St. John of the Scales
Celebration date: 30/03
St. John of the Scales was probably born in 523 AD. in Syria. He was the son of a rich and pious family. At a young age, he attended an advanced cycle of education, so as to distinguish himself among his peers. He, however, was more interested in prayer, theological studies, writing and exercise. He went to Mount Sinai, near the famous martyr Martyrius, who spiritually guided the young John. After four years of training, he became a monk while the reputation of his virtues and wisdom had spread more widely. That is why many monks and laity, as well as officials came to the Monastery to ask for his advice. He also had the gift of miracles. Because of his living in the Holy Monastery of Sinai, he is also called Sinaitis. After the death of the abbot of the Monastery and at the request of the brothers, he accepted to become Abbot of the holy Sinai Monastery for a few years. However, the nostalgia of the desert life made Ioannis retire to the desert again and dedicate himself to his studies again. He fell asleep in peace around 606 AD. and he left two very important works, “The Scale” and “Logon to the Shepherd”.
The “Scale” includes thirty discourses on virtue, where each discourse includes a virtue, starting from the most practical ones and climbing like stairs to the theoretically high ones. In the spiritual life we have low and high ranks, lower and higher states. That is why the book is called the Scale of Virtues. In this work, the author systematically presents his ideas about the communal life mainly, but also about the hermit life, classifying them in a way that shows a path towards moral perfection. It is written in an elegant Greek language, well-crafted with grace and melody.
It has clarity, smoothness, expressiveness and shows richness of expression, elegance and politeness. In decorating speech with images and similes the sacred author is unparalleled. All kinds of figures of speech emerge as well as beautiful and successful impersonations. From the beginning of Great Lent, his compendium is read in all Orthodox monasteries. Because it is a universal relic of the analysis of all passions and virtues, the Church especially honors in this spiritual period the author St. John of the Scales and recommends it for reading. His memory is celebrated on March 30 and the 4th Sunday of Lent.
Some of his reasons, from the Scale:
1) Humility is a heavenly whirlwind that can raise the soul from the abyss of sin to the heights of heaven.
2) The mother of the fountain is the abyss of waters and the source of discrimination is humiliation
