SAINT JOHN CLIMACUS

St. John Climacus

Also known as John Scholasticus
Feast day: March 30
Birth: 525
Death: 606


Abbot of Sinai, so called "Climacus" from the title of his famous book, The Climax, or The Ladder of Perfection; also known as John Scholasticus.


Born in Syria or Palestine; died on Mount Sinai on March 30, . 650 many older scholars place his death as early as 600.

"God does not insist or desire that we should mourn in agony of heart; rather, it is His wish that out of love for Him we should rejoice with laughter in our soul. Take away sin and tears become superfluous; where there is no bruise, no ointment is required. Before the fall Adam shed no tears, and in the same way there will be no more tears after the resurrection from the dead when sin has been destroyed. For pain, sorrow, and lamentation will then have fled away."

A learned Syrian abbot and spiritual director, Saint John authored The Ladder to Paradise or Ladder of Perfection, from which he acquires the appellation, "Climacus," which is Greek for "ladder." John's early life is hidden in obscurity. Farmer says that he was married and became a monk at the death of his wife. He joined the monastery of Mount Sinai when he was only 16. His novitiate was spent in a hermitage near the monastery under the discipline of Martyrius. By silence, he learned to curb the insolent need to discuss everything, an ordinary vice in learned men, but usually a mark of pride and self-sufficiency. Instead he adopted humility and obedience, and never contradicted or disputed with anyone. After four years of training with the ancient anchorite, he was professed.

From the age of 35, after the death of Martyrius, John spent many years as a hermit at Thole at the foot of Mount Sinai, where he studied the Scriptures and the lives of the Fathers of the Church. He practiced the normal austerities of the desert monks: frequent fasting, nights of prayer, and abstinence from meat and fish. He is another of the saints who exhibited the gift of tears. Because he became a popular spiritual advisor, who was especially known for his ability to comfort the distraught, he often sought solitude in a nearby cave. When some who were jealous of his gifts accused him of spending too much time in vain discourse, he kept complete silence for a year until the accusers begged him to resume giving counsel. He went to the monastery only to celebrate the Eucharist with his brother monks on Saturdays and Sundays.

When he was about 70, he was elected abbot of the monks of Mount Sinai over his objections. Soon after his election, there was a severe draught in Palestine. The people beseeched him to storms the gates of heaven in intercession for rain. He earnestly begged God on their behalf and it immediately began to rain. John's contemporary, Pope Saint Gregory the Great wrote to the holy abbot asking his prayers, and sent him beds, other furniture, and money for his hospital near Mount Sinai for pilgrims. He governed the monastery until four years before his death in his hermitage on Mount Sinai.

At the request of the abbot of Raithu, John wrote his masterpiece, which uses the vehicle of a spiritual ladder with thirty rungs--one for each year of Christ's earthly life until His baptism--to discuss monastic spirituality and the pursuit of apartheia (passive disinterestedness), which was regarded as a perfect state. This work was enormously popular during the Middle Ages and was published in English in 1959 under the title The ladder of divine ascent. The book was the source of the Byzantine iconographic theme of the ladder to heaven, which is seen at Mount Athos and elsewhere.

In describing a monastery of 330 monks, which he had visited near Alexandria, Egypt, John mentions one of the principal citizens of that city, named Isidore, who, petitioning to be admitted into the house, said to the abbot: "As iron is in the hands of the smith, so am I in your hands." The abbot ordered him to remain outside the gate and to prostrate himself at the feet of every passerby, by, begging their prayers for his soul struck with a leprosy. Thus, he passed seven years in profound humility and patience. He told Saint John that during the first year he always considered himself as a slave condemned for his sins, and sustained violent conflicts. The second year he passed in tranquillity and confidence; and the third with relish and pleasure in his humiliations. So great was his virtue, that the abbot determined to present him to the bishop in order to be promoted to the priesthood, but the humility of the holy penitent prevented it--he begged respite and died within 10 days.

John also admired the cook of this community, who seemed always recollected, and generally bathed in tears amidst his continual occupation. When asked how he nourished so perfect a spirit of compunction in the midst of his busy work, the cook replied that, in serving the monks, he considered that he was serving not men but God in his servants. Additionally, the fire that always burned before his eyes reminded him of that fire which will burn souls for all eternity.

Here are some of the spiritual maxims from Saint John's book:

"Rule you own heart as a king rules over his kingdom, but be subject above all to the supreme ruler, God Himself."

"A person is at the beginning of a prayer when he succeeds in removing distractions which at the beginning beset him. He is at the middle of the prayer when the mind concentrates only on what he is meditating and contemplating. He reaches the end when, with the Lord, the prayer enraptures him."

"Without weapons there is no way of killing wild animals. Without humility there is no way of conquering anger." "It is not without risk that one climbs up a defective ladder. And so with honor, praise, and precedence which are all dangerous for humility."

"In an instant many are pardoned for their mistakes, but no one, in a moment's time, acquires calmness of the soul which requires much time, much trouble and a great deal of help from God." "The one who is dead can no longer walk. The one who despairs can no longer be saved."

"A small fire is enough to burn down an entire forest; a little hole may destroy an entire building." "Just as clouds hide the sun so bad thoughts cast shadows over the soul."

"Birds which are too heavy cannot fly very high. The same is true of those who mistreat their bodies." "A dried-up puddle is of no use for the pigs and a dried up body is of no use to the devils."

"A tool which is in good condition may sharpen one which is not in good condition, and a fervent brother may save the person who is only lukewarm about his faith."

"The one who says he has faith and continues to go against it resembles a face without eyes"

Inevitably, Saint John is portrayed in art as an abbot carrying a ladder or having a vision of monks climbing one