Caba'silas, Nicolaus
（
Νικόλαος Καβασίλας), archbishop of Thessalonica, was the nephew and successor of Neilus Cabasilas, with whom he has often been confounded.
He lived about A. D. 1350.
He first held a high office at the imperial court of Constantinople, and in that capacity he was sent in 1346 by Joannes, patriarch of Constantinople, to the emperor Cantacuzenus to induce him to resign the imperial dignity.
In the year following he was sent by the emperor Cantacuzenus himself, who had then conquered and entered the city, to the palace of the empress Anna, to lay before her the terms of peace proposed by the conqueror. (Cantacuz.
Hist. Byz. 4.39, &c., 14.16.) Nicolaus Cabasilas, who was a man of great learning, wrote several works, of which however only a few have been published, perhaps because he was, like his uncle, a vehement antagonist of the Latin church.
Works
The following works have appeared in print:
that is, a compendious explanation of the holy mass or liturgy.
Editions
Latin Editions
It first appeared in a Latin translation by Gentianus Heruetianus, Venice, 1548, 8vo., from whence it was
reprinted in the "Liturgia SS. Patrum," edited by J. S. Andreas and F. C. de Sainctes, Paris, 1560, fol., and Antwerp, 1562, 8vo., and
also in the Biblioth. Patr. xxvi. p. 173, ed. Lugd.
Greek Editions
The Greek original was first edited by Fronto Ducaeus in the Auctarium to the Bibl. Patr. of 1624, vol. ii. p. 200, &c.
2.
A work on the life of Christ
in six books, in which, however, the author treats principally of baptism, the last unction, and the eucharist.
Editions
This work is as yet published only in a Latin version by J. Pontanus, together with some other works, and also an oration of Nicol. Cabasilas against usury, Ingolstadt, 1604, 4to.
From this edition it was reprinted in the Bibl. Patr. xxvi. p. 136, ed. Lugd.
In some MSS. this work consists of seven books, but the seventh has never appeared in print.
3.
An oration on Usury and against Usurers
Editions
A Latin translation was published by J. Pontanus together with Cabasilas' life of Christ. The Greek original of this oration appeared at August. Vindel. 1595 by D. Hoeschel, and was
afterwards published in a more correct form, together with the oration of Epiphanius on the burial of Christ, by S. Simonides, Samoscii, 1604, 4to.
Other works
The many other orations and theological works of Nicolaus Cabasilas, which have not yet been printed, are enumerated in Fabric.
Further Information
Bibl. Graec. x. p. 25. &c.; comp. Wharton's
Appendix to Cave's Hist. Lit. i. p. 44. ed. London.
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