GIOVANNI CLIMACO. - Called Climaco (ladder) after his work Scala del Paradiso. He lived in the 7th century on Sinai as a hermit and abbot of the famous monastery. His Scala is divided into 30 books, according to the thirty years of Jesus’ hidden life. The final stage of asceticism is « apatheia », which gives access to the life of the « hesychast » (contemplative life) and to mystical prayer. G.’s mysticism is under the influence of Evagrio Pontico; prayer in the form of a monologue (the name of Jesus) is recommended. In mystical rapture the soul sees 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), Torino 1941. On G., V. Krumbacher, p. 143 sg.; L. Petit, s. V. in DThC, VIII, cols. 690-93; S. Rabois-Bousquetet-S. Salaville, in Echos d'Orient, 26 (1923), p. 400 sg.; A. Sandresu, La doctrine spirituelle de St Jean C., in La Vie spirituelle, 9 (1924), pp. 352-70; J. Hausherr, La méthode d'oraison hésychaste, Roma 1927, p. 135 sg.; Bardenhewer, V (1932), pp. 79-92; M. Viller-K. Rahner, Aizese und Mystik in der Väterzeit, Eriburgo 1939, p. 135 sg.; G. Graf, Geschichte der christlich-arabischen Literatur, I (Studi e Testi, 118), Città del Vaticano 1944, p. 409 sg.