Oration on the Dignity of Man

the veil does not hide the image of God. Yes, Moses commands this of us and, in commanding, convinces and urges us that through philosophy we should prepare ourselves for future heavenly glory. In reality, however, it is not only the Christian and Mosaic mysteries, but also the theology of the ancients—about which I intend to debate—that reveal to us the progress and dignity of the liberal arts. Do those initiated into the Greek mysteries desire anything else for themselves? For the very first among them, who purifies himself through morality and dialectic—the "purifying pursuits," as we call them—will be admitted to the mysteries! But what else can participation in the mysteries be, if not the explanation of the secrets of nature through philosophy? Only after they have been prepared in this way will this epopteia original: "эпоптейя"; from the Greek epopteia, the final stage of initiation in the Eleusinian mysteries, meaning "direct vision" or "revelation." occur, that is, the vision of divine matters through the light of theology.

And who would not seek initiation into these mysteries? Who, disregarding all things earthly, despising the gifts of fortune, and caring nothing for the body, would not wish to become a table-companion of the gods while still living on earth? Who would not wish, having received the gift of immortality, to drink the nectar—though a mortal being themselves! Who would not want to be so enchanted by Plato’s Phaedrus 20 and so inspired by the ecstasy of Socrates that they might escape this world—the dwelling place of the devil—on wings and quickly reach the heavenly Jerusalem! We shall be stirred, fathers, by the delights of Socrates, which lead us so far beyond the limits of reason that they elevate us and our intellect to God. These delights will stir us all the more if we ourselves first set in motion that which is within us.

And indeed, if through morality the powers of passion are strained to their proper rational limits so that they agree with one another in an unbreakable harmony, and if through dialectic the intellect is developed, then, aroused by the heat of the Muses, we shall drink of heavenly harmony. Then Bacchus, the leader of the Muses, in his mysteries—the visible manifestations of nature—revealing to us who have become philosophers the secrets of God, will nourish us from the riches of God's house. In that house, if we remain faithful like Moses, we shall approach sacred theology and be inspired by a double fervor. And when we ascend to the highest peak, comparing in eternity all that was, is, and shall be, and contemplating original beauty, we shall become the prophets of Phoebus Another name for Apollo, the god of light, prophecy, and music., his winged devotees; and then, as if stirred by a rush of inexpressible love, like the burning Seraphim The highest order of angels, whose name means "the burning ones," representing intense divine love. surrounding us, we, filled with the deity, shall become that which created us.

If anyone investigates the meaning and secret significance of the sacred names of Apollo, they will see that they testify to the fact that God is a philosopher no less than a prophet.

And since Ammonius 21 has spoken sufficiently The original Russian text contains a typo "досточно" for "достаточно" (sufficiently). fully about this, I have no reason to speak of it otherwise. Oh, fathers, let the three Delphic rules take possession of the soul—rules especially necessary for those who intend to enter the most holy and august temple of the true, not false, Apollo, who illuminates every soul entering this world! You will see that we were inspired only by the fact that we dedicated all our strength to the tripartite philosophy of which we now speak. The famous "nothing in excess," according to