Reading of the Fragment DN XIII, 3 (“On Divine Names” XIII, 3) by V. N. Lossky in the Context of his Concept of Mystical Theology

The inseparable unity of dogmatics and mysticism as a distinctive feature of Eastern theology in comparison with Western theology, is one of the main theses that V. N. Lossky puts forward in his works. Lossky tried to demonstrate this unity using the example of the Corpus Areopagiticum, where he was proving that the triadological dogma is also revealed by Pseudo-Dionysius at the level of apophatic theology. Lossky makes a fundamental assertion that the antinomy of dogma is a manifestation of its apophatic ground. This article explores the manner in which this concept is manifested in Lossky’s interpretation of the fragment DN XIII, 3, which he consistently analyzed during his creative quest. It is suggested, specifically, that the misquotation of this passage in Lossky’s earlier writings stems from his reliance on a Latin translation of the treatise. Nevertheless, his later clarification of the text of “Areopagitica” based on the Greek original does not eliminate the issues associated with its interpretation, which are mainly reflected in the neglect of the terminology used by Pseudo-Dionysius. This terminology, as is well-known, evolved under the influence of Neoplatonists, including Proclus. Furthermore, it is proposed and supported that the specific formulation of the problem suggested by Lossky is influenced not primarily by the theology of the Ecumenical Councils era, but rather by the theological debates of the early twentieth century. During this period, a significant topic of discussion withIn Russian theological circles was the relationship between mystical experience and the principles of theological doctrine. Initial efforts were undertaken to clearly associate the normative depiction of mystical experience with established theological teachings.

1. Aleksii (Dorodnitsyn), ep. (1913) “Christian Mysticism in Its Main Representatives of the 4th–14th Centuries”, in Complete Works: In 2 vols. Vol. 1, pp. 5–140. Saratov: tipografiia Soiuza Pechatnogo Dela. (In Russian)

2. Dionisiaca (1937) Recueil donnant l’ensemble des traductions latines des ouvrages attribués au Denys de l’Aréopage. Belgium: Brouwer & C.

3. Dionisii Areopagit (2002) Works. Commentaries by Maximus the Confessor. St. Petersburg: Aleteiia; Izdatel’stvo Olega Obyshko. (In Russian)

4. Florenskii, P., sviashch. (1994; 1996) Works: In 4 vols. Vols. 1, 2. Moscow: Mysl’. (In Russian)

5. Florenskii, P., sviashch. (2003) The Pillar and Ground of the Truth. Moscow: AST. (In Russian)

6. Florenskii, P. A. (2018) Theological Works: 1902–1909. Moscow: Izdatel’stvo PSTGU. (In Russian)

7. Gandillac, M. de (1966) La Sagesse de Plotin. Paris: Librairie philosophique J. Vrin. Jones, J. (2000) “The Status of the Trinity in dionisian Thought”, The Journal of Religion 80 (4): 645–657.

8. Karsavin, L. P. (1993) “Mysticism and Its Significance in the Religiosity of the Middle Ages”, in Works, pp. 14–30. Moscow: Raritet. (In Russian)

9. Karsavin, L. P. (1994) The Holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church (The Revelation of Orthodoxy in Their Creations). Moscow: Izdatel’stvo Moskovskogo universiteta. EDN: TAYQZZ. (In Russian)

10. Khondzinskii, P. V. (2023) “W. James In Russian Academic Theology at the Beginning of the 20th Century. Part I. Towards James”, Voprosy filosofii 10: 75–84. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.21146/0042-8744-2023-10-75-84; EDN: FVJJAW. (In Russian)

11. Khondzinskii, P. V. (2023) “W. James In Russian Academic Theology at the Beginning of the 20th Century. Part II. From the Varieties of Religious Experience to the Mystical Mind”, Voprosy filosofi 11: 114–125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21146/0042-8744- 2023-11-114-125; EDN: RHLCXX. (In Russian)

12. Losev, A. F. (1993) “Commentaries on the Treatise ‘The Elements of Theology’”, in Prokl, The Elements of Theology. Hymns, pp. 189–303. Moscow: Progress. (In Russian)

13. Losev, A. F. (2009) Selected Works on Imyaslavie and the Corpus of Dionysius the Areopagite. With an Appendix Containing a Translation of the Treatise “On the Divine Names”. St. Petersburg: Izdatel’stvo Olega Abyshko. (In Russian)

14. Losskii, V. N. (1929) “Negative Theology in the Teaching of Dionysius the Areopagite”, Seminarium Kondakovianum III: 130–141. Prague. (In Russian)

15. Losskii, V. N. (1975) “Apophaticism and Trinitarian Theology”, Bogoslovskie trudy XIV: 95–104. Moscow. (In Russian)

16. Losskii, V. N. (2002) Negative Theology and the Knowledge of God in Meister Eckhart. Moscow: Poznanie. (In Russian)

17. Losskii, V. N. (2009) “The Concept of ‘Analogy’ in Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite”, Bogoslovskie trudy 42: 110–136. (In Russian)

18. Losskii, V. N. (2015) The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church. Dogmatic Theology. Sergiev Posad: Svjato-Troitskaja Sergieva Lavra. (In Russian)

19. Lossky, V. (1944) Essai sur la théologie mystique de L’Église d’Orient. Paris: Aubier.

20. Lossky, V. (1973) Théologie négative et connaissance de Dieu chez Maître Eckhart. Paris: Librairie philosophique J. Vrin.

21. Maksim Ispovednik, prp. (1993) “Four Hundred Chapters on Love”, in Works in 2 Books. Book 1, pp. 97–145. Moscow: Martis. (In Russian)

22. Maksim Ispovednik, prp. (2020) Ambigua: Difficulties for Thomas (Ambigua ad Thomam), Difficulties for John (Ambigua ad Iohannem). Moscow: Eksmo. (In Russian)

23. Minin, P. M. (2003) Mysticism and Its Nature. Kiev: Prolog. (In Russian)

24. Novoselov, M. A. (2003) Dogma and Mysticism in Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. Moscow: Lepta-Press. EDN: QTDHJP. (In Russian)

25. Popov, I. V. (2004) Works on Patrology. Vol. 1. Sergiev Posad. (In Russian)

26. Poulain, A. “Mystical Theology”, in Catholic Encyclopedia [https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14621a.htm, accessed on 27.01.2025].

27. Régnon, Th. de. (1973) Études de théologie positive sur la Sainte Trinité, Troisieme serie. Paris: Victor Retaux.

28. Rorem, P. (1993) Pseudo-Dionysius: A Commentary on the Texts and an Introduction to their Influence. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

29. Russell, N. (2004) The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

30. Schäfer, Chr. (2022) “Hugo Koch and Josef Stiglmayr on Dionysius and Proclus”, in The Oxford Handbook of Dionysius the Areopagite, pp. 569–583. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

31. Solov’ev, V. S. (1896) “Mysticism”, in Encyclopedic Dictionary, Vol. XIX, pp. 454–456. St. Petersburg: F. A. Brokgauz, I. A. Efron. (In Russian)

32. Tuberovskii, A. M. (1998) The Resurrection of Christ (An Essay on the Mystical Ideology of the Paschal Dogma). St. Petersburg: Voskresenie. (In Russian)

33. Williams, R. (2009) Lossky’s Theology: Exposition and Critique. Kiev: Dukh i litera. (In Russian)