{"slug":"iokli","id":"georgian:titus:iokli","title":"John Sinaites, Climax","author":"Io.Sin.","genre":"other","date":"","tradition":"georgian","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T00:59:34Z","cost_usd":0.001511},"source":{"registry_id":"georgian:titus:iokli","work_id":"iokli","edition":"titus","language":"","license":"This text is part of the TITUS edition of John Sinaites, Climax. Copyright TITUS Project, Frankfurt a/M, 29.11.2017. No parts of this document may be republished in any form without prior permission by the copyright holder.","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"},"stats":{"passages":2,"english_words":278,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":10,"commentary_kinds":7,"derived_notes":0,"ambiguities":3,"work_notes":6,"external_links":5,"timeline":6},"summary":{"work":"iokli","abstract":"The Old Georgian translation of John of Sinai's Klimax (Ladder of Divine Ascent) is a monastic ascetical work structured as 30 steps (logoi). The Greek original, dated to ca. 600–650 CE, was composed by John Climacus, abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai. The Georgian version likely dates to the 9th–10th centuries, during the early phase of Georgian monastic literature, and survives in multiple manuscripts reflecting a complex textual history with possible revisions. The TITUS edition is based on a single witness without critical apparatus, limiting its use for detailed textual criticism. The work was widely read in Georgian monasteries, influenced later ascetical compilations, and used in liturgical readings for Lent. Authorship and unity of the work remain debated in modern scholarship.","historical_context":"The Greek Klimax was composed around 600–650 CE by John of Sinai (John Climacus), abbot of St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai. The work, structured as 30 steps of spiritual ascent, became a foundational text of Eastern Christian monasticism. The Georgian translation likely belongs to the 9th–10th centuries, a period of intense translation activity in Georgian monasteries, particularly at the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos and in the Georgian monastic centers of Palestine. The translator Euthymius the Hagiorite (c. 955–1028) states he translated from Greek at the command of his spiritual father John, correcting an earlier faulty translation. The text survives in multiple Georgian manuscripts, indicating a complex transmission with possible revisions. The Climax was widely read in Georgian monasteries, used in liturgical readings for Lent, and influenced later ascetical compilations. The TITUS edition, based on a single witness, provides no critical apparatus or variant readings, limiting its use for detailed textual criticism of the Georgian transmission.","significance":"The Georgian translation of the Klimax is a key witness to the reception of Byzantine monastic spirituality in the Georgian tradition. It reflects the early phase of Georgian monastic literature and the translation activities of figures like Euthymius the Hagiorite. The work's wide use in Georgian monasteries and its influence on later ascetical compilations underscore its importance for understanding the development of Georgian Christian literature and monastic practice.","timeline":[{"date":"ca. 600–650 CE","event":"Greek original of the Klimax composed by John of Sinai (John Climacus) at St. Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai."},{"date":"9th–10th centuries","event":"Georgian translation likely produced, possibly at Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos or in Palestinian Georgian monastic centers."},{"date":"c. 955–1028","event":"Life of Euthymius the Hagiorite, who states he translated the Klimax from Greek, correcting an earlier faulty translation."},{"date":"10th–11th centuries","event":"Manuscript transmission of the Georgian Klimax, with multiple witnesses reflecting revisions."},{"date":"Medieval period","event":"Widespread use of the Klimax in Georgian monasteries, including liturgical readings for Lent."},{"date":"Modern period","event":"TITUS edition published based on a single Georgian manuscript, without critical apparatus."}],"relations":[{"work":"Klimax (Greek original)","relation":"source text for the Georgian translation","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Other works by John Climacus","relation":"part of the same authorial corpus","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Georgian monastic literature (e.g., works of Euthymius the Hagiorite)","relation":"influenced by and transmitted alongside the Klimax","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Byzantine ascetical compilations (e.g., Apophthegmata Patrum)","relation":"similar genre and audience","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Liturgical readings for Lent in Georgian tradition","relation":"used in liturgical context","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[{"key":"wikipedia:John Climacus","label":"John Climacus","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Climacus","reason":"Author of the Greek original of the Klimax."},{"key":"wikipedia:Ladder of Divine Ascent","label":"Ladder of Divine Ascent","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ladder_of_Divine_Ascent","reason":"The work's common English title."},{"key":"wikipedia:Euthymius the Hagiorite","label":"Euthymius the Hagiorite","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthymius_the_Athonite","reason":"Translator of the Georgian version."},{"key":"wikipedia:Iviron monastery","label":"Iviron monastery","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Iviron","reason":"Possible location of translation activity."},{"key":"wikipedia:St. Catherine's Monastery","label":"St. Catherine's Monastery","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Catherine%27s_Monastery","reason":"Place of composition of the Greek original."}],"cautions":["The date of the Georgian translation is uncertain; it is likely 9th–10th centuries but not precisely datable.","Authorship of the Greek original is traditionally attributed to John Climacus but is debated in modern scholarship.","The TITUS edition is based on a single manuscript without critical apparatus, limiting its use for textual criticism.","The Georgian transmission may involve multiple revisions; the relationship between surviving manuscripts is not fully understood."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000557,"generated":"2026-11-15T00:22:06Z"},"checks":{"work":"iokli","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":2,"translated":2,"commentary_passages":2,"commentary_units":10,"english_words":278,"source_letters":1122,"commentary_kinds":7},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Old Georgian text is a translation of the Greek Klimax by John of Sinai (6th–7th cent.), a monastic ascetical work structured as 30 steps (logoi).","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Georgian version survives in multiple manuscripts, reflecting a complex textual history with possible revisions; the TITUS edition is based on a single witness.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Greek original is dated to ca. 600–650 CE; the Georgian translation likely belongs to the 9th–10th centuries, during the early phase of Georgian monastic literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Climax was widely read in Georgian monasteries and influenced later ascetical compilations; it was also used in liturgical readings for Lent.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The TITUS edition provides no critical apparatus or variant readings; it cannot be used for detailed textual criticism of the Georgian transmission.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"Attribution to John Sinaites is traditional but not universally accepted; the work’s unity and authorship remain debated in modern scholarship.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in Old Georgian; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 2 narrative."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: titus — This text is part of the TITUS edition of John Sinaites, Climax. Copyright TITUS Project, Frankfurt a/M, 29.11.2017. No parts of this document may be republished in any form without prior permission by the copyright holder."}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":2},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:iokli":{"label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"Ⴄსე საცნაურ იყავნ ყოველთა რომელნი იკითხვიდეთ, ანუ სწერდეთ წმიდასა ამას წიგნსა წმიდანო ღვთისანო, ვ̃დ ნეტარსა ამას მამას, რ̃სა ესე სულთა განმანათლებელი წიგნი უთქვამს, არათუ კლემაქსი ეწოდების, ნუ იყოფინ, ა̃დ იოანე არს სახელი მისი: ხოლო კლემაქსი წიგნსა ეწოდების, და არს კლემაქსი ბერძულითა ენითა, ვითარმედ Ⴉიბეო. Ⴞოლო ამისთვის ეწოდების წიგნსა ამას კიბე, რ̃ ვ̃ა კიბე სათნოებათა შექმნა წიგნი ესე, და მდაბალთა საქმეთაგან იწყებს, და თ̃ა და თ̃ა მაღალთა მ̃რთ აღვალს, ვ̃ა თვით აღსასრულსა წიგნისასა ჰპოოთ გამოსახული Ⴉიბე Ⴑათნოებათა. Ⴞ̃ რ̃სა გამოკრებული იგი მცირედი პ̃ლ ეთარგმნა, Ⴉლემაქსი ეთქვა მის წ̃ისა და. აწ, უკეთუ ვინმე წიგნისა სახელსა იტყოდეს, ჰთქუნ კლემაქსი, რ̃ლ არს Ⴉიბე; ხოლო უკეთუ წმიდისა მის სახელსა იტყოდეს თქუნ Ⴈოანე Ⴅინადგან უკვე პირველსა მას თარგმანსა მრავალი მრუდად დაეწერა, და მრავალი დაეგდო; ამისთვის მე გლახაკმან Ⴄფთვიმე, ბრძანებითა წმიდისა მამისა ჩემისა Ⴈოანესითა ვთარგმნე ესე, ვ̃ა თვით მას წმიდასა ეთქვა ბერძულად, რამეთუ ბერძენი იყო იგი ნათესავით. Ⴀწ უკვე, რომელნიცა ამას წმიდასა წიგნსა იკითხვიდეთ ლოცვა ჰყავთ წმიდათა მამათა ჩვენთათვის Ⴈოანესთვის და იოანე სვინკელისათვის და ჩემთვისცა ცოდვილისა ეფთვიმესა, და რომელნი სწერდეთ, ვითარცა აქა ჰპოოთ ეგრეთ დაწერეთ.","english":"Let it be known to all who read or copy this holy book, the holy fathers of God, that this blessed father, to whom this soul-illuminating book is attributed, is not called Climax, but rather his name is John. However, the book is called Climax, and Climax in the Greek language means \"Ladder.\" And for this reason the book is called Ladder, because this book created a ladder of virtues, beginning from humble works and ascending step by step to the heights, until at the end of the book a Ladder of Virtues is depicted. As for that small portion which was previously translated, it was called Climax for that reason. Now, if someone speaks of the name of the book, let him say Climax, which means Ladder; but if he speaks of the name of the saint, let him say John of Sinai. Since in the earlier translation many things were written incorrectly and many were omitted, for this reason I, the wretched Euthymius, by the command of my holy father John, have translated this as it was spoken by that holy one in Greek, for he was Greek by descent. And now, those who read this holy book, pray for our holy fathers John and John the Syncellus, and also for me, the sinful Euthymius; and those who copy it, write it as it is found here.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"Climax / Ladder","severity":"info","text":"The Greek κλῖμαξ means 'ladder'. The work is traditionally known as the Ladder of Divine Ascent, and the author as John Climacus.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"Euthymius","severity":"info","text":"The translator Euthymius (Euthymius the Hagiorite, c. 955–1028) states he translated from Greek at the command of his spiritual father John, correcting an earlier faulty translation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"John of Sinai","severity":"info","text":"The author is identified as John of Sinai (John Climacus), not as 'Climax', which is the book's title. The distinction is emphasized to avoid confusion.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"pray for ... John the Syncellus","severity":"info","text":"The request for prayers for 'John the Syncellus' likely refers to John, a synkellos (cell-mate or assistant) of Euthymius, possibly John the Iberian, co-founder of the Iviron monastery.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ladder of virtues","severity":"info","text":"The text describes the book as a 'ladder of virtues' beginning with humble works and ascending step by step, culminating in a depiction of the Ladder of Virtues at the end.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'John the Syncellus' is not fully certain; it may refer to John the Iberian or another figure.","The earlier faulty translation mentioned by Euthymius is not identified."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"და თავნი ვითარცა აქა იყვნენ, ეგრეთ დასხენით, რამეთუ მეცა, ვითარცა მიპოვნიან, ეგრეთ დამისხამნ, ყოველნი წითლითა; და ამათცა სიტყვათა ნუ ვინ დააგდებთ, არამედ დასწერდით Ⴖვთისათვის, და ჩემსაცა ცოდვილისასა სახელსა.","english":"and place the chapters just as they are here, for I myself have set them down just as I found them, all of them in red; and do not let anyone omit these words, but write them for God's sake, and for the sake of my own sinful name.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"და თავნი ვითარცა აქა იყვნენ, ეგრეთ დასხენით","severity":"info","text":"The scribe instructs that the chapter headings be copied exactly as they appear in the exemplar, emphasizing fidelity to the source.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"წითლითა","severity":"info","text":"The Georgian word 'წითლითა' means 'in red,' referring to rubrication—a common practice in manuscripts to mark headings or important text.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"დამისხამნ","severity":"info","text":"The scribe claims to have arranged the chapters as found, indicating a direct copy from an earlier exemplar, typical of monastic transmission.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ჩემსაცა ცოდვილისასა სახელსა","severity":"info","text":"The scribe's self-deprecating reference to his 'sinful name' reflects a common trope in Georgian monastic colophons, humbly requesting prayers.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ნუ ვინ დააგდებთ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'do not let anyone omit these words' may indicate that the scribe feared later copyists would skip the rubricated headings, a known risk in manuscript transmission.","cites":[{"key":"ed:iokli","label":"source edition: John Sinaites, Climax","url":"https://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcg/cauc/ageo/ascetica/ioklimax/iokli.htm"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["It is unclear whether 'თავნი' refers to chapter headings or the chapters themselves; the reading 'chapters' is adopted based on the context of copying."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]}]}