The Celestial Hierarchy — Chapter Xi

St. Dionysius the Areopagite

Why all the Celestial Hierarchies in common are called Celestial

Powers.

Now that these things have been defined, the reason for applying the

general name, Celestial Powers, to all the Angelic beings demands our

consideration. For we cannot say of these, as we can of the Angels,

that the Order of the holy Powers is the last of all; moreover, the

higher Orders of beings, indeed, have part in the illuminations of the

lowest, but the last by no means possess those of the first. And for

this reason all the Divine Intelligences are called Celestial Powers,

but never Seraphim or Thrones or Dominions; since the lowest do not

share in the whole characteristics of the highest. For the Angels, and

the Archangels above them, and the Principalities, and the ranks which

are placed by theology after the Powers, are frequent1y called by us

Celestial Powers, in common with all the other holy beings.

But we deny that in using the general name, Celestial Powers, for all

we cause any confusion with regard to the characteristics of each

Order. For all the Divine Celestial Intelligences are divided,

according to the supermundane account of them, into three groups in

respect of their essence, power and activity; and when we name all or

some of them, loosely, Celestial Beings or Celestial Powers, we are

referring to them indirectly in terms of that essence or power which

each possesses.

But we must not assign the highest characteristics of the holy Powers

(which we have already well distinguished) to all the natures wholly

below them, for this would bring confusion into the clear and

harmonious Order of Angels: for, as we have frequently rightly shown,

the highest Orders possess in fullest measure the holy characteristics

of the lower, but the lowest do not possess the pre-eminent unitive

principles of those more venerable than themselves, because the First

Radiance is imparted to them through the first Orders according to

their capacity.

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