title: Ascending the Heights: A Layman's Guide to The Ladder of Divine Ascent
author: Fr. John Mack
description: Fr. John Mack is a well-known author and priest in the Orthodox Christian Church. Founder and pastor of two mission parishes, he is a regional director for a new Orthodox Christian campus ministry program. Father John is married and has four children.
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  # The Ladder of Divine Ascent
  
  
  John Climacus
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../images/00001.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright Ⓒ 2020 Patristic Publishing, 2nd Edition, Revised.
  
  
  Woolworth Ave., Omaha, NE, 68124  
  http://patristic.altervista.org  
  publishingtoronto@gmail.com
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #
  
  
  The Ladder of Divine Ascent
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ###
  
  
  Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * 
  
  
  
  
  
  Step 1 - On Renunciation
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * 
  
  
  
  
  
  Step 2 - On Detachment
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Step 3 - On Banishment or Living as a Stranger
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Step 4 - On Obedience
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Step 5 - On Painful and Genuine Repentance Which is the Life of Godly
  Convicts, and Concerning the Prison
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * 
  
  
  
  
  
  Step 6 - On the Remembrance of Death
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Step 7 - On Lamentation Which Brings About Joy
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Step 8 - On Liberty From Anger and Humility
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Step 9 - On the Remembrance of Injuries
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  Step 10 - On Defamation or Slander
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  * 
  
  
  
  
  
  Step 11 - On Loquaciousness and Stil