The Ladder of Divine Ascent
St. John of the Ladder

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
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 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. This icon depicts the journey of spiritual discipline and growth that leads to life.

This icon is from St. Katherine's Monastery at Sinai, where St. John was the abbot.

"Like the sun's rays passing through a crack and lighting up the house, show up even the finest dust, the fear of the Lord on entering the heart of a man show up all his sins." - St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent

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