Paradise Is Present Here and Now

Paradise is not merely a distant memory or simply a hope for a distant future; it is something vividly experienced and encountered here and now. Our lives unfold between Paradise and Hell. As Nikolai Berdyaev profoundly expresses:

"Our life passes between paradise and hell. We are exiles from paradise, but we have not yet come to hell. In the midst of our world, which is so completely unlike heaven, we think of paradise in the past, at the beginning, and dream of paradise in the future, at the end of things."

Yet Paradise is not solely relegated to memories or dreams. Instead, it continually breaks into our lives, revealing itself through experiences of profound beauty, genuine love, and inspired creativity. Beauty—experienced through nature, art, music, and especially through liturgical worship—awakens within us a deep longing for harmony and transcendence. Such experiences echo the original beauty of creation and remind us that we were created for divine communion.

Saint Ephrem the Syrian expresses this vividly when he writes:

"In his book, Moses described the creation of the natural world,
so that both Nature and Scripture might bear witness to the Creator:
Nature through man's use of it, Scripture through his reading of it;
they clearly reveal to us the hidden beauty of Paradise." 
(Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Paradise, Hymn V, 2)

Saint Symeon the New Theologian similarly expresses the sacramental nature of reality, teaching us that material creation is intended to lead us into direct encounter with God:

“The world is a mirror, reflecting the beauty of God, so that through the visible, we might understand and be drawn to the invisible.”

Paradise is thus accessible through love, not merely as a human emotion but as a participation in God's very life. When we experience authentic relationships, compassion, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice, we become aware of the profound interconnectedness intended by God from the beginning. Love, in fact, makes Paradise present because "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

Creativity, too, is an essential dimension of experiencing Paradise. Nikolai Berdyaev, the Russian Orthodox philosopher, insightfully articulated this:

“Creativity is the very essence of human life, for it is through creative acts that the human person shares directly in divine freedom and the renewal of creation.”

Creativity, therefore, is not merely personal expression but a profound reflection of our divine image, actively cooperating—through synergy (συνεργία)—with God's grace. Through creativity, we participate actively in the restoration and renewal of Paradise within ourselves and the world around us.

The Necessity of Christ’s Incarnation

Yet, none of this would be possible without the Incarnation of Christ. The Incarnation of Christ is the cornerstone of our ability to experience Paradise here and now. The invisible God became visible, making the created world a true meeting point between the human and the divine:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory." (John 1:14)

Christ’s Incarnation proclaims that the material world is inherently sacramental—a genuine means by which we encounter God's presence. Christ, in becoming human, sanctified all creation, revealing Paradise not only as our origin or destiny but also as our present experience.

The Fathers reinforce this truth. Saint Symeon the New Theologian urges us to embrace Paradise now through the presence and energies of the Holy Spirit:

“If you have not yet received the kingdom of heaven within yourself, how will you be able to enter it afterward?” (Saint Symeon the New Theologian, Ethical Discourses)

Saint Symeon emphasizes Paradise as the active presence of divine beauty experienced even now through Christ:

“The soul sees the ineffable beauty of the glory of the face of Christ, brighter than the sun.” (Saint Symeon, Hymns of Divine Love)

The Eschatological Balance

Yet, Orthodox theology reminds us clearly that while Paradise is truly present among us through beauty, love, and creativity, we still anticipate its fullness at the end of time. Our current glimpses of Paradise do not erase our anticipation of its perfect fulfillment at Christ's second coming. The reality we taste now points forward in hope toward ultimate completion.

Thus, Paradise is both here and yet to come—already inaugurated through Christ’s Incarnation, yet awaiting its consummation in the Kingdom. In liturgy, prayer, creative work, and authentic love, Paradise draws near, bridging the gap between memory and hope, between heaven and earth.

In this way, our lives—poised between Paradise and hell—are constantly being drawn upward toward divine communion. While we live amidst struggles and brokenness, God continually reveals to us Paradise through beauty, love, and creativity, inviting us daily into deeper communion with Him, beginning now and continuing eternally.