Nicholas Kabasilas

Nicholas Kabasilas or Cabasilas 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.
He is known for his two most famous texts, his Life in Christ, and his Commentary on the Divine Liturgy.

Life

Little of his life is known with certainty; including the dates of his birth and death.
Kabasilas was the nephew of theologian and clergyman Neilos Kabasilas.
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.

Legacy

He was canonized in the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1983, with his feast day set on 20 June.

Works

His chief work is his Περὶ τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ζωῆς, 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's 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.