St. Nicholas Cabasilas

A layman of Thessalonica in the fourteenth century, a court official and friend of emperors, who wrote two of the finest books of Orthodox theology without ever being ordained. His Commentary on the Divine Liturgy explains the service as the work of Christ and the offering of the whole Church, and defends the epiclesis against the Latin theologians of his day. The Life in Christ shows the Christian life as flowing from baptism, chrismation and communion rather than from private effort: the mysteries are Christ Himself given, and holiness is living what one has received. He stood with St Gregory Palamas. The Ecumenical Patriarchate glorified him in 1983. Feast: June 20.