Nicholas Kabasilas



Nicholas Kabasilas or Cabasilas (Νικόλαος Καβάσιλας; born 1319/1323 in Thessalonica; died 1392) was a Byzantine mystic and theological writer.

Kabasilas is revered as a saint within the Eastern Orthodox Church. His feast day is June 20. The Catholic Church uses extracts from his Life in Christ as readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter in Year II of the provisional two-year cycle for the Office of Readings).

Life
He was on intimate terms with the emperor John VI Kantakouzenos, whom he accompanied in his retirement to a monastery. He was once thought to have succeeded his uncle Neilos Kabasilas as archbishop of Thessalonica; however, contemporary records of that see do not show Nicholas as serving in the capacity of archbishop. It is more likely that he served as a priest at the Mangana Monastery at Constantinople.

In the Hesychast controversy he took the side of the monks of Mount Athos and Saint Gregory Palamas.

Works
His chief work is his Περὶ τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ζωῆς ("On the Life in Christ"), in which he lays down the principle that union with Christ is effected by the three great mysteries of baptism, chrismation, and the eucharist. Kabasilas' Commentary on the Divine Liturgy displays a profound understanding of the sacramental and liturgical life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He also wrote homilies on various subjects, and a speech against usurers, printed with other works by Jacques Paul Migne in Patrologia Graeca. He also wrote an encomium on the ninth century nun and saint Theodora of Thessaloniki. A large number of his works are still extant in manuscript.