Dionysius the Areopagite --On the heavenly hierarchy. CAPUT XV. What are the morphic likenesses of the Angelic Powers? what are the fiery? what are the anthromorphic? what are the eyes? what are the nostrils? what are the ears? what are the mouths? what is the touch? what are the eyelids? what are the eyebrows? what is the prime? what are the teeth? what are the shoulders? what are the elbows and the hands? what is the heart? what are the breasts? what is the back? what are the feet? what are the wings? what are the nakedness? what is the robe? what is the shining raiment? what is the sacerdotal? what are the girdles? what are the rods? what are the spears? what are the battle-axes? what are the measuring lines? what are the winds? what are the clouds? what is the brass? what are the electron? what are the choirs? what are the clapping of hands? what are the colors of different stones? what is the appearance of the lion? what is the appearance of the ox? what is the appearance of the eagle? what are the horses? what are the varieties of colored horses? what are the rivers? what are the chariots? what are the wheels? what is the so-called joy of the Angels? Section I. Come, then, let us at last, if you please, rest our mental vision from the strain of lofty contemplation, befitting Angels, and descend to the divided and manifold breadth of the many-shaped variety of the Angelic forms, and then return analytically from the same, as from images, to the simplicity of the Heavenly Minds. But let this first be made plain to you, that the explanations of the sacredly depicted likenesses represent the same ranks of the Heavenly Beings as sometimes ruling, and, at other times, as being ruled; and the last, ruling, and the first, being ruled; and the same, as has been said, having first, and middle, and last powers --without introducing anything absurd into the description, according to the following method of explanation. For if indeed we were to say that some are ruled by those above them, and then that they rule the same, and that those above, whilst ruling those below, are ruled by those same who are being ruled, the thing would manifestly be absurd, and mixed with all sorts of confusion. But if we say that the same rule and are ruled, but no longer the self-same, or from the self-same, but that each same is ruled by those before, and rules those below, one might say appropriately that the Divinely pictured presentations in the Oracles may sometimes attribute, properly and truly, the very same, both to first, and middle, and last powers. Now the straining elevation to things above, and their being drawn unswervingly around each other, as being guardians of their own proper powers, and that they participate in the providential faculty to provide for those below them by mutual communication, befit truly all the Heavenly Beings, although some, pre-eminently and wholly, as we have often said, and others partially and subordinately.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Jul 2013 10:01:44 +0000
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