At the resurrection we will not recognise one another': Radical devaluation of social relations in the lost model of anastasius' and pseudo-athanasius' questions and answers

Abstract

The three centuries between 550 and 850 witnessed a debate about the state of human beings after the resurrection. The author of a now lost collection of Questions and Answers asserted that all resurrected would look like Christ in his thirtieth year and who made the further claim that without distinguishing characteristics it would be impossible for the resurrected to recognise people whom they had known during their earthly lives. This article reconstructs the debate surrounding this theory and identifies the factors that led to its emergence. © 2013 by Byzantion. All rights reserved.