ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the notion of hierarchy in Dionysius the Areopagite, who also invented this word. In contrast to its modern usage, Dionysian hierarchy does not primarily refer to stratification or rank of power. In the first part Vasilakis explains this point by looking at the definition of hierarchy from Dionysius’ Celestial Hierarchy with the aid of relevant passages from the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. Hierarchy has to do with order, i.e. it is a well-ordered system of entities. Here one can detect stratification. However, the point is that through this stratification the higher entities (in the case of the Church: the hierarchs, the priests and their deacons) help the lower ones (the laity) to reach God, i.e. deification, as far as possible to each of them, through the sacraments of the Church. This is the second characteristic of hierarchy, i.e. (sacramental) activity. Hierarchy’s last trait is understanding, which should not be understood merely intellectually, but erotically. The chapter’s second part presents five applications of hierarchy: in the case of angels; Church; God as source of every hierarchy; especially Christ as principle and end of hierarchy, whence a large deviation from pagan Neoplatonism; Dionysius, the author, as performing hierarchy through his writings.
