Why a 7th-century monk’s guide to heaven became a foundational text for modern philosophy

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: John Climacus, a Byzantine hermit, authored a thirty-step manual for spiritual perfection that remains a cornerstone of Orthodox monastic life. While his work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, maps the soul's climb toward God, his own life story is a blend of hagiography and contested historical reality.

John Climacus, also known as John of the Ladder or John Sinaites, lived between approximately 579 and 649. While traditional accounts, such as the ancient biography by Daniel of Raithu, claim he entered the monastery at Mount Sinai as a novice at age sixteen, modern scholarship suggests this narrative is likely a pious fabrication. The sophisticated rhetorical style and philosophical depth of his writing point toward a formal academic background in law and administration, suggesting he likely spent his early adulthood living near the sea, possibly in Gaza, before entering monastic life in his forties.

His primary work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, was written in the early 7th century at the request of the abbot of Raithu. The text is structured into thirty chapters, mirroring the thirty years of Jesus's life before his public ministry. It serves as a guide for the Hesychast tradition, a method of prayer involving controlled breathing and repetitive formulas. The book is organized into three distinct sections: the first seven steps outline general virtues, the next nineteen focus on overcoming vices, and the final four address the highest spiritual states, culminating in love.

The enduring influence of the text is evident in its continued use during Great Lent in Orthodox monasteries. Beyond its religious impact, the figure of John Climacus left a mark on secular intellectual history; the 19th-century philosopher Søren Kierkegaard famously adopted the pseudonym Johannes Climacus for several of his works. Whether viewed as an ascetic saint or a learned scholar, John remains a pivotal figure whose work bridges the gap between ancient mystical practice and the rigorous demands of philosophical inquiry.

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