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[[Image:Ladder_of_Divine_AscentLadder of Divine Ascent.jpg|right|frame|[[Ladder of Divine Ascent icon|Icon of the Ladder of Divine Ascent ]] ([[St. Catherine's Monastery(Sinai)|St. Catherine's Monastery]], Sinai Peninsula, Egypt) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Ladder_of_Divine_Ascent_Monastery_of_St_Catherine_Sinai_12th_century.jpg And here's a much bigger image of a similar icon] ]]'''''The Ladder of Divine Ascent''''' is an [[asceticism|ascetical ]] treatise on avoiding vice and practicing virtue so that at the end, [[salvation ]] can be obtained. Written by St. [[Saint]] [[John Climacus]] initially for monastics[[monastic]]s, it has become one of the most highly influential and important works used by the Church as far as guiding the faithful to a God-centered life, second only to [[Holy Scripture]].{{spirituality}}

There is also a related [[icon ]] known by the same title. It depicts many people people climbing a ladder; at the top is [[Jesus Christ]], prepared to receive the climbers into [[Heaven]]. Also shown are angels [[angel]]s helping the climbers, and demons [[demon]]s attempting to shoot with arrows or drag down the climbers, no matter how high up the ladder they may be. Most versions of the icon show at least one person falling.

John, whilst a hermit living at the Sinai Peninsula, was recognized for his humility, obedience, wisdom (which This work was attained through spiritual experience) and discrenmentinitially used by monastics. He already had a reputation for being extremely knowledgable on practicing a holy lifeIn fact it is read by monastics to this day during the [[Great Fast]]. St. John, igumen It is also suggested as Lenten reading for those who are still "of this world"; yet this should be done with caution and under the Raithu Monastery one day asked St. John Climacus (also known as John guidance of Sinai) to write down his wisdom in a bookspiritual father. At first hesistant to take This work has made its mark on such a taskthe lives of innumerable saints, John of Sinai honored including St. [[Theodore the request and he proceeded to write ''The LadderStudite]], St.'' Sergius of Radonezh, St. John Climacus (called such because [[Joseph of this work) and his writing ''The Ladder'' (later called ''The Ladder Volokolamsk]], St. Peter of Divine Ascent'') has been compared to the Holy Prophet Damascus, and God-seer Moses receiving St. [[Theophan the LawRecluse]], amongst many others.

This work was used by monastics== Structure and purpose ==The aim of the treatise is to be a guide for practicing a life completely and wholly devoted to God. In fact it is read The ladder metaphor—not dissimilar to the vision that the [[Patriarch]] Jacob received—is used to describe how one may ascend into heaven by monastics, to this day, during first renouncing the Great Fastworld and finally ending up in heaven with God. It is also suggested as Lenten reading for those who There are still "of this world" yet should be done with caution and under the guidance of thirty chapters; each covers a spiritual fatherparticular vice or virtue. This work has made its mark on other peopleThey were originally called ''s lives namely St. Theodore logoi,'' but in the Studitepresent day, Stthey are referred to as "steps. Sergius of Radonezh" The sayings are not so much rules and regulations, as with the Law that St. Joseph of VolokolamskMoses received at Sinai, Stbut rather observations about what is being practiced. Peter Metaphorical language is employed frequently to better illustrate the nature of Damascusvirtue and vice. Overall, St. Theophan the Recluse amongst many otherstreatise does follow a progression that transitions from start (renunciation of the world) to finish (a life lived in love).

== Structure and Purpose == The whole aim of the treatise is that it is a guide for practicing a life completely and wholly devoted to God. The ladder metaphor - not dissimilar to the vision that the Patriarch Jacob received - is used to describe one would ascend into heaven by first renouncing the world and ending up in heaven with God. There are thirty chapters that each covers a particular vice or virtue. They were originally called ''logoi'' but in the present day, they are referred to as "steps." The sayings are not so much rules and regulations, as with the Law that St. Moses received at Sinai before him, but rather observations about what is being practiced. Metaphorical language is employed frequently to better illustrate the nature of virtue and vice. Overall, the treatise does follow a progression that transitions from start (renunciation of the world) to finish (a life lived in love). Here are the steps:===

#On mad [[pride ]] and (in the same Step) on unclean blasphemous thoughts; concerning unmentionable blasphemous thoughts

== Guide to Reading reading ''The Ladder'' ==Like with other ascetical and spiritual texts, this one should be read carefully. Since the original audience was those practicing the monastic life, the language is very strong when contrasting the life of the world and the life devoted to God. This is one of the reasons why this work should be read under the guidance of a spiritual father. This work can be read at once with careful attention and intense concentration, trying to replicate as much as possible the monastic life. Yet it can also be read in its individual steps as well. The bottom line is that a spiritual father should be there as a guiding hand with this work.

Like with other ascetical and spiritual texts==English language editions==''The Ladder of Divine Ascent'', this one should be read carefullypublished by [http://www.thehtm.org/ Holy Transfiguration Monastery]. Since the original audience were those practicing the monastic life(ISBN 0943405033) This edition, the language based on [[Archimandrite]] [[Lazarus (Moore)|Lazarus Moore's]] translation is very strong when contrasting generally preferred over the life Paulist Press edition of the world and the life devoted to God. This is one ''Ladder''—especially because of the reasons why this work should be read under verse numberings, which are the guidance standard way of referencing Climacus' sayings (these are also present in older versions of a spiritual fatherArchimandrite Lazarus' translation). This work can be read at once with careful attention It is also physically beautiful and intense concentration, trying much nicer to replicate as much as possible the monastic lifehave on one's bookshelf. Yet this work can also be read in its individual steps as well. It contains an icon of "The bottom line Ladder," many other embellishments, and is printed on high quality paper. All that a spiritual father should be there to be a guiding hand with this worksaid, the Paulist Press edition is also worth having, especially because of the helpful introduction by [[Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia|Bishop Kallistos]].

==English Language Editions==*Luibheid, Colm; Russell, Norman. ''John Climacus: The Ladder of Divine Ascent'', published by [http://www.thehtmPaulist Press.org/ Holy Transfiguration Monastery[ISBN 0809123304]*Mack, John. This edition, based on Archimandrite Lazarus Moore''Ascending the Heights: A Layman's translation is generally preferred over the Paulist Press edition of Guide to the ''Ladder'' - especially because of the verse numberings, which are the standard way of referencing ClimacusDivine Ascent' sayings (these are also present in older versions of Archimandrite Lazarus' translation). It is [ISBN 1888212179] == See also physically beautiful and much nicer to have on one's bookshelf. It contains an icon of "The Ladder," many other embellishments, and is printed on high quality paper. All that said, the Paulist Press edition is also worth having, especially because of the helpful introduction by ==*[[Kallistos (Ware) Ladder of Diokleia|Bishop KallistosDivine Ascent Icon]].