The Celestial Hierarchy — Chapter Vii

St. Dionysius the Areopagite

Of the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones, and their first Hierarchy.

In accepting this order of the holy Hierarchies we affirm that the

names of each of the Celestial Choirs expresses its own Godlike

characteristic. We are told by Hebrew scholars that the holy name

Seraphim means those who kindle or make hot', and Cherubim denotes

abundance of knowledge or an outflowing of wisdom.* Reasonably,

therefore, is this first Celestial Hierarchy administered by the most

transcendent Natures, since it occupies a more exalted place than all

the others, being immediately present with God; and because of its

nearness, to it are brought the first revelations and perfections of

God before the rest. Therefore they are named The Glowing Ones',

Streams of Wisdom', Thrones', in illustration of their Divine Nature.

The name Seraphim clearly indicates their ceaseless and eternal

revolution about Divine Principles, their heat and keenness, the

exuberance of their intense, perpetual, tireless activity, and their

elevative and energetic assimilation of those below, kindling them and

firing them to their own heat, and wholly purifying them by a burning

and all-consuming flame; and by the unhidden, unquenchable, changeless,

radiant and enlightening power, dispelling and destroying the shadows

of darkness. The name Cherubim denotes their power of knowing and

beholding God, their receptivity to the highest Gift of Light, their

contemplation of the Beauty of the Godhead in Its First Manifestation,

and that they are filled by participation in Divine Wisdom, and

bounteously outpour to those below them from their own fount of wisdom.

The name of the most glorious and exalted Thrones denotes that which is

exempt from and untainted by any base and earthly thing, and the

supermundane ascent up the steep. For these have no part in that which

is lowest, but dwell in fullest power, immovably and perfectly

established in the Most High, and receive the Divine Immanence above

all passion and matter, and manifest God, being attentively open to

divine participations.

This, then, is the meaning of their names, so far as we understand it:

but now we must set forth our conception of the nature of this

Hierarchy, for the object of every Hierarchy, as I think we have

already sufficiently shown, is a steadfast devotion to the divine

assimilation in the Likeness of God; and the whole work of a Hierarchy

is in the participation and the imparting of a most holy Purification,

Divine Light and perfecting Knowledge.

And now I pray that I may speak worthily of those most exalted

Intelligences, and as their Hierarchy is revealed in the Scriptures. It

is clear that the Hierarchy is similar in its nature and has close

affinity with those First Beings who are established after the Godhead,

which is the Source of their Being, as though within Its Portals,

transcending all created powers, both visible and invisible. Therefore

we must recognize that they are pure, no