Dionysius the Areopagite (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

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	Dionysius the Areopagite (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

A few months ago you answered my questions regarding our church's understanding of the "original sin", and I am really thankful for your help. Now I would like to ask you how does the Orthodox Church view the writings of Dionysius the (Pseudo) Areopagite.

I've noticed that all catholic and protestant authors believe that the writings once attributed to Dyonisus the Areopagite were actually written by a Syrian monk who was strongly influenced by a neo-Platonist philosopher.

In the same time I've noticed that some Orthodox websites talk about the same writings as if they are really written by Dyonisus the Areopagite. I would really appreciate if you could explain to me what is the Orthodox position regarding this issue.

ANSWER:

In Acts 17:34, Dionysius the Areopagite is identified as one of the few Athenians who converted to Christianity as a result of Saint Paul's preaching on the Areopagus.

The author to whom the works of Dionysius are ascribed is most likely a Syrian living at the end of the fifth and beginning of the sixth centuries who used Dionysius the Areopagite as a pseudonym for writing Mystical Theology, the Divine Names, and other works. While his writings are highly influenced by the Neoplatonism of his time, they are also influenced by Saint Clement of Alexandria, the Cappadocian Fathers, Origen, and others.

Little else by way of biography is known of the actual Syrian who wrote under this pseudonym.

Published in January 2011.

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