Monasticism of Sinai in the time of John Climacus

This article by Bernard Flusin examines Sinaitic monasticism in the time of John Climacus (7th century), author of the *Ladder of Divine Ascent*. Drawing on rigorous historical and philological study, notably on the unpublished *Tales* of Anastasius of Sinai, the article reconstructs the chronology of John Climacus's life and describes the concrete forms of monastic life at Sinai. The author shows that the Sinaitic colony is above all a vast anachoretic nebula, whose hermitages scattered over dozens of kilometres coexist with the fortified monastery built by Justinian. This monastery, far from being an ordinary coenobium, functions as a reception centre for pilgrims and a novitiate for the colony. The article sheds precise light on the function of hegumen of Sinai and situates the work of John Climacus in its historical context, between the Persian conquest and Islamic domination.