Symbol nocy w teorii św. Jana od Krzyża – źródła i konteksty

This article aims to analyze the symbolism of night in the works of John of the Cross focusing on various sources from his era and cultural contexts. The issue of symbolic representation is a key aspect in the study of mystical theory, stemming from Neoplatonic and early Christian concepts of symbol understood as a tool to express what lies beyond logical discourse. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite raised this topic, advocating for apophatic and symbolic theology, constituting an integral part of positive theology. This article examines the meanings of the symbol of night in Sanjuanist doctrine, citing potential inspirations of John of the Cross (such as biblical contexts, motifs from religious writings of the period, examples from secular poetry and its religious adaptations, and outlines the spiritual atmosphere of 16th-century Spain, with particular emphasis on the Alumbrados movement). The questions addressed in this article pertain to the meanings of the symbolism of night, the hidden imagery it contains, and the values it brings to the mystical theory of St. John of the Cross.