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St. John of the Ladder

St. John Climacus was born in Palestine in the sixth century and spent the first sixteen years of his life in that area. While still a young man, he went to the Monastery of St. Catherine at Mt. Sinai, the oldest Christian monastery in the world, and there became one of the worlds’ most scholarly Christian monks. St. John felt at home in this desert retreat and was inspired by this proximity to God. This inspiration caused him to author writings that have illumined the church throughout the years. One of these many writings is the masterful “Ladder of Divine Ascent.” In the “Ladder of Divine Ascent”, St. John enumerates the steps necessary and the violet effort needed for entrance into God’s Kingdom. He encourages the faithful in their efforts for, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

For more than seventy years, John of the Ladder achieved such a reputation for piety and wisdom that men from all walks of life made a pilgrimage to his retreat. He died on March 30 at the age of eighty-six and his feast day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

Martyrs Terence, Africanos, Maximos, Pompeios and 36 Others

In the third century, another wave of persecutions began for those who would not worship idols, this time in Africa. Many succumbed to idol worship, but these forty remained steadfast. Thirty-six were flogged and beheaded. The four who were imprisoned with chains, witnessed miracles. An angel of God touched their chains and they fell away. Then the angel brought them food and saw that they ate. They were tortured and placed in prison with venomous snakes and scorpions, but they were not attacked, however, those who opened the prison doors to check on the four, were bitten. Finally, the saints went to their death singing psalms and hymns.