Saint John Climacus

On the fourth Sunday of the Great Fast we commemorate Saint John Climacus, or Saint John of the Ladder, a 6th century abbot and advocate of Christian asceticism.

St. John's book, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" sets out the whole of Christian life as a divine ascent of thirty, short and practical steps to Christ. His recommendations are designed to engage the soul.

We celebrate St. John and his ascetic example of how we can avoid vice and practice virtue, and thus obtain salvation.

"And Jesus said to him, 'If you can! All things are possible to him who believes. `Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:23-25)