The Longing for Paradise: Reflections on Paradise Among Scholars in the Circle of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

In the past two decades, research into Byzantine eschatology and conceptions of the afterlife has greatly enriched scholarly understanding of paradise in Byzantine literature and art. While the early and middle Byzantine periods have received significant attention, particularly with respect to visionary narratives of holy ascetics and saints that shaped both literary and visual traditions, the late Byzantine era remains comparatively understudied. Existing analyses are largely confined to laudes Constantinopolitani and imperial panegyrics depicting Constantinople as a terrestrial reflection of paradise. To date, no systematic investigation has addressed how individual scholars within the intellectual orbit of the Patriarchate of Constantinople articulated and engaged with the concept of paradise. The extant scholarship remains fragmentary, offering only partial insights. Yet, in the 14th and 15th centuries, contemplation of the Last Judgement and posthumous destiny constituted a profound existential concern. The fear of eternal damnation and the aspiration for entry into heavenly paradise shaped theological and philosophical discourse during this period. These developments were reinforced by intensified engagement with Latin ecclesiastical literature, predominantly polemical in nature, as well as by a growing awareness of Islamic theological perspectives as a distinct intellectual framework. Despite their rejection, these encounters significantly influenced the evolution of contemporary conceptions of paradise. This paper analyses the literary works of patriarchs and scholars connected to the patriarchal milieu, alongside manuscripts commissioned and owned by them. It seeks to offer a comprehensive reconstruction of the conceptualisations of paradise in both literary and artistic domains. Furthermore, it evaluates the hypothesis that, during times of crisis, a nostalgic yearning for humanity’s primordial state in paradise became a discernible motif in these cultural productions.