[St. Pachomius Library]
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THE LETTERS OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS DIONYSIUS, CALLED AREOPAGITE, BISHOP OF ATHENS AND DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLES:
Letter Two: To Gaius Therapeutes

Translated by Rev. John Parker, 1897.


Letter II

To Gaius Therapeutes:

How is He, Who is beyond all, both above "source of Divinity" and above "source of Good"? [It is possible] provided you understand Deity and Goodness as the very Actuality of the Good-making and God-making gift, and the inimitable imitation of the super-divine and super-good (gift), by aid of which we are deified and made good. For, moreover, if this becomes source of the deification and making good of those who are being deified and made good, He, -- Who is super-source of every source, even of the so-called Deity and Goodness, seeing He is beyond source of Divinity and source of Goodness, in so far as He is inimitable, and not to be retained -- excels the imitations and retentions, and the things which are imitated and those participating.

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    The St. Pachomius Orthodox Library, St. John the Theologian, 1998.

    Have mercy, O Lord, upon Thy servants the translator John and the scribe Barton.

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    THE END, AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

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