Books of the Ladder of Virtues

The “ladder of virtues” is meant to guide the faithful on their way to redemption, by gradually giving up all that is worldly and ephemeral, in order to gain eternal bliss in heaven. The ladder has thirty rungs, that is thirty chapters about virtues and sins, that can lead to either soul redemption or damnation, in a relatively ascending succession. Thus, first comes world and self denial, then obedience and harsh penitence; liberating weeping and giving up anger, slander, lying, laziness and avarice; chastity and abstinence from bodily desires, the gift of purifying one’s thoughts and the rejection of vain glory; humility, simplicity, kindness, vigils, casting away futile fear, and so on. The highest rungs are dedicated to persistence in praying, contemplation and patience; the quieting of the mind liberated of all worldly unrest, and finally, the one crowning them all, the rung of love, hope and faith in knowing all godly things. The lower part of the ladder is set on earth, and the upper part leans against the stylised canopy of heaven, wherefrom God’s hand appears.

The author of the book is St John the Sinaite, of Syrian origin, who lived either between 525 and 600, or between 579 and 649.

At present, only two of the many books of the ladder of virtues can be found at Putna: one from Stephen the Great’s epoch, written on the premises of the monastery, and another one from the 18th century, from Putna Hermitage.


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