Saint John Climacus

Saint John Climacus (c. 579–649 AD), whose surname means "of the Ladder" in Greek, was an Abbot of Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai and one of the greatest spiritual writers in the history of the Orthodox Church. He is the author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, a masterpiece of Orthodox ascetic theology that has guided monks and laypeople toward holiness for over fourteen centuries.

The Ladder describes thirty steps of spiritual growth — corresponding to the thirty years of Christ's hidden life — leading the soul from repentance and renunciation of the world to the summit of love, prayer, and union with God. It remains one of the most widely read and beloved books in Orthodox monasticism, read aloud in monasteries throughout Great Lent to this day.

Saint John Climacus is commemorated on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, which bears his name, as well as on March 30. He is depicted in icons holding his famous Ladder, with angels guiding souls upward and demons pulling them down. Browse our handcrafted Orthodox icons and devotional items honoring Saint John Climacus, made in our Ohio workshop using traditional Byzantine embroidery techniques.