The lecture introduces the world of Suhrawardi - a thinker who combined Islamic philosophy, Sufi imagery, and the legacy of ancient thought. The medieval Middle East often seems like a space of distant schools, difficult treatises, and names familiar only to specialists. But behind philosophical concepts are living people whose ideas were born on the road, in debates with teachers and opponents, amidst political conflicts, spiritual practices, and personal quests. Yahya Suhrawardi is one such thinker: his biography is short but filled with journeys through Iran, Syria, and Asia Minor, visions, intellectual courage, and the tensions of the Crusades era. The lecture will discuss how the "philosophy of illumination" emerged - a direction where the legacy of Aristotle, Neoplatonic ideas, and the mystical experience of Sufis came together. A special emphasis will be placed on Suhrawardi's Persian initiatory tales. Where to go in St. Petersburg can be found on our website.