JOHANNES CLIMACUS (SCHOLASTICUS, SINAITA): Monk of Mount Sinai. From the "Narratives" of Anastasius, a monk of Mount Sinai (cf. F. Nau, Les récits inédits du moine Anastase, Paris, 1902; and Oriens Christianus, ii., 1902, 58-89), it appears that Johannes Climacus died about 649. He was presumably born before 579, and became a monk in the Sinai cloister about 600, being abbot of the same before 639. If these data be correct, then this Johannes can not be identical with Johannes, the abbot of Mount Sinai to whom Gregory I. addressed a letter dated Sept. 1, 600 (Epist. xi. 1; NPNF, xiii. 52). Johannes was called Climacus on account of his book, "The Ladder to Paradise," so termed with reference to Jacob's ladder. In this book the spiritual conditions by which men are purified in preparation for the divine life are described in thirty steps. The process begins with renunciation of the world. The spirit turns to penance. Salutary tribulation softens the heart, and removes the dross. Presently the penitent finds words only for prayer, song, and the manifestation of love. Blessed humility leads to the imitation of Christ, and unlocks the gates of heaven. The highest estate is that of a divinely patterned apathy and rest where one beholds, in an undimmed mirror, the excellences of Paradise. However, only he who has first endured and overcome the storms of this world, will attain to that stage of blissful calm. Among the Greek monks, this tract, reinforced with notes, was for centuries in use as a guide to perfection (cf. the Scholia of Abbot John of Raďthu; MPG, lxxxviii. 1211-48).
BIBLIOGRAPHY: The editio princeps of the "Ladder" was by M. Radar, Paris, 1633, reproduced in MPG, lxxxviii. 583-1248; the Vita by Daniel is in the latter, columns 596-608. A later edition of the work is by S. Eremites, Constantinople, 1883. A very full bibliographical apparatus is to be found in Krumbacher, Geschichte, pp. 143-144. Consult further: J. Fessler, Institutiones patrologiae, ed. B. Jungmann, ii. 890-897, Innsbruck, 1896; DCB, iii. 405; KL, vi. 1640-1641; P. Labbe in MPG, Ixxxviii. 579-582.
JOHANNES ELEEMON: Patriarch of Alexandria; b. at Amathus (on s. shore of Cyprus); d, there probably Nov. 11, 619. He was installed as patriarch by the Emperor Heraclius, in deference to the Alexandrians, at the close of 610 or beginning of 611. His administration meant a powerful reinforcement of the orthodox cause in Alexandria. The policy of uniting the orthodox party with the Monophysites, as fomented by Heraclius and by Sergius of Constantinople, encountered in Johannes an outspoken opponent. He was famed for his great charity, whence his name, Eleemon, and his good deeds won for him the hearts of the people. When the Persians approached Alexandria in 619(?), Johannes fled to Cyprus, where he died. His anniversary day is November 12.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: The life by Leontius is in MPG, xciii. 1613 sqq., in Lat. transl., with notes in MPL, Ixxiii. 337-384; the Lat. transl. of Leontius and of the life by Simeon Metaphrastes, with comment, is in ASB, Jan., ii. 495-535. H. Gelser edited the life by Leontius, Freiburg 1893. Consult: H. Gelzer, Ein griechischer Volksschriftsteller des 7. Jahrhunderts, Munich, 1889; F. PösI, Die reine . . . Liebe dargestellt in dem Leben des . . . Johannes des Almosengebers, Regensburg, 1862; A. von Gutschmid, Kleine Schriften, ii. 471-475, Leipsic, 1890; H. T. F. Duckworth, St. John the Almsgiver, Patriarch of Alexandria, London, 1901; DCB, iii. 348.
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