnamed Eugenius, on account of his noble birth.

Bivarius says he was of the house and family of Caesar, being uncle to the Emperor Hadrian. Marcellus was consecrated Bishop by Dionysius the Areopagite at Aries, and sent to Toledo. Respecting him, Dexter records that Dionysius dedicated the books of the Divine Names to him, u.c. 851, A.D. 98. Dexter further records that Dionysius surnamed Marcellus, Timothy, on account of his excellent disposition. Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, relates that Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus, to whom the works of Dionysius were originally dedicated, was martyred during the reign of Nerva, A.D. 96-97. Upon the return of Dionysius to Gaul, after his visit to St. John, released from Patmos, we find him calling his friend Marcellus, Timothy, and presenting the books of the "Divine Names "to him, A.D. 98; in order that he might still have a Timothy on earth,-- "in vivis"--although his first Timothy, "migravit ad Christum," A.D. 97.

This touch of nature, preserved in a chronicle, written more than 1400 years ago, by an illustrious statesman, who was son of a Bishop celebrated for learning and sanctity, may fairly be deemed, by an unprejudiced mind, reasonable proof that the "Divine Names" were written previous to A.D. 98.

N.B. As the result of some research I affirm that our Saviour's last commission is the Key to Church history in the first century. As He commanded the Apostles to preach the Gospel throughout the world, so the Gospel was preached when St. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Colossians, Chap. I. v. 23 (tou keruchthentos en pase ktisei), and with such success amongst the most learned and noble, that, but…

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Contents (85 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. Title page
  3. Principal Works on Dionysius the Areopagite
  4. Works against Genuineness
  5. Preface to the "Divine Names."
  6. Lucius Flavius Dexter
  7. To My Fellow Presbyter, Timothy, Dionysius the Presbyter
  8. Section V
  9. Caput II
  10. Section V
  11. Section X
  12. Section II
  13. Section II
  14. Section VI
  15. Section XI
  16. Section XV
  17. Section XXI
  18. Section XXIV
  19. Section XXXII
  20. Section III
  21. Section IX
  22. Section II
  23. Caput VIII
  24. Section VIII
  25. Section V
  26. Section II
  27. Section III
  28. Section III
  29. Section IV
  30. Preface to Mystic Theology
  31. Caput IV
  32. Preface to the Letters of Dionysius the Areopagite
  33. LETTER I. To Gaius Therapeutes
  34. LETTER II. To the same Gaius Therapeutes
  35. LETTER III. To the same Gaius
  36. LETTER IV. To the same Gaius Therapeutes
  37. LETTER V. To Dorotheus, Leitourgos
  38. LETTER VI. To Sopatros — Priest
  39. SECTION I. To Polycarp — Hierarch
  40. Section I
  41. Section II
  42. Section VI
  43. Section II
  44. Section VI
  45. LETTER X. To John, Theologos, Apostle and Evangelist, imprisoned in the Isle of Patmos
  46. LETTER XI. Dionysius to Apollophanes, Philosopher
  47. Preface to Liturgy
  48. Liturgy of St. Dionysius, Bishop of the Athenians
  49. Objections to Genuineness
  50. Fallacy of Names
  51. Gregory of Tours
  52. The Pères Bolandistes
  53. The Celestial and Ecclesiastical Hierarchy
  54. The Heavenly Hierarchy, and the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy
  55. Church of Britain
  56. Dionysius the Areopagite and the Alexandrine School
  57. Caput I
  58. Section III
  59. Caput III
  60. Section III
  61. Caput VII
  62. Section IV
  63. Caput IX
  64. Caput X
  65. Section III
  66. Caput XIV
  67. Section IV
  68. Caput I
  69. Section V
  70. Section VII
  71. Section VI
  72. Section I
  73. Section VII
  74. Section X
  75. Section XIV
  76. Section III
  77. Section IX
  78. Section III
  79. Section I
  80. Caput VI
  81. Section VI
  82. Section I
  83. Section VII
  84. Appendix
  85. Apostolic Traditions Generally in Abeyance

How to cite it

Chicago
Dionysius the Areopagite (Pseudo-Dionysius). Dionysius the Areopagite: Works. Translated by John Parker. CCEL, c. 500; translation 1897–1899. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/dionysius/works
MLA
Dionysius the Areopagite (Pseudo-Dionysius). Dionysius the Areopagite: Works. Translated by John Parker, CCEL, c. 500; translation 1897–1899. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/dionysius/works
APA
Dionysius the Areopagite (Pseudo-Dionysius) (c. 500; translation 1897–1899). Dionysius the Areopagite: Works (John Parker, Trans.). CCEL. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/dionysius/works

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