Published: 2022-12-27

The role of the body in the spiritual struggle in “the ladder of divine ascent” by St. John Climacus

Arkadiusz Jasiewicz
Seminare. Learned Investigations
Section: Theology
https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.2014.4.02

Abstract

Through His incarnation, Christ sanctified all of material creation, including the human body, which thereby became a channel of God’s grace. This theme of the glorified body is central to patristic and ascetic spirituality. Thus, Climacus adopts a similar attitude and represents the body as a “friend,” an “ally,” an “assistant” and a “defender.” Climacus’ theology in no way negates the meaning of the body though he speaks of three different, yet fundamentally similar, ways of carrying out this ascetic struggle: isolation (apotagê, kseniteia), the “royal” way and mortification. Although the body was destroyed by original sin, it is not by its nature sinful or sacred; but it may be sanctified. John Climacus simply informs his readers that transfiguration is possible here and now.

Keywords:

body, struggle, monk, renunciation, mortify

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Jasiewicz, A. (2022). The role of the body in the spiritual struggle in “the ladder of divine ascent” by St. John Climacus . Seminare. Learned Investigations, 35(4), 23–33. https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.2014.4.02

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