Nicholas Cabasilas

Were the Church Fathers wrong and devoid of knowledge and grace as soon as the last Apostle John reposed? Or is there a thread of consistency flowering from the orthodox faith throughout each and every decade and century after Shavuot and Atzeret (Pentecost) upon the final offering of the Lamb of God and the harvest of the Kingdom? 

As one example I looked at the Liturgy written by St John Chrysostom (4th century) and compared it to the Liturgy performed by St Nicholas (14th century) - and they seemed 70-90% similar - whereas the differences were longer or shorter prayers and hymns, and in a handful of cases more standardized formulas resulting from Synods or Councils. Perhaps there is a steady hand of God upon the practices of the Church outside the Holy Roman Empire (800-1806). The years Anno Domini 1013-2025 seem more consistent in eastern liturgics than in western liturgics.

Nicholas Kabasilas is known for his two most famous texts, his "On the Life in Christ," and his "Commentary on the Divine Liturgy." These writings were made in Constantinople around the mid 14th century. A younger contemporary of Grēgórios Palamâs, his writings were used in the West from which the Catholic Church used extracts from his "Life in Christ" as readings in the Liturgy of the Hours, but in the East it was translated to English recently by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. His second book displays a profound understanding of the mystical and liturgical life of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In contrast with western views, I recommend youtuber "@Orthodox_Soul" on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-oEjuXw_mQ&t=1634s

Some prompts he asks to draw out of a Post-Modern Mindset when considering the weight or substance of the history of the Church and the people who read the Bible are:

1) Did the Church Fathers give in to Sin and Corruption? 

2) Did the Church Fathers have Poor Communication? 

3) Did the Church Fathers show Incompetence ?

4) Did the Church Fathers suffer by God's ineffectiveness?

As there are thousands of writings by the Orthodox Church throughout each century, I have limited my amount of scrolls to naming keywords or lists barely sufficient to get just prior to the European Reformation period of the 16th century with the new ideas of Classical Protestants or Reformed Theologians. So before any input or deviation suggested by later western parties, I attempt to close with a final question to the student of the Scriptures and Church while incorporating Asia and Africa too. 

What did early Christian laity and clergy believe? And how did they use Apostolic Succession? I believe the Divine Liturgy and the orthodox mindset "phronema" are what preserve and concentrate the traditions immersed in the scriptures and the body of believers. Today anybody can receive Christ by the impartation of grace given by the Church Fathers throughout the liturgical year, in the seasons, in the evenings, in the mornings, in the days, in the hours, in all places where sin is battled. As Father Giris says, my church is your church.

"Shine in our hearts, O Master Who loves mankind, the pure light of Thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind that we may understand Thy teachings..." -St John Chrysostomos

In the words of Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, "Catholics and Protestants assume that the Orthodox are basically Catholics without the pope. Ironically, Catholics and Protestants are more similar to each other since they share the same foundational ideas from the 12th-16th centuries, even though their conclusions differ...How to read the Bible? With the mind of the early Church."

Some other sources to consider on the distinctions between west from the east

https://www.orthodoxhistory.org/2024/07/16/antioch-and-1054/

https://www.drjeannie.com/about

https://www.achristianending.com/