Toward a Practical Christology: St. Nicholas Cabasilas and Thomas à Kempis

Abstract

The present study places in dialogue two spiritual authors of the late Mid- dle Ages—St. Nicholas Cabasilas (1319–1392) and Thomas à Kempis (1380– 1471), representatives respectively of the Eastern hesychast tradition and the Western Devotio Moderna movement. Although situated in different cultural and ecclesial contexts, both share the conviction that life in Christ consti- tutes the central core of Christian existence. Cabasilas grounds his vision in the sacraments, through which the believer is truly united with Christ and participates in the divine energies. Thomas, in turn, emphasizes the inner life—humility, obedience, and imitation of the Cross of Christ—as the path to appropriating grace. When compared, their teachings prove not mutual- ly exclusive but complementary: sacramental participation in Cabasilas and interior transformation in Thomas together offer a model of practical Chris- tology that unites the objective and subjective dimensions of Christian life. This synthesis carries significant ecumenical potential, opening horizons for deeper mutual understanding between East and West.