The Collected Works (ePub)

Dionysius the Areopagite, a figure enveloped in mystery and pseudonymity, is traditionally associated with the Athenian judge converted by Saint Paul the Apostle, as recounted in Acts 17:34. However, scholarly consensus contends that the eponymous writings were likely composed by an unknown Christian Neoplatonist in late 5th to early 6th century CE. The authorship of 'The Collected Works,' which encompasses 'The Divine Names,' 'Mystical Theology,' 'The Celestial Hierarchy,' and 'The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy,' is often ascribed to Dionysius, yet their true historical source remains elusive (Luibheid & Rorem, Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works, 1987). The Dionysian corpus harmonizes Christian theology with Neoplatonic philosophy, positing a systematic framework for the contemplation of the ineffable God through a structured hierarchy of being and a path of mystical ascent. Dionysius is credited with introducing the term 'mystical theology' and exerted profound influence upon both Eastern Orthodox and Western Christian mystical traditions (Pelikan, The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, 1971). Particularly, his apophatic theological approach, which emphasizes what cannot be said about the divine, remains a cornerstone of Christian mysticism and has inspired a multitude of theological discourses into the medieval period and beyond (McGinn, The Foundations of Mysticism, 1991). Despite uncertainties surrounding his identity, Dionysius the Areopagite has attained a pivotal role in the history of Christian thought.