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Sunday, May 31, 2026

Rutledge, ... The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy of Pseudo-Denys: An Introduction (Routledge reprint)

A REPRINT FROM ROUTLEDGE:
Cosmic Theology
The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy of Pseudo-Denys: An Introduction

By Dom Denys Rutledge

Copyright 1964
Paperback
£25.59
Hardback
£84.00
eBook
£25.59
ISBN 9781032670072
226 Pages
Published January 19, 2026 by Routledge

Description

First published in 1964, Cosmic Theology introduces a work, little known to English readers, which has influenced theological and mystical writing for at least fourteen hundred years. It is, in effect, a synthesis of Christian teaching, particularly on the nature of the Church, in which science and religion, the other world and the values of the present world may be seen in their source and original harmony. Written before the division between Greek and Latin Churches, and later between Catholic and Protestant, it affords a convenient point from which to view later speculation and controversy in its true perspectives. Apart from helping those interested in the ecumenical movement and in the current liturgical revival, this work will serve as a bridge to the understanding of Eastern, and particularly Hindu, religion.

The works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Aeropagite come up occassionally on PaleoJudaica, recently here. It's a valuable corpus for late-antique mystical Christian theology and, as such, it was tremendously influential.

In addition, it did much to tame Ezekiel's bizarre angelology and make it palatable to the Scholastic theologians. Jewish merkavah mysticism had no such taming influence.

Some other PaleoJudaica posts involving Pseudo-Dionysius and such matters are here, here, here, and links.

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