[[Image:Ladder_of_Divine_Ascent.jpg|right|frame|Ikon of the Ladder of Divine Ascent (St. Catherine's Monastery, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt]]'''''The Ladder of Divine Ascent''''' is an ascetical treatise on avoiding vice and practicing virtue so that at the end, salvation can be obtained. Written by St. [[John Climacus]] initially for monastics, it has become one of the most highly influential and important works used by the Church as far as guiding the faithful to a God-centered life, second only to Holy Scripture.