Saint Nicholas Kavasilas
Clearly you became a partaker with the Saints,
having lived a holy life, O Nicholas.
In songs I sing the most excellent glory of Nicholas, the man of God.
Saint Nicholas Kavasilas was born in Thessaloniki in 1322 A.D. and was the nephew of Neilos Kavasilas, who served as Archbishop of Thessaloniki. His paternal surname was Chamaetos, but he kept the maternal surname Kavasilas, evidently because of the strong presence of his uncle. He pursued brilliant studies of rhetoric, Theology, philosophy and the natural sciences in Thessaloniki and Constantinople. For a time he served as an adviser to Kantakouzenos, who in the last years of his life was tonsured a monk and resided in the renowned Monastery of the Mangana.
The Saint embraced the views and ideas of Gregory Palamas concerning Eastern mysticism and the hesychastic spirit. He was a most prolific and abundant author of highly valuable Theological, exegetical, liturgical, ascetic and didactic works, as well as of celebrated panegyric orations, letters, epigrams and texts of political and social content.
After many trials on account of his views concerning Orthodox monasticism, and especially against Barlaam and Akindynos, he reposed peacefully a little after 1391 A.D. His canonization took place on 19 July 1983 A.D.
Liturgical texts
Apolytikion
Tone 4. Come quickly.
As a divine teacher and wise interpreter of the dogmas of the faith and of the sacred virtues, O venerable Nicholas, you shone forth in the world through your life and word. Wherefore Thessaloniki boasts in your glory and with longing celebrates your all-venerable memory.
Kontakion
Tone 2. By the streams of your blood.
Accomplishing your life by a word inspired of God, becoming renowned in wisdom and grace and in the power of the word, you were shown forth a teacher of piety; wherefore we praise you, O Nicholas.
Megalynarion
Shining brilliantly in word and in spiritual wisdom, as one eminent in life, you were shown to be a divine teacher of the Church, O all-blessed Nicholas, companion of the Angels.
The Oikos
Dedicated to the Lord from your youth, O wise one, with a pure mind you walked the paths of the commandments of God; and having reached the summit of wisdom, you were shown forth in the world as one great in prudence and mighty in knowledge of every kind. For, having mortified the mind of the flesh, you received the outpourings of the life-bearing energy of the Comforter, initiating others into the splendor of piety, the exactness of a virtuous life, and the unaltered authority of the divine dogmas, as a God-wise interpreter of the truth and a genuine servant of Christ; wherefore we praise you, O Nicholas.
Kathisma
Tone 4. Come quickly.
Superior to the world, though living in the world, you were shown, O Nicholas, through great self-control and firmness of resolve; wherefore after your end the heavenly glory has received you, O God-bearer, as a divine servant; and now, together with the Angels, intercede on our behalf.
