Alphabetical index to the book of St. John Climacus called "The Ladder"

The famous work of St. John Climacus “The Ladder” was written at the end of the 6th century. at the request of Rev. John of Raifa, abbot of the Raifa monastery. The image of the “Ladder” is borrowed from the Bible, which describes the vision of Jacob’s Ladder, along which angels ascend and descend (Gen. 28:12). The work belongs to the category of spiritual ascetic literature and consists of 30 chapters, representing the “steps” of virtues along which a Christian must ascend on the path to spiritual perfection. The number of steps has a symbolic meaning, which is revealed in the preface: 30 years is the age at which Jesus Christ began his public ministry. The 30 steps are believed to symbolize spiritual growth and maturity in faith, just as Christ achieved His calling at the age of 30. The image of a ladder in relation to spiritual life indicates, on the one hand, the need for spiritual improvement and elevation to God, on the other hand, gradualness in this elevation: - steps 1-4: struggle with worldly vanity (renunciation of worldly life, impartiality, wandering, obedience); - steps 5-7: sorrow on the path to true bliss (repentance, mortal memory, crying); - steps 8-26: fight against vices (silence, chastity, bodily vigil, etc.); - steps 27-29: spiritual peace (silence of soul and body, prayer, dispassion); - step 30: the top of the path is the union of the three main virtues (faith, hope and love). The ideal of a Christian is a monk (ascetic), whose life is based on kindness, fasting and chastity. Enslavement of man to the passions of St. John Climacus calls slavery and illness, as they are overcome, the corresponding virtues are acquired. He describes the process of the emergence of passion, consisting of 6 stages: preposition, combination, consent, captivity, struggle and passion. The teaching of St. Joanna reaches the top of Mount Sinai: silence and vision of God. The most widespread in Russia is the Slavic translation of “The Ladder”, made by St. Paisiy (Velichkovsky), and its Russified version, prepared for publication by Optina Hermitage with the participation of Hierom. Clement (Zederholm), as well as the elders St. Ambrose (Grenkov) and St. Makariy (Ivanov), who compiled the indexes at the end of the book. The indexes are called “Alphabetical index to the book of St. John Climacus, called “The Ladder”” and are presented in this publication. Contents A Habakir Abraham Adam Akaki Angels B God Love of God Vigil Silence and hermitage Impartiality Dispassion Dishonor and vexation Conversation Grace Piety Neighbor Harlotry Sickness Struggle and spiritual warfare Demons C Vision and deed Abstinence and fasting Will Enemy Time Faith D Anger and rage Pride Sin E Gift Insolence or free conversion Virtue Dogmas Friend Soul E Heresy F Thirst Woman Z Envy Law Commandments Call to spiritual life Evil And Change John Sabbat Job Joseph Isidore Hesychius Temptations Testing oneself Confession. K Kelly Slander and slander Meekness and lack of anger L Lie Cunning and hypocrisy Laziness Love Curiosity M About Macedonia. Mercy and almsgiving About Mina. Peace of mind, or tranquility Peace Silence Monk Moses Torment and eternal fire N Hope Mentor and teacher Weakness Insensibility and hardness of heart Poverty and non-covetousness Morality O Abode and community Reproof Custom or skill Condemnation Despair Renunciation of the world P Shepherd Paul Memory malice Sadness Sacred Scripture Crying and tenderness Carnal warfare Flesh Deeds Repentance and Confession Thoughts Care of Crawls and Falls Obedience Praise Idle talk and verbosity Prelest Prediction and contradiction Predilection Divine Providence Simplicity and righteousness Psalmody The narrow path Hymn R Joy Reasoning Robber Parents and relatives Handicrafts. C Self-love Sacred Heart Sorrow Glory Voluptuousness Tears Humility About sleep and dreams Temptation Perfection Conscience Love of money Stephen Passions Fear of God Destiny of God Laughter T Prison Spiritual warmth and zeal Patience Meal Vanity Body - flesh U Tenderness Mind Dejection Spiritual success X Christianity Blasphemy C Chastity and purity H Gluttony and gluttony Feelings Y Young I Language You might be interested in: