The Image of Paradise in Old Russian Literature

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Category: Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature: Issue 25
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Abstract:

The article is devoted to the conceptions of paradise held by Old Russian literary figures. It analyzes works of Old Russian literature, from the speech of the philosopher before prince Vladimir in the Primary Chronicle to the works of Karion Istomin. Particular attention is paid to the interpretation of notions such as “pristine paradise,” “perfect paradise,” and “thought (Παράδεισος νοητός — intellectually comprehensible) paradise” and their comparison with descriptions of the Kingdom of God and the Heavenly Kingdom. The article gives special consideration to the representations of paradise by the Greek philosopher, archbishop Vasily of Novgorod, archpriest Avvakum, Karion Istomin, and other Old Russian authors. The study also partially touches upon issues related to the purely theological approach to interpreting paradise.
Keywords: Edenic paradise, planted paradise, pristine paradise, perfect paradise, thought paradise, Kingdom of God, Heavenly Kingdom, Heavenly Jerusalem, greek philosopher, Philip the Hermit, archbishop Vasily of Novgorod, archpriest Avvakum, Karion Istomin, Niketas Stefatos
Author: Valery V. Lepakhin
Information about the author:

Valery V. Lepakhin, DSc in Philology, Professor of the Department of Russian Philology, University of Szeged, Dugonics tér 13, 6720 Szeged, Hungary.

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For citation:

Lepakhin, V.V. “The Image of Paradise in Old Russian Literature.”  Germenevtika  drevnerusskoi  literatury  [Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature]. Issue 25. Ed.-in-chief O.A. Tufanova, sci. ed. M.V. Kaplun. Moscow, IWL RAS Publ., 2026, pp. 453–472. https://doi.org/10.22455/HORL.1607-6192-2026-25-453-472 (In Russian)
EDN:

https://elibrary.ru/PVKXUV
UDC: 821.161.1.0
Publication Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22455/HORL.1607-6192-2026-25-453-472

REFERENCES

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