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Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, also known as pseudo-Denys, is the name scholars have given to an anonymous theologian and philosopher of the 5th century, who wrote a collection of books, the Corpus Areopagiticum, falsely ascribed to Dionysius the Areopagite, mentioned in . The author was historically believed to be the Areopagite because he claimed acquaintance with biblical characters. Georgian academician Shalva Nutsubidze and Belgian professor Ernest Honigmann were authors of a theory identifying pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite with Peter the Iberian. The author's works currently available include the Divine Names, Celestial Hierarchy, Mystical Theology, Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, and various epistles. He refers in his writings to some other works of his that are no longer extant such as Theological Outlines.
Teaching
His works are mystical and show strong Neoplatonic influence. For example he uses Plotinus' well known analogy of a sculptor cutting away that which does not enhance the desired image. He shows familiarity with Proclus, which indicates he wrote no earlier than the 5th century, as well as influence from Saint Clement of Alexandria, the Cappadocian Fathers, Origen, and others. There is of course a noted difference between Neoplatonism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity in that one believes all returns to the source to be stripped of individual identity, the other that Theosis gives the individual an infinite and divine god status. The liturgical references in his writings also date his corpus after the 4th century.
He appeared to have belonged to the group which attempted to form a compromise position between monophysitism and the orthodox teaching. His writings first appeared in the 5th century, and were initially used by monophysites to back up parts of their arguments, but they were quickly accepted by other church theologians as well. The Dionysian corpus of writings and its mystical teaching was universally accepted throughout the East, amongst both Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians. St. Gregory Palamas, for example, in referring to these writings, calls the author, "an unerring beholder of divine things." And in the West, these writings grew to be extremely popular amongst theologians in the middle ages, but debates over the authenticity of his works began in the Renaissance.
More on [ Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite ]
Pseudo Dionysius A Commentary on the Texts and an Introduction to Their Influence http://cli.gs/Zpr7M
ecampusnet (Campus Net) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:37:45 -0000
Pseudo Dionysius A Commentary on the Texts and an Introduction to Their Influence http://cli.gs/Zpr7M
Pseudo Dionysius A Commentary on the Texts and an Introduction to Their Influence http://chilp.it/6f2d89
ecampusnet (Campus Net) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:38:37 -0000
Pseudo Dionysius A Commentary on the Texts and an Introduction to Their Influence http://chilp.it/6f2d89
Dictionary of Christian Biography: Dionysius Pseudo-Areopagita - Article with extensive bibliography.
Dionysius the Areopagite - Lengthy article on Pseudo-Dionysius and his theology. By N. Bonwetsch, in the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. Includes bibliography. Requires capability to view PNG files.
Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite - Article on the identity of the mysterious Pseudo-Areopagite, his writings, and their influence. From the Catholic Encyclopedia.
Meta Description: [ Article on the identity of the mysterious Pseudo-Areopagite, his writings, and their influence ]
Pseudo-Dionysius in the Twelfth Century Latin West - How the Neoplatonic system of the Pseudo-Dionysius was influential in medieval theology and spirituality.
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