The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite — trans. John Parker

ing him to the Hierarch, as to a bequest of holy crowns ; and he right gladly receives him, and performs the things fixed by reverend men, to be performed over those who have piously fallen asleep.

//. Mysterion over those 7vho have religiotisly fallen asleep.

The Divine Hierarch collects the reverend Choir, and if the person who has fallen asleep were of the sacerdotal rank, he lays him down before the Divine Altar, and begins with the prayer and thanksgiving

^ Ps. cxii. 10.

071 the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. 149 to God ; but if he belonged to the rank of the chaste Monks, or the holy people, he lays him down near the hallowed sanctuary, before the sacerdotal entrance. Then the Hierarch finishes the prayer of thanksgiving to God ; and next, the Leitourgoi, after reading the unfailing promises concerning our holy resurrection, contained in the Divine Oracles, reverently chant the odes of the same teaching and power, from the Oracles of the Psalter K Then the first Leitourgos dismisses the catechumens, and calls aloud the names of the holy people, who have already fallen asleep ; amongst whom he deems the man, who has just terminated his life, worthy of mention in the same rank, and urges all to seek the blessed consummation in Christ; then the Divine Hierarch advances, and offers a most holy prayer over him, and after the prayer both the Hierarch himself salutes the defunct, and after him, all who are present. When all have saluted, the Hierarch pours the oil upon the fallen asleep, and when he has offered the holy prayer for all, he places the body in a worthy chamber, with other holy bodies of the same rank.

///. Contemplation.

Section I.

Now, if the profane should see or hear that these things are done by us, they will, I suppose, split with laughter, and commiserate us on our folly. But

^ See Burial Office.

150 Dionysius the Areopagite there is no need to wonder at this. For, as the Oracles say, " If they will not believe, neither shall they understand V And as for us, who have contemplated the spiritual meaning of the things done, whilst Jesus leads us to the light, let us say, that, not without reason, does the Hierarch conduct to, and place the man fallen asleep, in the place of the same rank ; for it shews reverently, that, in the regeneration, all will be in those chosen inheritances, for which they have chosen their own life here^".

, not without reason, does the Hierarch conduct to, and place the man fallen asleep, in the place of the same rank ; for it shews reverently, that, in the regeneration, all will be in those chosen inheritances, for which they have chosen their own life here^". For example, if any one led a Godlike and most holy life here, so far as the imitation of God is attainable by man, he will be, in the age to come,- in divine and blessed inheritances ; but if he led a life inferior to the divine likeness in the highest degree, but, nevertheless, a holy life, even this man will receive the holy and similar retributions. The Hierarch, having given thanks for this Divine righteousness, offers a sacred prayer, and extols the worshipful Godhead, as subjugating the unjust and tyrannical power against us all, and conducing us back to our own most just possessions'^ (or judgments).

Section II.

Now, the Chants and Readings of the supremely Divine promises are explanatory of the most blessed inheritances, to which those, who have attained a Divine perfection, shall be eternally appointed, and

1 Wisdom iii. 9. "^ ctTreA-XTJpwo-ai'. See Papias, fragment 5.

11 K/i^a.ra. in text. I suggest KTi-j/xara.

071 the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. 151 descriptive of him who has religiously fallen asleep, and stimulative of those, who are still living, to the same perfection.

Section III.

Observe, however, that not all the ranks under purification are customarily dismissed, but only the catechumens are expelled from the holy places, for this class is entirely uninitiated in every holy Rite, and is not permitted to view any of the religious celebrations, great or small, inasmuch as it has not participated in the faculty of contemplating the holy mysteries, through the Birth from God, which is Source and gift of light. The rest, however, of the ranks under purification, have already been under instruction in sacred tradition ; but, as they have foolishly returned to an evil course it is incumbent to complete their proper elevation in advance, and they are reasonably dismissed from the supremely Divine contemplations and communions, as in holy symbols ; for they will be injured, by partaking of them unholily, and will come to a greater contempt of the Divine Mysteries and themselves.

Section IV.

nce, and they are reasonably dismissed from the supremely Divine contemplations and communions, as in holy symbols ; for they will be injured, by partaking of them unholily, and will come to a greater contempt of the Divine Mysteries and themselves.

Section IV.

Naturally, however, they are present at the things now done, being clearly taught by seeing both the fearlessness of death amongst us, and the last honour of the saints extolled from the unfailing Oracles, and that the sufferings threatened to the unholy

152 Dlonysius the Areopagite like themselves will be endless ; for it will perhaps be profitable for them to have seen him, who has religiously finished his course, reverently proclaimed by the public proclamation of the Leitourgoi, as being certainly companion of the Saints for ever**. And, perchance, even they will come to the like aspiration, and will be taught from the science of the Liturgy, that the consummation in Christ is blessed indeed.

Section V.

Then the Divine Hierarch, advancing, offers a holy prayer over the man fallen asleep. After the prayer, both the Hierarch himself salutes him, and next all who are present. Now the prayer beseeches the supremely Divine Goodness to remit to the man fallen asleep all the failings committed by reason of human infirmity, and to transfer him in lights and land of living \ into the bosom of Abraham ^, and Isaac, and Jacob : in a place where grief and sorrow and sighing are no more. It is evident, then, as I think, that these, the rewards of the pious, are most blessed. For what can be equal to an immortality entirely without grief and luminous with light. Especially if all the promises which pass man's understanding, and which are signified to us by signs adapted to our capacity, fall short, in their description, of their actual truth. For we must o Luke i. 70. P Ps. Ivi. 13. q Ps. cxvi. 9.

r Luke xvi. 22.

on the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. 153 remember that the Logion is true, that " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man to conceive, the things which God hath prepared for them that love^ Him." " Bosoms " of the blessed Patriarchs, and of all the other pious men, are, in my judgment, the most divine and blessed inheritances, which await all godly men, in that consummation ^ which grows not old, and is full of blessedness.

Section VI.