Orthodox Icon of Saint John of the Ladder

Saint John of the Ladder

March 30th
Troparion (Tone 3)
Thou hast set up a holy ladder by thy words and hast shone forth as a teacher of monks; thou dost lead us, O John, from the purification that comes from discipline to the light of the Divine Vision. O righteous father, pray to Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

The author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent came to Mt. Sinai when he was 16 and remained there until he died at the age of 80, in about 649. His biographer said of him: "He brought his body up to Mount Sinai, but his spirit he brought to the Mount of Heaven." He spent nineteen years in obedience to his spiritual father, Martyrios. After the Martyrios' repose, John retreated to a cave, where he lived for 20 years in strict asceticism. At the importunate urging of the brethren, John accepted the abbacy, and guided them with loving zeal. A monk reproached him for being too verbose, so he was silent for an entire year, not uttering a single word until the brethren begged him to speak. During the year of silence in the cave, John wrote many books, including The Ladder. Once, 600 pilgrims came to Mount Sinai. At supper they noticed a young man dressed as a Jew serving at table and giving orders to the other servants, taking charge of everything. Suddenly, he disappeared. While everyone was discussing this, John said: "Do not bother to look for him; that was the prophet Moses serving you in his own home." Before his death, John appointed his brother George to succeed him as Abbot. George was grieved at parting with his brother, so John said that if he got close to the Throne in Glory, he would ask that George could join him within the year. George reposed ten months later. His banner reads: "Meekness is the precursor of all humility." He is also known as St. John of Climacos.

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas and is at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Oakland, PA.

Order # sgp-21