The Life in Christ - Nicholas Cabasilas - The Sacraments and Mystical Union

Aug 7, 2026

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An introduction and five-book exposition by Nicholas Cabasilas explains how Christian life begins and matures through mystical union with Christ. The work presents the sacraments of the Orthodox Church as concrete means by which believers appropriate Christ’s saving work: baptism as new birth and illumination, chrismation as participation in the anointing of Christ, and the Eucharist as the completion and perfection of the preceding mysteries that forms the new person, overcomes sin, and opens to future glory.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages228

Reading Time9 h 35 min

AccessFree to download

Translator's Foreword

Introduction

THE FIRST BOOK

How the life in Christ begins in this life

The life in Christ consists of union with Him

The intimacy of our union with Christ

Christ is all-sufficient

We attain to this union by newness of life

THE SECOND BOOK

How the Holy Mysteries unite us to Christ

Baptism as the new birth in Christ

Summary: The effects of Baptism

THE THIRD BOOK

How Scripture links the gift of the Spirit with anointing and imposition of hands

Chrismation confers the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Summary: Chrismation makes us partakers of Christ

THE FOURTH BOOK

The greatest of all the Mysteries

How the Eucharist completes Baptism and Chrismation

THE LIFE IN CHRIST NICHOLAS CABASILAS Translated from the GreekbyCARMINO J.deCATANZARO With an Introductionby BORIS BOBRINSKOYDean of St SergiusOrthodox Theological InstituteParis,France ST VLADIMIR’S SEMINARY PRESSCRESTWOOD,NEW YORK 10707 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cabasilas,Nicolaus,14th cent. The life in Christ. Translation of:Peri tes in Christoi Zoes.Includes bibliographical references. 1.Mystical union.2.Sacraments—Orthodox Eastern Church. 3.Orthodox Eastern Church—Doctrinal and controversial works. I.Title. BT767.7.C313 234'.16 82-16870 ISBN 0-913836-12-5 ST VLADIMIR’S SEMINARY PRESS575 Scarsdale Rd.,Crestwood,NY 107071-800-204-2665 All Rights Reserved ISBN 0-913836-12-5 First published 1974Second printing 1982Third printing 1998 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Table of Contents Translator's Foreword ……………………………………………………………………………………………9 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………17 THE FIRST BOOK § 1. How the life in Christ begins in this life…………………………………………43§ 2. The life in Christ consists of union with Him…………………………44 § 3. The intimacy of our union with Christ……………………………………………45 § 4. In this union Christ is all-sufficient …………………………………………………47§ 5. We attain to this union by newness of life……………………………………48h:sheete thie new life throntch His Msteries…………………………………49 8 6. Christ bestows this new life througn iis MysL § 7. Christ's saving work as the foundation of the new life…………………53 § 8. How the righteous under the Old Covenant looked forward to their deliverance by Christ…………………………………54 § 9. How Christ opens to us the gates of life………………………………………………56 § 10. The ransom which Christ has paid for us ……………………………………………57 § 11. The Mysteries as the means by which we appropriate Christ's saving work …………………………………………………………………………………………60 THE SECOND BOOK § 1. How the Holy Mysteries unite us to Christ ………………………………………65 § 2. Baptism as the new birth in Christ…………………………………………………66 § 3. How the various ceremonies preceding Baptismprepare for the new life in Christ a) The exorcism …………………………………………………………………69 b) The insufflation……………………………………………………………………………………………………70 c) The stripping of the candidate…………………70 ..71 d) The renunciation ……………………………………………………………………… …71 e) The recitation of the Nicene Creed……………………………………… f) The anointing before Baptism …………………………………………………………………………72 4. The baptismal act and its significance ……………………………………………………………………73 8 § 5. The invocation of the Three-fold Name………………………………………………………………73 8 6. How we in Baptism appropriate the saving acts of Christ ………………75 7. Baptism and original sin……………………………………………………………76 § 8. The deliverance which Baptism obtains for us…………………………78 § 9. How Baptism confers newness of life in Christ …………………………………80 10. Excursus—on the resurrection of the dead………………………………………81 § 11. How apostasy cannot destroy Christ's gift………………………………………………84 §12. Baptism and the powers of the age to come………………………………………85 13. How the effects of Baptism are shown……………………………………………………87 §14. The examples of the martyrs for Christ ………………………88§15. How Baptism enables us to endure all things for Christ………………89 §16. How experience prepared the saints…………………………………………………91 17. How Baptism has converted scoffers to Christ……………………………………9218. Baptism as a personal experience of God………………………94 §19. How this experience engenders love for Him………………………………………95§20. The testimony of Saint John Chrysostom to this effect…………………98 § 21. How Baptism is an illumination…………………………………………………………………99 §22. Summary:The effects of Baptism…………………………………………………101 THE THIRD BOOK § 1. How Scripture links the gift of the Spirit with anointing and imposition of hands ……………………………………………………………………………103§ 2. How Christ Himself was anointed with the Holy Spirit……………104 § 3. How Christ is the Source of our spiritual anointing………………………105 4. How Chrismation confers

FAQs

How does the Eucharist relate to the other sacraments?

The Eucharist completes and perfects Baptism and Chrismation, uniting believers to Christ and enabling them to worship in spirit and in truth while moving toward future glory.

Aug 7, 2026

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