GIOVANNI CLIMACO. – Called Climaco (the Ladder) from his work *Scala del Paradiso* [The Ladder of Paradise]. He lived in the 7th century on Mount Sinai as a hermit and abbot of the famous monastery. His *Scala* is divided into 30 books, corresponding to the thirty years of the hidden life of Jesus. The final stage of asceticism is *apatheia*, which grants access to the life of the *hesychast* (contemplative life) and mystical prayer. Giovanni’s mysticism is influenced by Evagrius Ponticus; prayer in the form of a monologue (the name of Jesus) is recommended. In mystical rapture, the soul beholds the infinite light of God.
Bibl.: Ed.: PG 88, 632–1161. Greek text with introduction, translation, and notes by P. Trevisan (*Corona Patrum Salesiana*, 8–9), Turin 1941. On G. V. Krumbacher, p. 143 sq.; L. Petit, s.V. in DThC, VIII, cols. 690–693; S. Rabois-Bousquet–St. Salaville, in *Échos d’Orient*, 26 (1923), pp. 400 sq.; A. Sandreau, *La doctrine spirituelle de St Jean C.*, in *La Vie spirituelle*, 9 (1924), pp. 352–70; J. Hausherr, *La méthode d’oraison hésychaste*, Rome 1927, p. 135 sq.; Bardenhewer, V. (1932), pp. 79–92; M. Viller–K. Rahner, *Ascese und Mystik in der Väterzeit*, Freiburg 1939, p. 155 sq.; G. Graf, *Geschichte der christlich-arabischen Literatur*. I (*Studi e Testi*, 118), Vatican City 1944, pp. 409 sq.