“One can climb – at
once – to the 30th step by practicing humility and love. Because, love and
humility surpass any virtue”.
(Metropolitan
Anthonie Plamadeala)
Found
mostly in older churches and monasteries, “The Ladder to Heaven” is the
iconographic image of St. John Climacus book called “The Ladder of Divine
Ascent”. The book and the icon are also known as “Leastvita,” in Slavonic “the
ladder”.
St.
John Climacus lived between 579-649 in the monastic community of St. Catherine
of Mount Sinai; for many struggles he took on in this monastery, he is also
called “St. John of Sinai”.
St.
John entered the Sinai community at the age of 16, after having been instructed
in many sciences of the time. For about nineteen years, the saint had as holy
confessor, the Blessed Martyrios of Sinai. After the passing away of his elder,
St. John withdraws into the desert, in the cell called Thola(s), few kilometers
from the monastery of Sinai. In this solitary place, Saint John will continue
his ascetic struggle for forty years.
At the request
of the monastic community of Mt. Sinai, St. John became the abbot and spiritual
instructor of the convent. Later, at the request of Blessed John form Raitt,
saint John will write “The Latter of Divine Ascent”, a book divided into thirty
chapters or steps necessary for salvation. This work was translated into many
languages and became an important part of the Philokalia.
The Ladder of Divine Ascent in iconography
According
to the writings of Dionysius of Furnas, recorded in his book “The Erminia of
Byzantine painting”, the icon often called “The ladder of/to Heaven” is closely
related to the work of St. John of the Ladder. It should be noted that the
ladder of salvation does not pertain only to the monastics, but also to the
Christians in the world, whether married or not (see commentaries of St.
Theophan the Recluse on The Ladder, Instructions for the layman).
A monastic
community is depicted at the bottom of the icon, on both the right and the left
sides. Monks of different ages are represented standing at the gate of the
monastery and looking towards the ladder. The Ladder of Divine Ascent, shows
thirty steps by the number of chapters (stages) written in St. John Climacus’
book. In some iconographic representations, the Ladder has 33 steps according
to the number of years Christ lived on earth.
The
Ladder is placed in an inclined position with its lower-end supported on the
ground and its upper-end touching the Heaven. Monks are represented on the
entire length of the ladder, climbing towards Heaven. These monks are an
imagine of the spiritual life: some are just reflecting, others set foot on the
first step, some are climbing slowly, others rise more quickly, some other fall
off the ladder (from all levels), while others reach its end where Christ
awaits them.
The top of the
ladder depicts many angelic figures, each helping one monk on his way to
salvation; while some monks are just guided by the angels, others are taken by
the hands. At the bottom of the ladder, we can see more or less creepy figures,
which represent the devils, each striving to pull down a soul. Some monks look
unhindered towards Christ, while others barely keep one foot on every single
step. Few angels are working to remove the demons with long spears.
At
the last portion of the ladder, our Savior is portrayed in a bright medallion/
light. The monk on the last rung of the ladder is depicted as being old and
wise, clothed in humility and looking towards Christ. In return, our Savior
catches him by the hand, while crowing his head with the crown of victory.
At
the bottom of the icon, a terrifying dragon with its mouth wide open imagines
hell. Between the sharp teeth of the dragon is a fallen monk, while others are
about to fall.
In
some iconographic representations, St. John Climacus himself is painted
directing the monks towards salvation, while holding a paper roll in his hands
that reads: “My brother struggle with all thy power so you may be pardoned from
your many wretched sins. With many hard labors and good deeds on those steps
rise up, awaking your mind with exhausting vigils.”
Source: https://orthodoxword.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/the-ladder-of-divine-ascent-in-iconography/
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