The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition: From Plato to Denys

The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition: From Plato to Denys

Mysticism -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600

An outline of the development of mystical theology in the Patristic period, tracing its roots to Plato and the Hellenistic tradition and centering on Origen, the Nicene Fathers, Augustine, Denys the Areopagite, and St. John of the Cross.

Andrew Louth

Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press

Plato -- Philo -- Plotinus -- Origen -- Nicene orthodoxy. Athanasius and Gregory of Nyssa -- The monastic contribution. Evagrius of Pontus; The macarian homilies; Diadochus of photicē -- Augustine -- Denys the areopagite -- Patristic mysticism and St. John of the Cross. Divine darkness and the dark night -- The mystical life and the mystical body. Platonism and mysticism; The communion of Saints.

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