The Ladder of Divine Ascent - A Treasure of Orthodox Christian Tradition

Available from Orthodox Christian Recorded Books

This ancient classic of Orthodox spirituality is now in audio CD
format. The writings of St John of the Ladder are deep, and
require reflection and prayer for us to be able to understand
and assimilate. The Ladder represents, in a nutshell, the
mindset of the Orthodox way of life. How wonderful that this
resource is now available in the form of this readily 
accessible media!
"Saint John's Ladder expresses the Orthodox view that spiritual
perfection, theosis, salvation is not something attained all at
once, as by a leap, but comes after a long arduous process
spiritual striving or askesis. In this process, with sustained effort
one rises gradually from lower to higher and higher levels of
spiritual development. Thus, in the ninth step, St John remarks:
"The holy virtues are like Jacob's Ladder. For the virtues, leading
from one to another, bear him who chooses them to Heaven."

Commenting on this, Saint Symeon the New Theologian says:
"Those who want to climb these steps climb the first rung of the
Ladder, then the second, then the third, and so on.... In this way
one can rise from earth to Heaven" (Tou Hosiou Symeon tou
Neou Theologou ta Heuriskomena Panta, p. 368). The first step

of spiritual ascent, says Climacos, "consists in these three 

virtues: guilelessness (or truthfulness), fasting, and temperance.
All babes in Christ begin with these virtues, taking as their
model natural babes. For in these you will never find anything sly
or deceitful. And they have no insatiate appetite, no insatiable
stomach, no body that is on fire or bestialized." These three
virtues will serve, he says, as a secure foundation for the rest."
 Source

 

 
Patriarch Jacob' Dream Source