Pseudo-Dionysius and Eastern Mysticism
Presentation: October 4, 2008
Fr. Alexander Golitzin, D.Phil
Brief Description of Presentation
The goals of the session are three: to provide background information on Dionysius by discussing Jewish apocalyptic literature and mystical literature before Dionysius; to discuss common scholarly assumptions about Dionysius; to explore the role of Dionysius in the Christian Tradition, both as an ascetic and as a mystic.
The session will highlight Eastern Christian traditions in its exploration of Dionysius.
Prayer Exercise
Centering Prayer
Preparation for Session and Bibliography
Click here for preparation article for the presentation, Part 1
Click here for preparation article for the presentation, Part 2
It will also be helpful to read the following for this session
Pseudo Dionysius: The Complete Works, translated by Colm Luibheid; foreword, notes, and translation collaboration by Paul Rorem, The Classics of Western Spirituality, Paulist Press; specifically
Celestial Hierarchy, Chapters 1 - 3
Church Hierarchy, Chapters 1 - 4
The Divine Name, Chapters 1 - 3
Epistles 1 - 5, 10
Mystical Theology
About Fr. Alexander Golitzin
Fr. Alexander Golitzin teaches historical theology at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. His courses include Greek Patristic Theology, the Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism, and Dionysius the Areopagite. He specializes in the origins of the Eastern Christian ascetical and mystical tradition, with a particular eye toward continuities and parallels with, respectively, inter-testamental and Rabbinic Judaism. His books include: New Light from the Holy Mountain (St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1996); Et introibo ad altare dei: The Mystagogy of Dionysius Areopagita (Thessalonika, 1994); St Symeon the New Theologian on the Mystical Life: The Ethical Discourses (3 vols., St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1995-1997); and Historical Dictionary of the Orthodox Church, with Michael Prokurat and Michael Peterson (Scarecrow Press, 1996). Articles and reviews have appeared, or will shortly appear, in the following journals: St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, Lutheran Quarterly, Greek Orthodox Theological Review, St. Nerses Theological Review, Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Studia Patristica, Vigiliae Christianae, Pro Ecclesia, Mystics Quarterly, and The Journal of Early Christian Studies. He earned the D.Phil. form Oxford University in 1980.