Mystagogy: A Monastic Reading of Dionysius Areopagita (Cistercian Studies Series) (Volume 250)

Mystagogy: A Monastic Reading of Dionysius Areopagita proposes an interpretation of the Pseudo-Dionysian corpus in light of the liturgical and ascetic tradition that defined the author and his audience. Characterized by both striking originality and remarkable fidelity to the patristic and late neoplatonic traditions, the Dionysian corpus is a coherent and unified structure, whose core and pivot is the treatise known as the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy . Given Pseudo-Dionysius' fundamental continuity with earlier Christian theology and spirituality, it is not surprising that the church, and in particular the ascetic community, recognized that this theological synthesis articulated its own fundamental experience and aspirations. Alexander Golitzin is professor emeritus of patristics at Marquette University and a bishop in the Orthodox Church. He specializes in the origins of Eastern Christian ascetical and mystical tradition. He is the author of `Et introibo ad altare Dei': The Mystagogy of Dionysius Areopagita (Patriarchal Institute); St. Symeon the New Theologian on the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses, 3 vols. (St Vladimir's Seminary Press); and New Light from the Holy Mountain (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press), as well as several studies collected in The Theophaneia School: Jewish Roots of Christian Mysticism, ed. AndreiOrlov and Basil Lurie (Gorgias). __Mystagogy: A Monastic Reading of Dionysius Areopagita__ proposes an interpretation of the Pseudo-Dionysian corpus in light of the liturgical and ascetic tradition that defined the author and his audience. Characterized by both striking originality and remarkable fidelity to the patristic and late neoplatonic traditions, the Dionysian corpus is a coherent and unified structure, whose core and pivot is the treatise known as the __Ecclesiastical Hierarchy__. Given Pseudo-Dionysius' fundamental continuity with earlier Christian theology and spirituality, it is not surprising that the church, and in particular the ascetic community, recognized that this theological synthesis articulated its own fundamental experience and aspirations. __Alexander Golitzin is professor emeritus of patristics at Marquette University and a bishop in the Orthodox Church. He specializes in the origins of Eastern Christian ascetical and mystical tradition. He is the author of__ `Et introibo ad altare Dei': The Mystagogy of Dionysius Areopagita __(Patriarchal Institute);__ St. Symeon the New Theologian on the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses, 3 vols. __(St Vladimir's Seminary Press); and__ New Light from the Holy Mountain __(St. Tikhon's Seminary Press), as well as several studies collected in__ The Theophaneia School: Jewish Roots of Christian Mysticism, ed. AndreiOrlov and Basil Lurie (Gorgias). The Christian Mysticism Of Dionysius Areopagita -- The Mystery Of God: Transcendence And Presence -- The Mystery Of The Creature: Toward The Divine Likeness And Union -- The Mystery Of The Worlds: Hierarchy And The Hierarchies -- The Mystery And The Mysteries: Christ And The Sacraments As Revelation And Communication Of True God And True Man -- Dionysius' Predecessors: Evagrius And Macarius. Alexander Golitzin ; With The Collaboration Of Bogdan G. Bucur ; Edited By Bogdan G. Bucur. This Monograph Has Evolved Out Of The Author's Extensive Revisions Of His Earlier Book Et Introibo Ad Altare Dei : The Mystagogy Of Dionysius Areopagita (thessaloniki, Greece: George Dedousis Publishing Co., 1994)--title Page Verso. Cistercian Publications. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 407-434) And Indexes.