Crossword clues for mystagogue
mystagogue
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mystagogue \Mys"ta*gogue\, n. [L. mystagogus, Gr. ?; ? one initiated in mysteries + ? leading, n., a leader, fr. ? to lead: cf. F. mystagogue. See 1st Mystery.]
One who interprets mysteries, especially of a religious kind.
One who keeps and shows church relics.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. 1 A person who prepares an initiate for entry into a mystery cult, or who teaches mystical doctrines 2 One who keeps and shows church relics.
Wikipedia
A mystagogue (from "person who initiates into mysteries") is a person who initiates others into mystic beliefs, an educator or person who has knowledge of the sacred mysteries. Another word is hierophant.
In ancient mystery religions, a mystagogue would be responsible for leading an initiate into the secret teachings and rituals of the cultus. The initiate would often be blindfolded, and the mystagogue would literally "guide" him into the sacred space.
In the early church, this same concept was used to describe the bishop, who was responsible for seeing to it that the catechumens were properly prepared for baptism. Homilies given to those in the last stages of preparation, and which deal with the sacraments are called "Mystagogical Homilies." Sometimes these mystagogical instructions were not given until after the catechumen had been baptized. The most famous of these mystagogical works are the "Mystagogical Homilies" of St. Cyril of Jerusalem and the work, "On the Mysteries" by St. Ambrose of Milan.
In various organizations, it is the role of the mystagogue to "mystify" pledges. The term is sometimes used to refer to a person who guides people through religious sites, such as churches, and explains the various artifacts. This branch of theology is at times called mystagogy.
In the United States versions of Mystagogical legends predate European contact. Early Native American tribes around the Great Lakes region, prompted the idea that the Mystagogue was a spiritual leader, and upon death would transform into a beast with many heads. The Mystagogue would reappear in his beastly form and feed on those who strayed from the tribe if it was not in keeping with their religious customs.
The historical tradition of the Mystagogue has carried on today through the fraternity system in American universities, that have historically held a position for the Mystagogue at either the chapter or the national level. The Mystagogue is a person of great respect, and his knowledge concerning both the physical and spiritual matters of the organization is not questioned. Similar to Native American traditions the Mystagogue in the Fraternity system has the power to shut down parts of their Fraternity which are not in keeping with customs or tradition.
Max Weber, considered to be one of the founders of the modern study of sociology, described the mystagogue as part magician, part prophet; and as one who dispensed "magical actions that contain the boons of salvation" According to Roy Wallis, "The primary criterion that Weber had in mind in distinguishing the prophet from the mystagogue was that the latter offers a largely magical means of salvation rather than proclaiming a radical religious ethic or an example to be followed."
Usage examples of "mystagogue".
Unlike the religion of books or creeds, these mystic shows and performances were not the reading of a lecture, but the opening of a problem, implying neither exemption from research, nor hostility to philosophy: for, on the contrary, philosophy is the great Mystagogue or Arch-Expounder of symbolism: though the interpretations by the Grecian Philosophy of the old myths and symbols were in many instances as ill-founded, as in others they are correct.
Beau the renunciatory mystagogue, who whatever he was up to would not be occupied as Pierce was.
We have come to the age of the mystagogue or don, the man who has nothing to say, but says it softly and impressively in an indistinct whisper.
Gnostic societies, and the mystagogue was at once knowing one and priest, so also in the Catholic Church the priest is accounted the knowing one.
To Clement and Origen, however, teacher and mystagogue are as closely connected as they are to most Gnostics.
Naphta has something of the mystagogue about him, he interests me a good deal.
To teach us wisdom, and the folly of endeavoring to explain to ourselves that which we are not capable of understanding, we reproduce the speculations of the Philosophers, the Kabalists, the Mystagogues and the Gnostics.
He was clean-shaven, which was unusual for Jevlenese cult gurus and mystagogues, but the countenance thus displayed was perhaps even more striking.
Hear theories from internationally renowned mystagogues on why the hauntings continue to transpire.
The brown book is a collection of the myths of the past, and it has a section listing all the keys of the universeall the things people have said were The Secret after they had talked to mystagogues on far worlds or studied the popul vuh of the magicians, or fasted in the trunks of holy trees.
By chemical and mechanical secrets then in their exclusive possession, the mystagogues worked miracles before the astonished novices.
I saved it from the red-tape empire builders, the obscurantists, the mystagogues, the spies.
Unlike the religion of books or creeds, these mystic shows and performances were not the reading of a lecture, but the opening of a problem, implying neither exemption from research, nor hostility to philosophy: for, on the contrary, philosophy is the great Mystagogue or Arch-Expounder of symbolism: though the interpretations by the Grecian Philosophy of the old myths and symbols were in many instances as ill-founded, as in others they are correct.