The Symbolism of the Ladder of Spiritual Ascent
by St. John Climacus: text and image
The Symbolism of the Ladder of Spiritual Ascent
by St. John Climacus: text and image
Author(s): Elena Ene D-VasilescuSubject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, History of Art
Published by: Editura Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi
Keywords: Byzantium; icons; the treatise of the Heavenly Ladder; John Climacus; the Ladder of Ascent; Byzantine art;
Summary/Abstract: The paper underlines a notion which is not usually touched upon when the treatise Scala Paradisi by John Climacus is discussed: that according to which the people who reached the top of the ladder of virtues and thus attain theôsis, continue to develop even after that process takes place. Therefore, their souls still undergo epekstasis. My text also pinpoints a few elements of symbolism which the visual motif of the Celestial Ladder entails, and which were not included in my chapter “The Last Wonderful thing. The icon of the Heavenly Ladder” within the book Wonderful Things. Byzantium through its Art. Additionally, the paper includes new images that do not exist in the above-mentioned publication.
Journal: Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii »Alexandru Ioan Cuza« din Iaşi. Teologie Ortodoxă
- Issue Year: 26/2021
- Issue No: 2
- Page Range: 35-61
- Page Count: 26
- Language: English