Venerable John Climacus ~ The Ladder of Divine Ascent

Step 30 ~ On Faith, Hope and Love

Ascend, brothers, ascend eagerly, and be resolved in your hearts to ascend and hear him who says: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of our God, who makes our feet like hind's feet, and sets us upon high places, that we might be victors with His song.

Run, I beseech you, with him who said: Let us hasten until we attain to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of God, unto a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, who, when He was baptized in the thirtieth year of His visible age, fulfilled the thirtieth step in the spiritual ladder; since God is indeed love, to whom be praise, dominion, power, in whom is and was and will be the cause of all goodness throughout endless ages. Amen.

Venerable Isaac of Syria

Enter eagerly into the treasure house that lies within you, and so you will see the treasure-house of heaven: for the two are the same, there is but one entry to them both. The ladder that leads to the Kingdom is hidden within you, and is found in your own soul. Dive into yourself, and in your soul you will discover the rungs by which to ascend.

Precious and Life-Creating Cross ~ Octoechos ~ Tone 6

Wednesday/Friday Matins Aposticha Sticheron