The Divine Chorus and the Great Mysteries: Clement of Alexandria’s Vision

Clement of Alexandria’s teachings on spiritual ascent and the divine chorus are deeply intertwined with Platonic and early Christian mystical traditions. In his insightful paper Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark, Scott Brown explores these connections, providing valuable insights into Clement’s thought. This post delves into the relationship between the divine chorus and the great mysteries, highlighting their significance in the context of spiritual ascent.

The Divine Chorus and the Great Mysteries

In Stromateis V.14.138.2–3, Clement quotes a passage from Plato’s Phaedrus (250b–c) that describes the vision of the forms as an initiation into “the most blessed of Mysteries.” Anne Mary Farrell describes this passage as “the most explicit use of Eleusinian Mystery terminology in the Phaedrus.” The passage highlights the connection between the divine chorus and the great mysteries:

“Beauty it was ours to see (ἰδεῖν) in all its brightness (λαμπρόν) in those days when with the happy and blessed chorus (εὐδαίμονι χορῷ) we beheld with our own eyes that blessed vision (μακαρίαν ὄψιν)—we, following Zeus, and others after some other god. We saw and we were initiated (ἐτελοῦντο) into that which is rightly said to be the most blessed of Mysteries (τῶν τελετῶν . . . μακαριωτάτην). We celebrated the secret rites (ὠργιάζομεν) being complete and perfect (ὁλόκληροι) and without suffering the evils that awaited us in time to come. Complete and onefold and still and happy (εὐδαίμονα) also were the apparitions which were revealed to us (ἐποπτεύοντες) as initiates in pure light (αὐγῇ καθαρᾷ), being ourselves pure (καθαροί) and not entombed in this which we carry around with us and call a body, just like an oyster in its shell.”

The Participants in the Divine Chorus

We can infer from Plato’s use of the divine chorus metaphor in Phaedrus that those who stand within the divine chorus are participants in the great mysteries of the immaterial cosmos. This group includes both the gods and the souls of philosophers who have mastered the conflicting impulses of the soul. The realm above the heavens corresponds to the Telesterion, the sanctuary of the great mysteries, where sacred objects and archetypes of reality, such as Beauty and other forms, are revealed.

The Telesterion and the Cosmic Temple

For Plato, the noetic world is likened to the Telesterion, revealing an intrinsic connection between the metaphorical great mysteries and the sanctuary beyond the stars. Clement adopts this imagery, viewing the noetic world as the innermost sanctuary of the cosmic temple. This alignment highlights the significance of spiritual ascent, where the soul progresses through various levels of purification and enlightenment to ultimately participate in the divine chorus and behold the ultimate truths.

Scott Brown's Insights

Scott Brown’s analysis sheds light on how Clement intertwines Platonic and early Christian mystical traditions to convey the process of spiritual ascent. Brown emphasizes the depth and complexity of Clement’s mystical theology, highlighting the connection between the divine chorus, the great mysteries, and the innermost sanctuary of the cosmic temple.

For those interested in exploring these themes further, Scott Brown’s paper Behind the Seven Veils, I: The Gnostic Life Setting of the Mystic Gospel of Mark offers an essential resource. Brown meticulously examines Clement’s cosmology and soteriology, providing readers with a comprehensive perspective on the spiritual ascent envisioned by early Christian mystics.

Conclusion

Clement of Alexandria’s teachings on the divine chorus and the great mysteries offer a rich and detailed vision of spiritual ascent. By connecting Platonic and Christian mystical traditions, Clement provides a structured journey towards the highest forms of knowledge and union with the divine. Scott Brown’s insightful analysis helps us appreciate the depth and complexity of Clement’s mystical theology, offering valuable insights into the hidden mysteries of early Christian spirituality. For a thorough exploration of these profound ideas, Brown’s paper is an invaluable guide.