Dionysius the Areopagite (Teachings of the Orthodox Church) Christianity. Orthodoxy. Catholicism. Sense of life. Articles for Christians.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.                If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.                If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.                Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with.               
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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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