On the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorated Saint John Climacus, the abbot of Mount Sinai and renowned spiritual writer whose masterpiece The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Klimaka in Greek) continues to shape monastic life and Christian spirituality. In Warsaw’s Wola district, the local parish—dedicated to the saint—celebrated its patronal feast with solemnity and deep devotion.
The festivities began on Saturday evening with an All-Night Vigil at 5:00 p.m., led by Mitred Priest Paweł Sterlingow, Dean of the Siemiatycze Deanery. On Sunday, two Divine Liturgies were celebrated, at 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. The main service was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Sawa, with the concelebration of His Excellency Archbishop Grzegorz of Bielsko, visiting clergy, and the parish priests.
During the Little Entrance, Metropolitan Sawa bestowed high ecclesiastical honors.
Archbishop Grzegorz delivered the homily, offering reflections on the spiritual brilliance and penetrating insight of Saint John Climacus. Drawing on passages from The Ladder, he emphasized that the saint’s teachings reach far beyond the scope of secular intellect.
Concluding the celebration, Metropolitan Sawa addressed the faithful, urging them to witness their faith in today’s complex world. “Every Orthodox Christian,” he noted, “is called to reveal the truth of the Gospel and testify to the unchanging teachings of the Church in all their glory.” He extended heartfelt thanks to the parish priest, Father Adam Misijuk, the vicars, the Parish Council, and all involved in the preparation of the feast.
Source: Church of Poland
