Kallistos Angelikoudes

Venerable Kallistos Angelikoudes (Kallistos of Melnik, called in manuscripts also Antilikoudes, Tilikoudes, Likoudes or Katafygiotes) was a Byzantine hesychast theologian, abbot of the monastery of Katafygi (that is, the Refuge of the Mother of God) near the town of Melenikon (Melnik). He was born in 1325 and lived until the second half of the fourteenth century. He is venerated by the Orthodox Church among the venerable. His commemoration is on 20 June.

Sometimes his writings were signed with the name of Patriarch Callistus I. Judging by his writings, it may be supposed that he had no formal education, but he was nevertheless well acquainted with the works of famous church writers: the great Cappadocians, John Chrysostom, Maximus the Confessor, Isaac the Syrian, Pseudo-⁠Dionysius the Areopagite, Gregory Palamas and others. In documents issued by Patriarch Philotheus Kokkinos of Constantinople it is stated that Callistus was abbot and spiritual father of the monastery of Katafygi, but some of the monks did not want to submit to him, because of which conflicts often arose.

According to the Bulgarian source, Kallistos of Melnik (Melenikiotes), called also Angelikoudes or Tilikoudes, is known from very few reports. It is supposed that he is the same person as Kallistos Katafygiotes. He is the author of many writings, in the past attributed to other authors. He was born in Melnik or its neighbourhood and is considered the founder of the Rozhen monastery. Among his works are mentioned: the Hesychast Consolation, the One Hundred and Fifteen Chapters (included in the Philokalia), Against Thomas Aquinas and a Letter to the disciple Macarius.