In his works from the 1920s, Bishop Nicholai Velimirovich (1880–1956) uses analogies similar to those of the Holy Fathers, using the patristic vocabulary, specifically the expression of the Cappadocian Fathers. Interestingly, it seems Velimirovich relied upon ideas developed by St. Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296/298– 373) and St. Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662). Thus, Bishop Nicholai does not understand salvation moralistically. In his Christological settings, priority is given to ontology — by emphasizing that salvation is a Divine gift to a mortal and perishable creature. 

Velimirovich’s thought, based primarily on the Holy Scriptures, relies on patristic theological heritage. This paper focuses on some features of the theology of St. Nicholai Velimirovich, especially his understanding of ontology and ethics, which was inspired by patristic literature, i.e., the theological insights of the Holy Fathers.