ENArticle presents an analysis of the notion of life as one of the divine names in the context of the doctrine of the Christian Neoplatonic philosopher traditionally known by the name of Dionysius the Areopagite. The analysis reveals that Dionysius accomplished a radical transformation of one of the essential concepts of Neoplatonic philosophy, that of "participation". This important transformation of the Neoplatonic tradition allowed Dionysius to develop an original and philosophically efficient concept of "life" as one of the gifts of divine prohodos, which are received by complex living beings.