John Climacus, St

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John Climacus, St (c.579–c.649). Abbot of Sinai and Christian spiritual writer. The surname (Gk., klimax, ‘ladder’) comes from the work of his old age, the Ladder of Divine Ascent. The ladder has thirty ‘steps’ (chapters), leading to a God-centred life. The work has been very influential in E. Christian spirituality, e.g. among the Hesychasts, and is prescribed for reading in Lent in Orthodox monasteries.

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