Nicholas Cabasilas Chamaetos and his teaching concerning the Theotokos

Abstract

There are four main parts to this dissertation, one introductory and three directly related to the subject matter. The introductory chapter represents a survey on the latest points of research concerning Cabasilas' biography on the basis of the work of contemporary Greek scholars. It also supplies a list of Cabasilas' works with full bibliographical reference. The following three parts represent a detailed analysis of Cabasilas' three Orations on the Theotokos which deal with her Birth, Annunciation and Falling Asleep on the basis of the Greek text edited by Jugie (1955) and reedited with corrections by Nellas (1968). Each Chapter concludes with a summary of doctrine and the final Conclusion sums up the main thrust of Cabasilas' teaching. Finally a relevant Bibliography directly related to Cabasilas is provided at the end of the dissertation. The central doctrinal message of Cabasilas is the unique status of the Virgin Theotokos as a human being. Central to this is her unique sinlessness and holiness, which are presented as her own achievement based on the freedom implanted in the human nature by the Creator and on the virtue which can be freely acquired by the human being. It is on this account, rather than on divine favour, that the Theotokos is distinguished from all other human beings, even the greatest and holiest of them, standing apart from and over and above them. Yet, because she is basically human, she represents in her single achievement the achievement of all humanity. This achievement is for Cabasilas the presupposition to the Incarnation of God's Son. There is here a distinct and profound correlation of the Theotokos (human) and the Saviour (Divine-human) which has important implications for understanding Salvation and the role of the human and the Divine factors in it. Cabasilas' teaching on the Theotokos opens up the fundamental perspectives of Byzantine Christian humanism.