THE SACRAMENT OF THE SYNAXIS IN THE CORPUS DIONYSIACUM AND IN ST MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR

Abstract

The fi rst and true communion with Jesus is considered in Corpus Dionysiacum (CD) to be noetic contemplation and knowledge. The communion by means of the Eu-charistic bread and wine is called the participation «as in image» or «symbolic». How-ever, it is possible to speak of eucharistic realism in the CD because there is the real presence of Jesus Christ in the sacrament. The reality of divine presence is guaranteed by a specifi c understanding of the symbol in the CD, similar to that in the theurgic Neo-platonism of Iamblichus and Proclus.The Eucharist in St Maximus the Confessor should be viewed within the framework of his teaching on the threefold Incarnation of the Logos: in the World, in the Scripture, and in history. Maximus compares the consuming of the noetic logoi with the receiving the body and the blood of the Lord. Following the CD, Maximus too views the Eucha-ristic rite as symbolic and, at the same time, speaks of the reality of human salvation and theosis in the Eucharist.

Keywords

• sacrament
• Eucharist
• symbol
• communion
• (Pseudo-)Dionysius Ar-eopagita
• St Maximus the Confessor