Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams

Type 5554
(formerly typ/3610)

Ἄριστα πάντα καὶ θεόπνευστα λίαν
τὰ συγγράμματα πατέρων τῶν ὁσίων·
τοῦ δέ γε θείου τὸ παρὸν Ἰωάννου
πόνημα καὶ μάλιστα διαφερόντως,
ὅτι καλλίστως καὶ εὐκρινῶς ἐν τούτῳ
ἐξαποπλέκει πλεκτάνας παθημάτων,
εἴκειν δ’ εὐφυῶς τῶ Λόγῳ ὑφηγεῖται,
σκαιῶν δ’ ἐννοιῶν καὶ σκοτεινῶν πνευμάτων
ποιεῖ τηλαυγῶς διακρίνειν τὴν πλάνην.
Τίς δ’ οὕτως εἱρμὸν ἢ σύνθεσιν ἢ τάξιν
ἀρετῆς ἐκδέδωκεν ὥσπερ ἐκεῖνος
ταύτην τευχάνας οἱονεὶ καὶ συστήσας
ὡσπέρ τινὰ κλίμακα τοὺς ἑλομένους
εἰς ὕψος ἀνάγουσαν θεολογίας
θεωρίας τε τῆς ἀκτίστου καὶ θείας
καὶ μακαρίας, ζωαρχικῆς Τριάδος,
ἣν εἰλικρινῶς σέβοιμεν εἰς αἰῶνας;
Title(s) Ἱεροθέου μονάζοντος εἰς τὸν Κλίμακα πρόγραμμα
Text source R. Meesters 2025, Picturing a Ladder. A Critical Edition of Hierotheos the Monk’s Metrical Preface to Klimax, of a Metrical Summary of the 'Ladder' and of a Kontakion on Klimax, in P. Van Deun, M. Venetskov (eds.), The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John of Sinai (Climacus). New Perspectives, Leuven / Paris / Bristol, 87-113: 94
Text status Text completely known
Editorial status Critical text
Genre(s)
Person(s)
Poet
Hierotheos (976-1150) (monachos, presbyteros of the Monastery of Horaia Pege < Bithynia < Asia Minor < Turkey)
Metre(s) Dodecasyllable
Subject(s)
Tag(s)
Critical Notes Meesters (2025: 94):

1 Ἄριστα λίαν καὶ θεόπνευστα πάντα EJ
10 οὗτος E
12 συθήσας E | συθήρας J
Translation(s) Excellent and extremely divinely inspired are all
the writings of the holy Fathers.
But this work of the divine John
is most excellent above all,
as in it he unravels the tangles of the passions
in a supreme and very clear way,
and he, skilfully, demonstrates us to yield to the Word,
and he allows us to discern plainly the error
of wicked thoughts and dark spirits.
Who published such a chain or a series or an order
of virtues as he did?
He constructed them as if he set them up
as some ladder that leads those who want
to the height of theology
and to the height of the contemplation of the uncreated, divine
and blessed, life-giving Trinity,
which we may sincerely worship forever.
Language
English
Source(s)
R. Meesters 2025, Picturing a Ladder. A Critical Edition of Hierotheos the Monk’s Metrical Preface to Klimax, of a Metrical Summary of the 'Ladder' and of a Kontakion on Klimax, in P. Van Deun, M. Venetskov (eds.), The Ladder of Divine Ascent by John of Sinai (Climacus). New Perspectives, Leuven / Paris / Bristol, 87-113: 95
Bibliography

Primary
Number of verses 17
Occurrence(s)
Acknowledgements
Contributor(s)
Rachele Ricceri, Anne-Sophie Rouckhout

The credits system has been implemented in 2019. Credits from before the new system was in use might be incomplete.
Identification Vassis ICB 2005, 75: "In Ioannis Climaci Scalam Paradisi (BHG 882g)"
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Last modified: 2026-03-23.
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