{ "meta": { "schema_version": "1.2", "endpoint": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/index.json" }, "work": { "slug": "celestial-hierarchy", "name": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy", "stream": "greco-christian", "epoch_reflected": "greco-latin", "epoch_written": "greco-latin", "form": "angelological treatise", "tradition": "Christian mysticism", "author": "Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite", "year_approx": 500, "note": "Fifteen *caputs* on the supercelestial hierarchies — the foundational Western theological source for the threefold-by-three structure of the angelic orders: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones; Dominions, Virtues, Powers; Principalities, Archangels, Angels. Cited by Aquinas and Dante, engaged with extensively by Steiner. Greek title Περὶ τῆς οὐρανίας ἱεραρχίας.", "books_slug": "parker--dionysius-vol-2", "books_slugs": null, "has_project_translation": false, "steiner_loci": [] }, "parents": [ { "slug": "dionysius-areopagite", "name": "Dionysius the Areopagite", "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/" } ], "translation": { "title": "The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite, Vol. II", "author": "Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (late 5th–early 6th c.)", "source": "sacred-texts.com / chr/dio (mirror of James Parker & Co., London, 1899)" }, "chapters": [ { "num": 1, "slug": "05-ch-caput-i", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput I", "words": 723, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/05-ch-caput-i/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/05-ch-caput-i.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "I. Every good gift descends from the Father of Lights", "blurb": "Opens the treatise with James 1:17 — *Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights.* The fundamental Dionysian axiom: the divine illumination is poured down from on high through the hierarchies." }, { "num": 2, "slug": "06-ch-caput-ii", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput II", "words": 2366, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/06-ch-caput-ii/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/06-ch-caput-ii.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "II. The use of dissimilar similitudes for the celestial beings", "blurb": "Why Scripture employs *dissimilar* images (fire, beasts, animals, even bestial parts) of the celestial beings rather than dignified images. The dissimilar protects against thinking of angels in material likeness; the lowliness of the image preserves the mystery." }, { "num": 3, "slug": "07-ch-caput-iii", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput III", "words": 731, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/07-ch-caput-iii/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/07-ch-caput-iii.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "III. What is a hierarchy; the office of hierarchy", "blurb": "Dionysius defines *hierarchia* — sacred order, sacred knowledge, sacred activity — modelled upon the divine and modelling the assimilation of every member to God. The threefold work: purification, illumination, perfection." }, { "num": 4, "slug": "08-ch-caput-iv", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput IV", "words": 1215, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/08-ch-caput-iv/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/08-ch-caput-iv.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "IV. The angelic appearances of the Old Testament", "blurb": "The angelic manifestations in the Old Testament are interpreted as the work of the lower ranks of the celestial hierarchy — accommodated to the spiritual condition of the recipients. Dionysius reads the prophetic visions as veiled communications through angelic order." }, { "num": 5, "slug": "09-ch-caput-v", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput V", "words": 309, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/09-ch-caput-v/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/09-ch-caput-v.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "V. Why all the heavenly Beings are commonly called Angels", "blurb": "On the catholic-Greek use of *angelos* (messenger) as the name for all the heavenly beings. The lowest of the nine orders carries the name proper to its office, but the higher orders also participate in messenger-work and so share the title." }, { "num": 6, "slug": "10-ch-caput-vi", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput VI", "words": 323, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/10-ch-caput-vi/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/10-ch-caput-vi.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "VI. The first order of the heavenly Beings", "blurb": "The nine orders of celestial beings introduced. The number nine: triads of three. The first triad — Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones — closest to the divine and most directly receptive of the divine illumination." }, { "num": 7, "slug": "11-ch-caput-vii", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput VII", "words": 1647, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/11-ch-caput-vii/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/11-ch-caput-vii.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "VII. Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones — the highest triad", "blurb": "The first triad expounded. **Seraphim** — the burning ones, those who burn with the divine love. **Cherubim** — the abundance of knowledge, the wisdom-pourers. **Thrones** — the seats upon which the divine majesty is borne; bearers of God's settledness." }, { "num": 8, "slug": "12-ch-caput-viii", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput VIII", "words": 1068, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/12-ch-caput-viii/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/12-ch-caput-viii.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "VIII. Dominions, Virtues (Mights), Powers — the middle triad", "blurb": "The middle triad. **Dominions** — the lordships, exemplifying authority freed from servile bondage. **Mights** (Virtues) — the manly courage and strength which knows no flagging. **Powers** — the well-ordered governance over those below." }, { "num": 9, "slug": "13-ch-caput-ix", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput IX", "words": 1215, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/13-ch-caput-ix/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/13-ch-caput-ix.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "IX. Principalities, Archangels, Angels — the lowest triad", "blurb": "The third triad, closest to the human hierarchy. **Principalities** — the princely ordering of the lower hierarchies. **Archangels** — the chief messengers, mediating between the upper triads and the angels. **Angels** — the messengers proper, who touch human affairs." }, { "num": 10, "slug": "14-ch-caput-x", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput X", "words": 372, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/14-ch-caput-x/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/14-ch-caput-x.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "X. The order and the hierarchical regularity", "blurb": "On the inviolable order of the hierarchy: each rank receives from the rank immediately above it, transmits to the rank immediately below it. No leaping over levels; the regularity is itself part of the order's divinity." }, { "num": 11, "slug": "15-ch-caput-xi", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput XI", "words": 353, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/15-ch-caput-xi/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/15-ch-caput-xi.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XI. The common name 'heavenly powers'", "blurb": "Why all nine ranks together are called *heavenly powers*. The common participation in the divine power, even though distributed in differing measure; the name *power* attaching to all because all are empowered by the One Power." }, { "num": 12, "slug": "16-ch-caput-xii", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput XII", "words": 402, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/16-ch-caput-xii/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/16-ch-caput-xii.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XII. Whether sacred-orderly priests are called angels", "blurb": "On whether the priests of the earthly hierarchy can be called *angels*. Yes — by analogy and participation, since their office is to bear the divine illumination from above to below, which is the proper office of *angelos*." }, { "num": 13, "slug": "17-ch-caput-xiii", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput XIII", "words": 1862, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/17-ch-caput-xiii/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/17-ch-caput-xiii.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XIII. The Seraph that touched Isaiah's lips", "blurb": "Exegesis of Isaiah 6 — the seraph that takes a coal from the altar and touches the prophet's lips. The seraph in question is interpreted not as one of the highest order acting directly, but as a Seraphic illumination mediated through proper hierarchy." }, { "num": 14, "slug": "18-ch-caput-xiv", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput XIV", "words": 141, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/18-ch-caput-xiv/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/18-ch-caput-xiv.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XIV. The traditional number of the Angels", "blurb": "Daniel 7:10 — 'thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.' On the inexhaustible multiplicity of angelic beings; the number that exceeds counting; the great host of the heavenly liturgy." }, { "num": 15, "slug": "19-ch-caput-xv", "title": "On the Heavenly Hierarchy — Caput XV", "words": 2845, "url": "/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/19-ch-caput-xv/", "api": "/api/sources/dionysius-areopagite/celestial-hierarchy/19-ch-caput-xv.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XV. The symbolic figures of the angels: light, fire, hands, eyes", "blurb": "The closing chapter on the symbolic figures: light, fire, anthropomorphic forms (eye, ear, mouth, hand, foot, shoulder), the various weapons. Each figure explicated as the proper attribute of a particular angelic activity — the symbolic theology of the heavenly beings." } ] }