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The Resource The role of death in the Ladder of divine ascent and the Greek ascetic tradition, Jonathan L. Zecher

The role of death in the Ladder of divine ascent and the Greek ascetic tradition, Jonathan L. Zecher

Creator
Author
Summary
The 'Ladder of Divine Ascent', the work of an otherwise shadowy figure, John Climacus (meaning of the Ladder), abbot of St. Catherine's, Sinai (ca. 579-649 CE), is one of the most popular and enduring classics of Greek ascetic spiritual direction. Hailed as the great synthesis of early ascetic writings, the Ladder presents a spirituality self-consciously rooted in the literary and theological tradition of the Desert Fathers and the Great Old Men of Gaza. Despite its incredible popularity among monastic and lay readers, the Ladder is virtually unknown in scholarship. In this work, Jonathan L. Zecher offers a sustained study of the Ladder's spiritual vision, which is contextualized within an equally sustained genealogical survey of Climacus' own tradition. The Ladder is built up through the 'memory of death', a term referring to admonitions of early authors to remember one's inevitable but unknowable death and to contemplate the divine judgment which would follow to cultivate particular ascetic, Christian, lifestyles in their readers. In the literature that formed Climacus, every aspect of the 'memory of death' varied considerably, but Climacus draws these together in the Ladder so that death and the judgment which follows defines a symbolic framework within which monks reflect on their past and approach the future. Climacus also took up metaphorical practices of dying to oneself and others to craft an idea of spiritual progress in the imitation of Christ taking into account failure and frailty. At the heart of this study is the abiding question of how tradition forms, and in the Ladder is an outstanding example of how unflinching fidelity to tradition results in a creative, synthetic achievement
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
First edition.
Extent
xviii, 252 pages
Note
Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Durham, 2011 under the title: The symbolics of death and the construction of Christian asceticism: Greek Patristic voices from the fourth through seventh centuries
Contents
  • John of Sinai and the quest for unity
  • Biblical and philosophical foundations
  • The Life of Antony: embracing death on the ascent to God
  • The Desert Fathers: "Like a body whose soul has departed"
  • The great old men of Gaza: learning to die through obedience
  • The Ladder of divine ascent: death makes the Christian
Isbn
9780198724940
Instance
Label
The role of death in the Ladder of divine ascent and the Greek ascetic tradition
Title
The role of death in the Ladder of divine ascent and the Greek ascetic tradition
Statement of responsibility
Jonathan L. Zecher
Creator
Author
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
The 'Ladder of Divine Ascent', the work of an otherwise shadowy figure, John Climacus (meaning of the Ladder), abbot of St. Catherine's, Sinai (ca. 579-649 CE), is one of the most popular and enduring classics of Greek ascetic spiritual direction. Hailed as the great synthesis of early ascetic writings, the Ladder presents a spirituality self-consciously rooted in the literary and theological tradition of the Desert Fathers and the Great Old Men of Gaza. Despite its incredible popularity among monastic and lay readers, the Ladder is virtually unknown in scholarship. In this work, Jonathan L. Zecher offers a sustained study of the Ladder's spiritual vision, which is contextualized within an equally sustained genealogical survey of Climacus' own tradition. The Ladder is built up through the 'memory of death', a term referring to admonitions of early authors to remember one's inevitable but unknowable death and to contemplate the divine judgment which would follow to cultivate particular ascetic, Christian, lifestyles in their readers. In the literature that formed Climacus, every aspect of the 'memory of death' varied considerably, but Climacus draws these together in the Ladder so that death and the judgment which follows defines a symbolic framework within which monks reflect on their past and approach the future. Climacus also took up metaphorical practices of dying to oneself and others to craft an idea of spiritual progress in the imitation of Christ taking into account failure and frailty. At the heart of this study is the abiding question of how tradition forms, and in the Ladder is an outstanding example of how unflinching fidelity to tradition results in a creative, synthetic achievement
Member of
Cataloging source
ERASA
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Zecher, Jonathan L
Dewey number
270
Index
index present
LC call number
BX382.J63
LC item number
Z43 2015
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
Series statement
Oxford early Christian studies
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • John
  • Christian life
  • Fathers of the church
  • Death
  • Asceticism
Label
The role of death in the Ladder of divine ascent and the Greek ascetic tradition, Jonathan L. Zecher
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Note
Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Durham, 2011 under the title: The symbolics of death and the construction of Christian asceticism: Greek Patristic voices from the fourth through seventh centuries
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-248) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
John of Sinai and the quest for unity -- Biblical and philosophical foundations -- The Life of Antony: embracing death on the ascent to God -- The Desert Fathers: "Like a body whose soul has departed" -- The great old men of Gaza: learning to die through obedience -- The Ladder of divine ascent: death makes the Christian
Control code
000399142
Dimensions
24 cm.
Edition
First edition.
Extent
xviii, 252 pages
Isbn
9780198724940
Lccn
2014945598
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
  • (Sirsi) 000399142
  • (OCoLC)882899193
Label
The role of death in the Ladder of divine ascent and the Greek ascetic tradition, Jonathan L. Zecher
Publication
Copyright
Note
Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Durham, 2011 under the title: The symbolics of death and the construction of Christian asceticism: Greek Patristic voices from the fourth through seventh centuries
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-248) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
John of Sinai and the quest for unity -- Biblical and philosophical foundations -- The Life of Antony: embracing death on the ascent to God -- The Desert Fathers: "Like a body whose soul has departed" -- The great old men of Gaza: learning to die through obedience -- The Ladder of divine ascent: death makes the Christian
Control code
000399142
Dimensions
24 cm.
Edition
First edition.
Extent
xviii, 252 pages
Isbn
9780198724940
Lccn
2014945598
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
  • (Sirsi) 000399142
  • (OCoLC)882899193

Subject

Member of

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