After many years as a hermit on Mount Sinai, he became abbot of its monastery. He wrote The Ladder of Divine Ascent, describing the spiritual life as a climb step by step toward virtue, which deeply influenced East and West.
Life
John Climacus was a seventh-century monk who entered the monastery on Mount Sinai as a young man. For many years he lived as a hermit in prayer and solitude, and many came to seek his wisdom. In later life he was chosen abbot of the Sinai monastery.
He wrote The Ladder of Divine Ascent, which describes spiritual growth as thirty steps. His name "Climacus" comes from the Greek word for ladder. The book deeply shaped monastic life in both East and West. He is thought to have died around 649.
Spirituality
John Climacus' spirituality is steady growth, step by step. He taught that holiness does not come all at once but is a journey of drawing gradually closer to God through humility, repentance and prayer. What matters is getting up and climbing again after a fall.
Reflection
John Climacus compared the life of faith to a ladder. Which step am I standing on now, and what can I do today to move one step closer to God?