The Life in Christ

Джерела християнського Сходу #12

by Nicholas Cabasilas, Carmino J. De Catanzaro

The Life in Christ by Nicholas Cabasilas is a remarkable product of Byzantium's last great flowering of theology. At a time when secular humanism was increasingly asserting man's complete autonomy, Cabasilas proclaimed that man's true life lies not in himself, but in Christ. For him, man's redemption in Jesus Christ is not just a matter of history, which can be elucidated simply by scholarly endeavor. It is a saving event in which man is called to participate here and now, in body and spirit as well as intellect, through the sacramental life of the Church.

The present translation makes this devotional classic available for the first time in English, while the extensive introduction by Boris Bobrinskoy assesses its place within the history of eastern spirituality.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Religion, Spirituality, Christian, Nonfiction, Devotional

229 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1390

About the author

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

Cabasilas is a saint within the Orthodox Church. His feast day is June 20. The Roman 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 two-year cycle for the Office of Readings).

He was on intimate terms with the emperor John VI Cantacuzene, whom he accompanied in his retirement to a monastery. He was once thought to have succeeded his uncle Nilus Cabasilas 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 Manganon monastery near Constantinople. In the Hesychast controversy he took the side of the monks of Mount Athos and Saint Gregory Palamas.

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. He also wrote homilies on various subjects, and a speech against usurers, printed with other works in Migne, Patrologia Graeca, c. i. A large number of his works is still extant in manuscript.

Cabasilas' major works are Life in Christ and Commentary on the Divine Liturgy. These works display a profound understanding of the sacramental and liturgical life of the Eastern Orthodox Church and are accessible to and instructive for any Christian today worshiping in either the East or West.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, although it took much longer to read than I thought. I was hoping to finish by Easter! However, it was written by St. Nicholas Cabasilas in the 14th century and the original language was Greek. The book covers Orthodox theology regarding Baptism, Chrismation (what the Western Church calls Confirmation), and Eucharist (Holy Communion).

I bought this book in 1999, but it was only now that the Holy Spirit pushed my to pick it up and read it. I'm still not sure that I fully understood all of it and will have to meditate and pray on it for some time to come.

Then again, much of what I learned in the book about these mysteries fits in with what I learned at the Denver Catechetical School...

1) Until a person is washed in the waters of Baptism, they are an enemy of God. Okay, according to Cabasilas, the un-baptised are not enemies of God but are unknown to God. Our parents participate with God in the creation of a new life, but until the soul is Baptized, they are not known by God.

2) Confirmation (Chrismation) completes the instruction in the life of the Church.

3) Eucharist is the most important of these three mysteries or sacraments. By partaking of this meal, where we eat the Body of Christ and drink the Blood of Christ, we become the Body of Christ. At least in the case of the soul then, we truly are what we eat.

The final two "books" or chapters deal with what is required of the Christian to nurture the grace we receive from these mysteries or sacraments and how we train our will toward virtue and goodness in order to fully participate in the joy God wishes for us, with Him, in His kingdom. These are the chapters that I must re-read at some point in the future and pray on for now in order that I may gain a complete understanding of Nicholas Cabasilas.

[Taylor Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combining sophisticated theology with practical application of Scriptures, The Life in Christ (books 6 and 7 in particular) is a must-read for any Christian hoping to emulate St. Paul for whom to live was Christ and to die was gain.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read! One of the best books for Orthodox lay people to read, written by an Orthodox layman who had a challenging and demanding career In the last years of the Byzantine Empire. He shows we lay people can have great spiritual depth and insight and holy reverence if we live as Christ commands. He also shows how bright Orthodox faith and worship can shine even in the midst of a nation's gasping, death throes. This is an enriching and encouraging book; it is difficult to read it and not grow in yearning for Christ and a greater desire to love and serve Him.

[w gall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is somewhat of an exception, in my opinion, to the general difficulty that reading the Church Fathers involves. At least for Orthodox Christians and other traditional Christians. Protestants generally do not accept the divine power of the mysteries (sacraments), which are explained in detail in the first part of the book. The second part elaborates the inward and outward outworking of our life in Christ. The first couple times I read the book his reasoning in this second part escaped me, but I grasped it in my further readings. This book is a treasure to which I return yearly.

[Matt Root · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent and useful book for Christians, but this volume suffers in some unfortunate translation choices that seen very odd to the Orthodox reader.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot expound on the merit of this treatise on becoming one with Christ better than the other reviews. St. Nicholas Cabasilas was a 14th Century scholar and mystic who practiced hesychism.
In this book (which is a slow read due to its theology) he lays down the principle that union with Christ is effected by the three great mysteries of baptism, christmation and the Eucharist (Holy Communion). This is covered in 7 chapters, or books. Take your time. Read a bit. Put it down. Meditate, maybe pray, then continue to read a bit more.

[Phillip Stoffregen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book. Cabasilas has a way of writing very simply, very illustratively, and very helpfully. The book focuses first on the three main divine Mysteries and then moves into how these things affect our life in Christ. His final sections on love and joy being the essence of the life in Christ were most especially beautiful. A book which I will likely revisit in years to come.

[Andrew Finney · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that I will undoubtedly read multiple times and walk away with new revelations each time I read it. Steeped in scripture this book is a must read that I think all orthodox Christians will appreciate!

[Leonardo]

Usado en La Oración del Corazón Pág.25

[Mat Rueter · Rating 4 out of 5]

God indeed wills all good things for all people and imparts to all alike of all His own gifts, both those which benefit the will and those which restore nature.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful. I will definitely read this again. This book is saturated with love and joy. Such a delight to read.

[Josiah Hasbrouck]

Helpful introduction to eastern Christian sacramentology

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my 2nd time through the book, I first read it 40 years ago. I was impressed with the book both times. As with many patristic writers, they is a lot of commentary that doesn't interest me, but the things that do attract my attention are really worth reading. At least in this book, I found myself reading a soul mate in his understanding of Christ and salvation. No focus on a piety of "you must do more" nor on demanding asceticism as the only way to follow Christ. St. Nicholas makes Christianity possible for everyone. And he sees life in the Church - through the sacraments - as really being salvation for us rather than our having to earn salvation through out ascetic efforts.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it 4 stars our of 5, not because it wasn't great, but because the language tended to get a little stale to me every once in a while. I would imagine it was more to do with the translation than the content, but it was kind of hard to read for me in a few places. Theologically, it is excellent, although Cabasilas tends to lean toward a legalistic interpretation of the atonement rather than the so-called classical idea. Overall a recommended read, but I doubt I would give it initially to catechumens or inquirers. There are others out there that are better for that purpose.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read three times love it and learn more every time.