Memorial Day of St. Maxim the Greek (03/02)

Rev. Maximus the Greek (1475—1556) was the son of a wealthy Greek dignitary in Arta (Albania). The young man received an excellent education, traveled a lot, studied languages and sciences in European countries, visiting Paris, Florence, and Venice.

Returning to his homeland, Maxim arrived on Athos and accepted monasticism at the Vatopedi monastery. He enthusiastically studied the ancient manuscripts left on Mount Athos by the monastic Greek emperors (Andronikos Palaiologos and John Cantacuzene). At this time, the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Ioannovich (1505-1533) wished to understand the Greek manuscripts and books of his mother, Sophia Palaiologos, and turned to the Patriarch of Constantinople with a request to send him a Greek scientist. Inok Maxim received instructions to go to Moscow. Upon arrival, he was tasked with translating the interpretation into the Psalter into Slavic, then the interpretation into the book of the Acts of the Apostles and several liturgical books.

Venerable Maxim diligently and carefully tried to carry out all instructions. But, due to the fact that Slavic was not the native language of the translator, naturally, some inaccuracies arose in the translations.

Metropolitan Varlaam of Moscow highly valued the works of St. Maximus. When Metropolitan Daniel took the Moscow throne, the situation changed. The new Metropolitan demanded that St. Maximus translate the church history of Blessed Theodoret into Slavic. Maximus the Greek resolutely refused this order, pointing out that « this story included letters from the schismatic Arius, and this could be dangerous for simplicity». This refusal sowed discord between the monk and the metropolitan. Despite the troubles, St. Maxim continued to work hard in the field of spiritual education of Rus. He wrote letters against Mohammedans, Papism, and Gentiles. He translated the interpretations of St. John Chrysostom into the Gospels of Matthew and John, and also wrote several of his own works.

When the Grand Duke intended to dissolve his marriage with his wife Solomonia because of her infertility, the brave confessor Maxim sent the prince «Educational chapters to the ruling faithful», in which he convincingly proved that the situation obliges the prince not to submit to animal passions. Venerable Maxim was imprisoned. Since that time, a new, long-suffering period in the life of the monk began. The inaccuracies found in the translations were blamed on St. Maxim as deliberate damage to books. It was hard for the monk in prison, but amid suffering he also acquired the great mercy of God. An Angel came to him and said: «Be patient, old man! With this torment you will get rid of eternal torment». In prison, the ascetic wrote a canon to the Holy Spirit with coal on the wall, which is still read in the Church: « Like manna, he nourished Israel in the wilderness of old, and my soul, Lord, fill the Spirit with the All-Holy, as if I serve him favorably, I will take it out...».

Six years later, St. Maxim was released from prison and sent under church prohibition to Tver. There he lived under the supervision of the good-natured Bishop Acacius, who graciously treated the innocent victims. The Monk wrote an autobiographical work «Thoughts on how a mournful monk, imprisoned, consoled and strengthened himself in patience». Here are a few words from this vivid composition: «Do not be tight, do not grieve, yearn lower, kind soul, that you suffer without truth, from which it would be appropriate for you to accept all the good, for you used them spiritually, offering them a meal, performed by the Holy Spirit...».

Only after twenty years of stay in Tver was the monk allowed to live freely and the church ban was lifted from him. The last years of his life were spent by the Monk Maxim the Greek in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He was already about 70 years old. Persecution and labor affected the health of the monk, but his spirit was cheerful; he continued to work. Together with his cell attendant and disciple Neil, the monk diligently translated the Psalter from Greek into Slavic. Neither persecution nor imprisonment broke St. Maximus.

The saint reposed on February 3 (new style) 1556. He is buried near the northwestern wall of the Spiritual Church of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Many miracles are attested that happened at the tomb of the ascetic, on which the troparion and kontakion for him are written. The face of St. Maximus is often depicted on the icon of the Cathedral of Radonezh Saints.

519