Neilos Damilas, John Climacus and Other Ascetic Authors in Late Medieval Crete (14th-15th centuries)

An exhaustive study on the diffusion and the influence of John Climacus’ treatise had in the Byzantine world has not yet been written. Notwithstanding, many scholars have already emphasized the great relevance of this author and his work up to the late Byzantine period and among the southern Slavs. One of the latest cases is represented by the Cretan Neilos Damilas (late 14 th -early 15 th centuries), cited as an example of “Sinaite Hesychasm” and inspired precisely by Climacus. The present article aims at a reconsideration of this Cretan scholar, of his personality and his ascetic readings through his works and the books of his library.