The Ladder of Divine Ascent

The Ladder of Divine Ascent

 The Ladder of Divine Ascent or The Ladder of Paradise. A 12th-century icon described by John Climacus. Monastery of St Catherine, Mount Sinai. St John Climacus described the Christian life as a ladder with thirty rungs. The monks are tempted by demons and encouraged by angels, while Christ welcomes them at the summit.

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“When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing it. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever caused this. For the former fervor can return only through the same door through which it was lost.”

– “The Ladder of Divine Ascent”, Step 1, Passage 12 St. John Climacus

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God belongs to all free beings. He is the life of all, the salvation of all — faithful and unfaithful, just and unjust, pious and impious, passionate and dispassionate, monks and laymen, wise and simple, healthy and sick, young and old — just as the effusion of light, the sight of the sun, and the changes of the seasons are for all alike; ‘for there is no respect of persons with God.’

– St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 1, Passage 3

more: http://www.incommunion.org/2004/10/16/quotes/ 

and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ladder_of_Divine_Ascent