The Ladder of Our Holy Father Abba John, the Geronda of Mount Sinai. Outline

In the «Ladder», St. John showed how step by step, rung by rung, as if on a spiritual ladder, every Christian should ascend to God. It is very important to have a firm reference point and milestones for this ascent to avoid getting lost along the way, to skillfully and wisely overcome the inevitable obstacles on the path to God, always to see the ultimate goal and the methods of achieving it, or at least the ways of approaching it. The 30 rungs of the «Ladder» teach us to fight not only against sins, but also against the passions that nest within us, cultivate and nurture virtues in us, and help us combat spiritual impurity.