Finding the relics of Maxim the Greek: life, icon, true name. Maxim Grek - short biography

Maxim the Greek (in the world Mikhail Trivolis) was born in 1470 in Albania, in the ancient city of Arta, in the family of a Greek dignitary. He came from the ancient and noble Byzantine family of Trivolis. One of his ancestors occupied the throne of the Patriarchs of Constantinople. His uncle, Demetrius Trivolis, was a friend of Thomas Palaiologos, brother of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI and grandfather of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily II. The saint's parents, Manuel and Irina, were educated people and were distinguished by their piety and devotion to the Orthodox faith, which they also raised in their son. Wealthy parents gave him an excellent education.

Around 1480, Michael ends up on the island of Corfu (Kerkyra), which belonged to Venice; here he is trained in classical sciences by John Moschos. Having graduated from school on the island of Corfu, at the age of 20 he already ran for the council of this self-governing territory, but failed. In 1492, young Michael went to continue his education in Italy, which after the fall of Constantinople became the center of Greek education. Michael Trivolis traveled a lot: he lived and studied in Venice, in the Greek school that existed here for a long time, in Padua, famous for its university, in other cities. Later, about this time of his life, the Monk Maxim wrote: “If the Lord, who cares about the salvation of all, had not had mercy on me and... had not illuminated my thought with His light, then I, along with the preachers of wickedness who were there, would have perished long ago.”

From 1498 to 1502, Michael Trivolis was in the service of Giovanni Francesco Picco della Mirandola; here he taught children and adults the Greek language, and also copied the works of the Greek Fathers of the Church and ancient classics. When the troops of the French king Francis and Giovanni attacked, Francesco retired to Bavaria, and Michael Trivolis returned to Florence and took monastic vows at the Dominican monastery of St. Mark, where Jerome Savonarolla had recently lived, whose sermons Michael had listened to more than once.

Becoming a monk on Mount Athos

But the Greek Michael, spiritually nourished by the Orthodox Church, in search of genuine saving wisdom, mentally reaches out to the East. From one of his teachers, John Laskaris, who took up to 200 ancient books from Athos to Florence, Michael heard about the abundance of book treasures stored in monastery libraries, the richest of which was the library of the Vatopedi monastery: two people who fled in Vatopedi left their handwritten codices to it emperor - Andronikos Palaiologos and John Kantakouzenos. He also heard about the great God-wise elders who labored in the Svyatogorsk monasteries. In 1504, Michael left his monastery, left Italy and in 1505 took monastic vows with the name Maxim, in honor of Maxim the Confessor, in the Annunciation Athos Vatopedi Monastery.

On Athos, Monk Maxim devoted himself to reading the works of the holy fathers. His favorite book was “An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith” by St. John of Damascus, about whom the Monk Maximus later wrote that he “reached the highest knowledge of philosophy and theology.”

During these years, the monk Maxim wrote his first works and compiled a canon to John the Baptist; however, his main obedience became the collection of donations in favor of the Athonite monasteries, which he collected on trips to the cities and villages of Greece. The Monk Maxim enjoyed high spiritual authority on the Holy Mountain.

Sending to Rus'

But suddenly a sharp turn occurs in his fate. In 1515, Prince Vasily III and Metropolitan Varlaam turned to Athos with a request to send them a translator from the Greek language. The Athonite protate blessed Elder Savva to go to Moscow, but he, citing his advanced age, could not. Then the monk Maxim (Trivolis) was sent from the Vatopedi monastery. A whole embassy (Maxim the Greek along with two monks Neophytos and Lavrentiy) went from Athos to Rus', which arrived in Moscow on March 4, 1518.

Vasily III received the Athos people with great honor and appointed the Kremlin Miracle Monastery as their place of residence.

The first book that the monk Maxim worked on translating for 1.5 years was Explanatory Psalter. For this purpose, two Latin interpreters were assigned to him, who did not yet know the Russian language: Dmitry Gerasimov and Vlas, who served at the court as translators from Latin and German, as well as two monastic scribes of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery Silouan and Mikhail Medovartsev, who wrote down the Church Slavonic text translation.. Reverend Maxim dictated, translating from Greek into Latin, and Dimitri Gerasimov and Vlas - from Latin into Slavic. This is how mediocre translation was carried out.

After the translation of the Psalter, the Monk Maxim the Greek turned to Grand Duke Vasily III so that he would be released back to Athos. But only his companions were released, and the learned monk was left behind, burdening him with other tasks to correct liturgical books. Seeing the need to correct books in Rus', Maxim the Greek came to terms with his abandonment.

Monk Maxim was entrusted with the translation of the interpretation of the holy fathers on Acts. Greek scientist translated the conversations of St. John Chrysostom into the Gospel of Matthew and John. He also performed other translations: a number of passages and chapters from the books of the Old Testament, as well as three works by Simeon Metaphrastus. At the same time, Maxim the Greek was engaged in reviewing and correcting the Explanatory Gospel and liturgical books: Book of Hours, Menaion of the Feast, Apostle And Triodion .

Translation works convinced him of the importance of a good knowledge of grammar - Greek and Slavic. He calls grammar “the beginning of the entrance to philosophy” and writes two essays: “On Grammar” and “A Discussion on the Uses of Grammar.”

The cell of a learned monk becomes an attractive place for educated Russian nobles. Influential people at court come to talk with the learned Greek: the monk Vassian (Prince Patrikeev), princes Pyotr Shuisky and Andrei Kholmsky, boyars Ivan Tokmakov, Vasily Tuchkov, Ivan Saburov, Fyodor Karpov. In communication with them, Maxim the Greek gets acquainted with Russian church life, state and public life.

Fall from grace

In his theological works, Maxim the Greek writes about the Russians’ commitment to the ritual side of the faith; He is also concerned about the Grand Duke's court's passion for astrology. He composed several essays against the still not obsolete heresy of the Judaizers. Polemical works against the Mohammedans and Latins also came from his pen.

In his words and messages, Maxim the Greek also fought against all kinds of local superstitions, for example, belief in dreams, omens, and fortune telling. He also subjected to a strict analysis the apocryphal books that were brought to Rus' mainly from Bulgaria and which were carried away even at the grand ducal court.

Moscow reacted with distrust to the corrections he made to the liturgical books. His reproaches concerning Russian people’s ignorance of the truths of faith and failure to observe the commandments of Christ, the fulfillment of one external ritual, without spiritual achievement, in the vain hope of salvation through external piety alone, were also taken as an insult.

Indignation against St. Maximus at court was not dangerous for him as long as the metropolitan see was occupied by St. Varlaam, who favored him, a follower of St. Nilus of Sorsky, and in his views close to the Trans-Volga elders. The position of the monk changed after Metropolitan Varlaam left the throne. In 1521, Varlaam fell out of favor with the Grand Duke, was deposed from the high priestly throne and removed to the northern Spaso-Kamenny Monastery. He was replaced Metropolitan Daniel, student of St. Joseph of Volotsk.

Exile to Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery

Under the new Metropolitan Daniel (1522 - 1539; † 1547) he was condemned by council twice, in 1525 and 1531. At the beginning of December 1524, the Monk Maxim was taken into custody and on May 24, 1525, he appeared before the church court. The main accuser was Metropolitan Daniel, who accused the saint of heresy. Among the charges considered was his refusal to translate Theodoret's Ecclesiastical History. Meanwhile, the original edition of the Church History of Theodoret of Cyrus contains information in favor of triplicate. Metropolitan Daniel was a supporter of double-fingering and placed the edited text of “Theodorite’s Word” in his collection. Maxim the Greek resolutely refused this assignment, pointing out that “this story includes letters from the schismatic Arius, and this could be dangerous for simplicity.”

One of the reasons for the disgrace of the Monk Maxim was also his connections with his compatriot Iskander, the ambassador of the Turkish Sultan Suleiman I in Moscow. In other words, there was an element of politics in the condemnation of St. Maxim the Greek. At that time Muscovite Rus' was establishing relations with the Turkish Empire. Moscow was interested in this in order to use it to orient the foreign policy of its vassal, the Crimean Khanate, against Lithuanian Rus. Meanwhile, Turkish diplomatic practice at that time assumed the use of subjects of Greek origin in relations with Christian states. But the Greeks had personal national interests: to achieve the revival of Byzantium and Russia should have a military component in this. For this purpose, the Greeks set Turkish policy against Russia.

By the verdict of the council the monk was exiled to Joseph-Volokolamsky Monastery. The sufferer spent 6 years in a damp, cramped, stinking and squalid cell: he suffered torment from smoke, cold and hunger. These were the most difficult years of his life. Of all the deprivations, the most sorrowful was excommunication from receiving the Holy Mysteries.

But one day the Lord appeared to an exhausted prisoner in the form of an Angel of God with the words: “Be patient, old man, with these temporary sufferings you will get rid of eternal torment.” Filled with spiritual joy, the prisoner sang the canon to the Holy Spirit the Comforter, which was later found written on the walls of his prison cell.

Exile to Tverskoy Otroch-Uspensky Monastery

In 1531 Saint Maximus again appeared before the cathedral court. This time Metropolitan Daniel spoke with accusations of treason, witchcraft and blasphemous expressions, allegedly discovered in translations he made 10 years before the trial. By the time of the trial, the monk already had a good command of the Russian language and rejected all fabrications.

The Monk Maxim was transferred from Joseph Monastery to Tverskoy Otroch under the supervision of Bishop Akakios, known for his ascetic life. Here he spent more than 15 years. Bishop Akaki of Tver was a kind man. He treated Saint Maximus mercifully and compassionately. While in Moscow, he begged the Grand Duke to show mercy to the prisoner for the sake of the newborn heir to the throne, Ivan, to remove his shackles. His Grace Akaki invited the monk to the bishop's house and shared a meal with him, allowing him to come to church, which caused discontent in Moscow. The bishop allowed the convict to keep books, pen, paper and ink with him.

At the Otrochy Monastery, the monk compiled interpretations of the book of Genesis, Psalms, books of the Prophets, the Gospel and the Apostle.

Transfer to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

During the stay of the Monk Maxim the Greek in Tver, a change of Primates of the Russian Church took place in Moscow: after Metropolitan Daniel, Metropolitan Joasaph (1539 - 1542) was installed in 1539, and three years later - Saint Macarius .

After the death of Grand Duke Vasily III, the excommunication from the Holy Mysteries was lifted from the saint, but his freedom was not returned. However, thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan Macarius, who was close to Ivan IV at that time, a favorable attitude towards the reverend prisoner began to develop in Moscow.

Metropolitan Macarius highly valued the works of the Greek scientist. Influential persons again began to turn to St. Maxim, wanting to know his opinion on various issues - theological and church ritual.

The Council of the Hundred Heads was being prepared, and the Metropolitan and the hierarchs, the Tsar and his entourage listened to the judgments of the learned theologian. The influence of the works of St. Maxim affected the actions and decrees of the Stoglavy Council.

In 1551, at the request of the abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery Artemy, the venerable prisoner was transferred from Tver to this monastery. Here he became spiritually close to Metropolitan Joasaph, who was unlawfully removed from the high priestly throne, and the monk Neil (from the disgraced princely family of the Kurlyatevs), with whom, after teaching him the Greek language, he completed a new translation of the Psalter.

In 1553, the Monk Maxim talked with Ivan IV, who visited the monastery while passing through on a pilgrimage to the Kirillov Monastery. The Tsar's trip was made as a vow, in gratitude to the Lord for his recovery from a serious illness that struck the Tsar shortly after his return from the Kazan campaign. The God-wise elder advised the tsar not to travel so far, but to arrange and comfort the mothers, widows and orphans of Christian soldiers who died during the siege of Kazan, and warned that if the tsar listens to the advice, he will be healthy and have many years with his wife and son, and if he does not listen , so his son “will die on the road.” The king did not heed the elder’s words and continued on his way “stubbornly.” The saint's prophecy came true: Tsarevich Dimitri died at the age of 8 months.

Death of St. Maximus the Greek

View of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra (1890s)

Elder Maxim the Greek spent the last years of his life in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

January 21, 1556, on the day of remembrance of his heavenly patron Saint Maximus the Confessor, Reverend Maxim died, having spent 38 years in ascetic labors and suffering for the good of the Russian Church and Ecumenical Orthodoxy. Dying, the venerable sufferer made the sign of the cross three times. The honorable remains of the elder were buried at the northwestern wall of the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. At the end of the 16th century, a chapel was erected over the grave, which was completely destroyed in 1930.

After the death of Maxim the Greek, worship of him as a great theologian and teacher began.

In 1561, the first miracles happened at the tomb of the saint - the spiritual insight of a certain pilgrim and cell attendant of the cathedral elder Vassian John, who were included in the traditions of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

In 1591, on the day of the examination of the relics of the saint at his tomb, 16 people were healed.

Canonization and discovery of relics

Venerable Maxim the Greek canonized as a Saint at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988. However, the question of the whereabouts of his holy relics remained open.

After the demolition of the chapel in the 30s of the 20th century, no visible traces remained over the grave of the saint. At the time the council’s decision on canonization was made, the place of St. Maxim’s grave was not marked on the surface of the earth in any way, so the need arose for archaeological excavations.

The discovery of his holy relics took place in the Lavra in 1996. Before the start of the excavations on June 24, 1996, the confessor of the Lavra, Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov), performed a prayer service to St. Maxim in the Holy Spiritual Church of the Lavra. The brethren of the Lavra, students of Moscow Theological schools and participants in the excavations prayed during the service. Around midnight on June 30, a fragrance was felt from the southern part of the excavation (which was felt for several days after), and after some time the honest head of St. Maximus appeared. The work continued until almost 2 am. On Tuesday, July 1, a detailed report was made to His Holiness the Patriarch about the results of the work carried out and about the discovery of the honest remains of St. Maximus the Greek. It was noted that historical and archaeological data, as well as a clearly perceptible fragrance, reliably testify that the relics belong to St. Maximus. His Holiness gave his blessing for the anthropological examination, which was carried out by leading specialists of the Russian Academy of Sciences on July 2. When comparing the honest chapter with ancient images of St. Maximus, similarities emerged. The conclusion of the anthropologists was brought to the attention of His Holiness the Patriarch on the same day, who blessed the raising of the honorable remains on July 3, 1996. The relics of St. Maximus were transferred to a temporary shrine, adapted for transfer, and covered with a monastic robe. The reliquary was brought into the Holy Spirit Church and installed in a specially prepared place in the middle of the temple.

The discovery of the holy relics of St. Maximus the Greek was a great event for all of Orthodoxy, because St. Maximus the Greek is also venerated as a saint in the Churches of Constantinople and Greece.

The relics of the saint are in the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra .

Cancer with the relics of Maxim the Greek. Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity Lavra of Sergius

Reverend Maxim the Greek is a talented, highly educated person, a born publicist and exposer. In his person we meet a Greek by origin, a Slav in spirit and a truly Russian man in his selfless service to the Russian people. In Russia, he was not a conductor of revivalist trends, but a pillar of Orthodoxy.

Troparion to St. Maximus the Greek, tone 8
We look at the dawn of the Spirit, / you have been vouchsafed to the divinely wise to understand, / illuminating the hearts of men darkened by ignorance with the light of piety, / you have become the most enlightened lamp of Orthodoxy, O Reverend Maximus, / from jealousy for the sake of the All-Seeing / of the fatherland, alien and strange, you were a prisoner of the Russian country, / the sufferings of the dungeons and having endured imprisonment from the autocratic, / you are crowned by the right hand of the Most High and work glorious miracles. / And be an immutable intercessor for us, // who honor your holy memory with love.

Kontakion to St. Maximus the Greek, tone 8
By God-inspired Scripture and the preaching of theology / You have exposed the superstition of those who do not believe, O All-Rich One, / Moreover, by correcting them in Orthodoxy, You have guided them to the path of true knowledge, / Like a God-voiced pipe, delighting the minds of those who hear, / Constantly cheerful, Most wondrous Maximus, / For this reason we pray to Thee: pray to Christ the God of sins to send down the remission of sins // by faith singing your all-holy Dormition, Maxim, our father.

Maxim the Greek (in the world Mikhail Trivolis) was born in 1470 in Albania, in the ancient city of Arta, in the family of a Greek dignitary. He came from the ancient and noble Byzantine family of Trivolis. One of his ancestors occupied the throne of the Patriarchs of Constantinople. His uncle, Demetrius Trivolis, was a friend of Thomas Palaiologos, brother of the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI and grandfather of the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily II. The saint's parents, Manuel and Irina, were educated people and were distinguished by their piety and devotion to the Orthodox faith, which they also raised in their son. Wealthy parents gave him an excellent education.

Saint Reverend Maxim the Greek

Around 1480, Michael ends up on the island of Corfu (Kerkyra), which belonged to Venice; here he is trained in classical sciences by John Moschos. Having graduated from school on the island of Corfu, at the age of 20 he already ran for the council of this self-governing territory, but failed. In 1492, young Michael went to continue his education in Italy, which after the fall of Constantinople became the center of Greek education. Michael Trivolis traveled a lot: he lived and studied in Venice, in the Greek school that existed here for a long time, in Padua, famous for its university, in other cities. Later, about this time of his life, the Monk Maxim wrote: “ If the Lord, who cares about the salvation of all, had not had mercy on me and... had not illuminated my thought with His light, then I, along with the preachers of wickedness who were there, would have perished long ago».

Becoming a monk on Mount Athos

But the Greek Michael, spiritually nourished by the Orthodox Church, in search of genuine saving wisdom, mentally reaches out to the East. From one of his teachers, John Laskaris, who took up to 200 ancient books from Athos to Florence, Michael heard about the abundance of book treasures stored in monastery libraries, the richest of which was the library of the Vatopedi monastery: two people who fled in Vatopedi left their handwritten codices to it Emperor - Andronikos Palaiologos and John Kantakouzenos. He also heard about the great God-wise elders who labored in the Svyatogorsk monasteries. In 1504, Michael left his monastery, left Italy and in 1505 took monastic vows with the name Maxim, in honor of Maxim the Confessor, in the Annunciation Athos Vatopedi Monastery.

Sending to Rus'

Vasily III received the Athos people with great honor and appointed the Kremlin Miracle Monastery as their place of residence.

Fall from grace

Moscow reacted with distrust to the corrections he made to the liturgical books. His reproaches regarding Russian people’s ignorance of the truths of faith and failure to observe the commandments of Christ, the fulfillment of one external ritual, without spiritual achievement, in the vain hope of salvation through external piety alone, were also taken as an insult.

Exile to Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery

Joseph-Volotsky Monastery

But one day the Lord appeared to an exhausted prisoner in the form of an Angel of God with the words: “ Be patient, old man, with these temporary sufferings you will get rid of eternal torment" Filled with spiritual joy, the prisoner sang the canon to the Holy Spirit the Comforter, which was later found written on the walls of his prison cell.

Exile to Tverskoy Otroch-Uspensky Monastery

In 1531 Saint Maximus again appeared before the cathedral court. This time Metropolitan Daniel spoke with accusations of treason, witchcraft and blasphemous language, allegedly discovered in translations he made 10 years before the trial. By the time of the trial, the monk already had a good command of the Russian language and rejected all fabrications.

Otroch Assumption Monastery

The Monk Maxim was transferred from Joseph Monastery to Tverskoy Otroch under the supervision of Bishop Akaki, known for his ascetic life. Here he spent more than 15 years. Bishop Akaki of Tver was a kind man. He treated Saint Maximus mercifully and compassionately. While in Moscow, he begged the Grand Duke to show mercy to the prisoner for the sake of the newborn heir to the throne, Ivan, to remove his shackles. His Grace Akaki invited the monk to the bishop's house and shared a meal with him, allowing him to come to church, which caused discontent in Moscow. The bishop allowed the convict to keep books, pen, paper and ink with him.

At the Otrochy Monastery, the monk compiled interpretations of the book of Genesis, Psalms, books of the Prophets, the Gospel and the Apostle.

Transfer to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Death of St. Maximus the Greek

View of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra (1890s)

Elder Maxim the Greek spent the last years of his life in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

After the death of Maxim the Greek, worship of him as a great theologian and teacher began.

In 1591, on the day of the examination of the relics of the saint at his tomb, 16 people were healed.

Canonization and discovery of relics

Venerable Maxim the Greek canonized as a Saint at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1988. However, the question of the whereabouts of his holy relics remained open.

The discovery of his holy relics took place in the Lavra in 1996. Before the start of the excavations on June 24, 1996, the confessor of the Lavra, Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov), performed a prayer service to St. Maxim in the Holy Spiritual Church of the Lavra. The brethren of the Lavra, students of Moscow Theological schools and participants in the excavations prayed during the service. Around midnight on June 30, a fragrance was felt from the southern part of the excavation (which was felt for several days after), and after some time the honest head of St. Maximus appeared. The work continued until almost 2 am. On Tuesday, July 1, a detailed report was made to His Holiness the Patriarch about the results of the work carried out and about the discovery of the honest remains of St. Maximus the Greek. It was noted that historical and archaeological data, as well as a clearly perceptible fragrance, reliably testify that the relics belong to St. Maximus. His Holiness gave his blessing for the anthropological examination, which was carried out by leading specialists of the Russian Academy of Sciences on July 2. When comparing the honest chapter with ancient images of St. Maximus, similarities emerged. The conclusion of the anthropologists was brought to the attention of His Holiness the Patriarch on the same day, who blessed the raising of the honorable remains on July 3, 1996. The relics of St. Maxim were transferred to a temporary shrine, adapted for transfer, and covered with a monastic robe. The reliquary was brought into the Holy Spirit Church and installed in a specially prepared place in the middle of the temple.

The relics of the saint are in the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Cancer with the relics of Maxim the Greek. Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity Lavra of Sergius

Reverend Maxim the Greek is a talented, highly educated person, a natural denouncer-publicist. In his person we meet a Greek by origin, a Slav in spirit and a truly Russian man in his selfless service to the Russian people. In Russia, he was not a conductor of revivalist trends, but a pillar of Orthodoxy.

Troparion to St. Maximus the Greek, tone 8
We look at the dawn of the Spirit, / you have been vouchsafed to the divinely wise to understand, / illuminating the hearts of men darkened by ignorance with the light of piety, / you have appeared as the most luminous lamp of Orthodoxy, O Reverend Maxim, / from jealousy for the sake of the All-Seeing / of the fatherland, alien and strange, you were a prisoner of the Russian country, / the sufferings of the dungeons and having endured imprisonment from the autocratic, / you are crowned by the right hand of the Most High and work glorious miracles. / And be an immutable intercessor for us, // who honor your holy memory with love.

Kontakion to St. Maximus the Greek, tone 8
Through the inspired Scripture and preaching of theology / you have exposed the superstition of those who do not believe, O you who are all rich, / moreover, by correcting them in Orthodoxy, you have guided them onto the path of true knowledge, / like a god-voiced pipe, delighting the minds of those who hear, / constantly cheerful, most wonderful Maximus, / for this reason we pray to Thee: pray to Christ the God of sins to send down the remission of sins // by faith sing your all-holy Dormition, Maxim, our father.

St. Maximus, in the world Michael Trivolis, is considered the patron saint of scientists, theologians, translators, linguists, students and seminarians, as well as a prayer intercessor for missionaries, catechists and apologists.

Monastic path

Michael was born in 1475 (according to other sources in 1480) in the city of Arta (Albania), in the family of a wealthy Greek dignitary. His parents, Manuel and Irina, professed Christianity.

The future Saint received an excellent and varied education; in his youth he traveled extensively throughout Europe - he visited Paris, Florence, Venice, where he studied languages and sciences.

Great opportunities were open to Mikhail - if he wanted, he could achieve a high position in society, but worldly fame did not attract him. He went to Athos, where in 1505 (according to other sources, 1507) he took monastic vows with the name Maxim in the Vatopedi monastery.

In the monastery, where the monk spent about 10 years, he enthusiastically studied the ancient manuscripts left there by the Greek emperors (Andronicus Palaiologos and John Kantakouzenos).

It was during these years that the monk Maxim wrote his first works and compiled a canon to John the Baptist. Although his main obedience was collecting donations in favor of the Athonite monasteries, which he collected on trips to the cities and villages of Greece.

On the Holy Mountain, the Monk Maxim enjoyed high spiritual authority. However, in 1515 he had to leave her.

The Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Ioannovich (1505 - 1533) turned to the Patriarch of Constantinople with a request to send him a Greek scholar to understand the Greek manuscripts and books of his mother, Sophia Palaeologus.

Monk Maxim received instructions to go to Moscow, where upon arrival he began to translate Greek liturgical books into Church Slavonic - interpretations of the Psalter, the book of the Acts of the Apostles and other books.

The Monk Maxim diligently and carefully tried to fulfill all orders. But, due to the fact that the Slavic language was not the native language of the translator, naturally, some inaccuracies arose in the translations.

He wrote apologetic and moralizing letters against Mohammedans, papism, pagans, as well as interpretations of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospels of Matthew and John. The works of St. Maxim were highly valued by Metropolitan Varlaam of Moscow (1511-1521).

From translator to prisoners

The situation changed when Metropolitan Daniel (1522-1539) took the Moscow throne. For his straightforwardness and truth, the Monk Maxim fell into disgrace - he suffered an unfair trial, false accusations, excommunication, imprisonment and exile.

In particular, for inaccuracies found in the translations, the Monk Maxim was accused of deliberately damaging books.

It was hard for the Monk Maxim in prison, but in the midst of his suffering the monk also acquired the great mercy of God. An angel appeared to him and said: “Be patient, old man, with these temporary sufferings you will get rid of eternal torment.”

Filled with spiritual joy, the prisoner wrote a canon to the Holy Spirit the Comforter on the walls of his prison with charcoal. This canon is still read in the Church: “Who fed Israel with manna in the desert of old, fill my soul, O Lord, with the All-Holy Spirit, so that I may serve You with pleasure in Him...”

Reproduction of the icon "St. Maxim the Greek"

The Monk Maxim was released from prison after six years and sent under church ban to Tver, where he spent 20 years. In Tver he lived under the supervision of the good-natured Bishop Akaki, who mercifully treated the innocent victim.

“Do not grieve, do not grieve, do not grieve, dear soul, that you are suffering without truth, from which it would behoove you to receive all the good things, for you used them spiritually, offering them a meal filled with the Holy Spirit...”

Only after twenty years of staying in Tver, the Monk Maxim was allowed to live freely and the church ban was lifted from him. Maxim the Greek spent the last years of his life in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra - he was about 70 years old.

As a result of persecution and imprisonment, the saint's health suffered, but his spirit was cheerful, and he continued to work. Together with his cell attendant and disciple Neil, the monk diligently translated the Psalter from Greek into Slavic.

The monk reposed on January 21, 1556 and was buried at the northwestern wall of the Spiritual Church of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

How the Saint is glorified

The local glorification of Maxim the Greek took place under the first All-Russian Patriarch Job in 1591, when, with the blessing of the Patriarch, the relics of the saint were examined: “And a fragrance was opened, and a fragrance came from his relics, and his body was safe and sound, and his vestments and mantle, and everything on his veil has not decayed, and on his front hand, and his right hand is bent with a cross.”

On the day the relics of the saint were found, sixteen people were healed at his tomb. In the Sergius Lavra, legends about the miracles that happened at the tomb of the saint are carefully preserved, on which the troparion and kontakion to him are written.

Above the burial place of Maxim the Greek, a chapel attached to the Spiritual Church was erected - the so-called Maxim’s Tent. It was rebuilt and expanded several times, but was destroyed in 1938-1940.

In the 17th century, the image of St. Maxim the Greek was depicted on the frescoes of the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, St. Sophia Cathedral in Vologda, and the Yaroslavl Church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo. The face of St. Maxim is often depicted on the icon of the Council of Radonezh Saints.

St. Maximus was also depicted in miniatures. On icons his image was depicted with a halo. At the end of the 17th century, the name of St. Maxim was included in the calendar.

At the end of the 19th century, the Life of St. Maxim the Greek was published, which was included as an integral part in the Trinity Patericon. In 1908, his Life was published as a separate edition with an iconographic image of the Saint. The name of Maxim the Greek was included in the Athos Patericon. In all publications of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra he was called the venerable.

Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, at which nine “ascetics of piety” were canonized, including Maxim the Greek (1470-1556)

In 1988, during the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus' at the Council, held in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, St. Maxim the Greek was canonized among the newly glorified Russian Saints.

Finding the relics

The question of the whereabouts of the saint’s holy relics remained open - at the time of the general church glorification there were no visible traces left over the grave, so the need arose for archaeological excavations.

The relics of St. Maxim the Greek were discovered in 1996. First, the pavement of stone slabs on which people walked was removed from the surface of the earth. To avoid mistakes, a large area was excavated - approximately 10 by six meters.

Finally, at the northwestern corner of the Holy Spiritual Church, the foundations of the first or one of the first “tents” built over the grave of St. Maxim the Greek were discovered - the search was concentrated mainly inside them. The work was complicated by the soil - damp, heavy continental clay.

Around midnight on June 30, archaeologists felt a fragrance (which was felt for several days after), and after some time the honest head of St. Maximus appeared.

A detailed report was made to His Holiness the Patriarch on July 1 about the results of the work carried out and about the discovery of the honest remains of St. Maximus the Greek.

His Holiness gave his blessing for the anthropological examination, which was carried out by leading specialists of the Russian Academy of Sciences on July 2. When comparing the honest chapter with ancient images of St. Maximus, similarities emerged. Based on the conclusion of anthropologists, on July 3, 1996, His Holiness the Patriarch blessed the recovery of the honorable remains.

The holy relics of the saint are in the Church of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The reliquary was installed at the site where the relics of the Saint were found (near the northern wall).

Reverend Maxim the Greek is considered one of the most important people who helped literally put the Russian Orthodox Church on its feet and introduce it to world Christian traditions.

The discovery of the Holy relics of Maximus the Greek was a great event for all of Orthodoxy, because the saint is also venerated as a Saint in the Churches of Constantinople and Greece.

What do they pray for?

They pray to St. Maximus the Greek for confirmation in faith, strength of spirit and faith, understanding of Orthodox doctrine and Scripture, conversion of non-believers and sectarians to Orthodoxy, they ask him for help and support during persecution for the faith and unjust oppression of the authorities. The Monk Maxim the Greek has the gift of healing for various diseases, especially depression and despondency.

Prayer

Reverend Father Maxima! Look upon us mercifully and lead those who are devoted to the earth to the heights of heaven. You are a mountain in heaven, we are on earth below, removed from you, not only by place, but by our sins and iniquities, but we run to you and cry: teach us to walk in your way, enlighten us and guide us. Your whole holy life has been a mirror of every virtue. Do not stop, servant of God, crying to the Lord for us. By your intercession, ask from our All-Merciful God the peace of His Church, under the sign of the militant cross, agreement in faith and unity of wisdom, destruction of vanities and schisms, affirmation in good deeds, healing for the sick, consolation for the sad, intercession for the offended, help for the needy. Do not disgrace us, who come to you with faith. All Orthodox Christians, having performed your miracles and beneficent mercies, confess you to be their patron and intercessor. Show your ancient mercies, and to whom you helped the Father, do not reject us, their children, who are marching towards you in their footsteps. Standing before your most honorable icon, as I live for you, we fall down and pray: accept our prayers and offer them up on the altar of God’s mercy, so that we may receive your grace and timely help in our needs. Strengthen our cowardice and confirm us in faith, so that we undoubtedly hope to receive all the good things from the mercy of the Master through your prayers. Oh, great servant of God! Help all of us who flow to you with faith through your intercession to the Lord, and guide us all in peace and repentance, end our lives and move with hope into the blessed bosom of Abraham, where you now rest joyfully in your labors and struggles, glorifying God with all the saints , in the Trinity glorified, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The material was prepared based on open sources

The Monk Maxim the Greek (in the world Michael Trivolis) was born in Albania in the city of Arta around 1480, into a Greek family. He received a good education in Italy, where many Greeks moved after the fall of Constantinople and where science then flourished. Mikhail attended the lessons of the best teachers in Florence, Venice, Padua, Milan and Ferrara, leading the life of a wandering student. In Venice, he worked in a printing house, proofreading publications of the Greek fathers, then he was a teacher of the Greek language and a copyist of the works of the Church Fathers, and listened to lectures by the famous scientist John Lascaris, who taught at the Sorbonne in Paris. Soon young Michael turned into a devout Catholic. He was delighted with the sermons of Jerome Savonarola, who passionately denounced the debauched morals of the then Vatican. The martyrdom of the famous preacher shocked Michael, and he rushed to the monastery of St. Mark, whose abbot was formerly Savonarola. But having taken monastic vows, he did not live even a year in a Catholic monastery. Remaining true to his desire to devote himself to scientists and monastic works, Maxim arrived on Athos in 1507, converted to Orthodoxy and entered the Vatopedi monastery, which had a rich library. For 10 years, he enthusiastically studied ancient manuscripts left on Mount Athos by the Greek emperors.

At this time, the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III, having decided to understand the books of his mother Sophia Paleologus, turned to Athos with a request to send a learned monk. The choice of the elders fell on the Monk Maxim.

In March 1518, Maxim arrived in Moscow. He was greeted with honor and placed in the court Chudov Monastery and tasked with translating the Explanatory Psalter into Slavic. The translation of the huge book was successfully completed after a year and five months. Not only the sovereign, but also the boyars and nobles respected Maxim, they turned to him for advice in church affairs, and resorted to his intercession. However, the situation soon changed.

The main task entrusted to Maxim was the correction of liturgical books. In the lists of these books he discovered many errors, sometimes heretical. Maxim condemned the Russians for their errors and managed to make many ill-wishers by denouncing the Moscow boyars for ostentatious piety, debauchery, and unfair trials. This caused considerable murmur, in retaliation he was slandered before the Grand Duke, and in 1525 Maxim was transferred from Chudov to the Simonov Monastery under strict supervision, and then sent to the Joseph-Volotsky Monastery for imprisonment “for the sake of conversion, and repentance, and correction,” with a ban, as an unrepentant heretic, from going to church and receiving Holy Communion, teaching, writing, or correspondence.

In the Volokolamsk monastery, Maxim could not expect any leniency; here he had to endure, in his own words, “various embitterments and languor from hunger, and from cold, and from smoke, from which he sometimes became as if dead.” But he was consoled by the appearance of an Angel, who said: “Be patient, old man, with these torments you will be freed from eternal torment.” In gratitude for such a wonderful visit, the Monk Maxim wrote a canon to the Holy Spirit on the walls of his cell with charcoal. Six years later he was transferred to the Tverskoy Otroch Monastery. Here his situation was much easier; he was allowed to work.

After the death of Grand Duke Vasily, Maxim made a new attempt to achieve acquittal. With the blessing of Metropolitan Joasaph, the church ban was lifted from him, but he was left under supervision. And only 20 years later he was allowed to move from Tver to the monastery of St. Sergius.

The Monk Maxim the Greek died in 1556 and was buried near the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity Sergius Monastery. In 1591, after examining the relics, Patriarch Job gave his blessing to compile a service for him, paint an icon and celebrate the memory on the day of St. Maximus the Confessor on January 21.

Maxim the Greek is a symbol of humility and wisdom. Even countless epidemics, droughts and persecutions could not shake his indestructible faith.

Any image of a saint carries within itself Divine participation, support and support in difficult times. Prayers before icons should sound correctly. In your requests you should trust in the saint who is closer to your desires. Each righteous person distinguished himself by certain merits during his lifetime, and now he helps lost and tormented souls come to the light. Maxim the Greek is a preacher who will become your guide to the world of humility and happiness.

Maxim Grek had noble roots and an excellent education. His pilgrimage to European cities allowed him to study many languages, which were later useful in Moscow. The Saint chose to serve the Lord as his mission, postponing his career prospects.

For Great Maxim, there was nothing more important than serving the church and people. The preacher argued that only the Lord is true life, and called noble and poor people to this. During his lifetime, he not only glorified the word of God, but also helped with the translation of the holy books into a more accessible language. However, inaccuracies in the translation due to the complex language served as a reason for the removal of holy orders.

Having endured severe torment, imprisonment and exile, Maxim the Greek continued to serve the Lord faithfully. The saint knew how to feel the piercing purity of the canons and bring it to the people, for which the preacher was canonized. The martyr, who knows how to sense any deviation of society from the Orthodox faith, immediately tried to correct it and guide people on the true path. In 1988, the Pleasant was canonized.

Maxim the Greek departed to the Kingdom of Heaven in the Trinity Monastery. Later, miraculous things began to happen at his relics, and the remains of the Saint themselves were incorruptible. In 1996, the discovery of the holy relics took place. As the people working during the excavations claimed, there was a fragrance everywhere, which is a confirmation of holy power and Divine participation.

Where is the icon of Maxim the Greek located?

At the end of the 20th century, the similarity of the relics with previously painted portraits of the preacher was noticed. It was a real miracle to find a shrine, which at that time was revered in European countries. In Russia he was canonized only in 1988. Icon painters of that time depicted the image of the saint, which to this day is located next to the relics in the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The face of the preacher is often depicted at the Cathedral of Radonezh Saints.

Description of the icon

The zealot of truth and piety is depicted facing the righteous, up to the waist. In earlier icons, the ruler of truth holds a psalm in his right hand, and his left is moved to the side. A blue robe covers his body. A distinctive feature is the presence of a thick gray beard.

In later icons, Maxim the Greek is depicted in full growth, holding a cross and the Holy Scriptures in his hands. He is dressed in a pinkish priestly robe with a dark blue cape.

What does an icon help with?

Maxim the Greek is the patron saint of scientists, priests, missionaries, students and disciples. People turn to his help in the absence of faith or to strengthen it. In their prayers, people call on the holy saint to help them endure all the litigation and persecution. Those who have been tested by someone else's faith also pray before the image of the preacher.

In moments of weakening faith and severe torment, you should definitely ask for the intercession of the great martyr. If you feel the injustice of power, constant persecution and oppression, acquire for yourself such a valuable and miraculous image. The spiritual power of the icon of Maxim the Greek can help with illnesses, especially mental ones - depression and despondency.

Prayer before the icon

“Reverend Maxim, descend upon us with your mercy and help us find unshakable faith. We are separated from you by our sins, lawlessness, selfish thoughts and evil thoughts. But now we pray for your help. Guide us on the true path, enlighten us and take the lives of sinful slaves (name) under your protection. Your whole life has been an example of virtue and piety, so teach us this too. Beg your Heavenly Father for help in establishing your faith. Grant healing to the sick, to the offended and persecuted—intercession, a calling for those in need. All Orthodox Christians worship your miracles, mercy and strength of spirit. Before your image, we ask for help. Oh, Great Pleasant, help people who turn to You with faith in earthly deeds and repentance. We glorify our God with all the saints. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

Icon Veneration Day

Orthodox people celebrate the saint's feast day on January 21 according to the old style and February 3 according to the new style. The discovery of the relics is celebrated on July 4th according to the new style.

The role of Saint Maximus the Greek in the formation of Orthodox Christianity is unusually great. The elder gave his whole life to serve the Lord and all people in need. Reading prayers, especially for the coming dream, before his image will help change your life for the better. Be happy, have strong faith,and don't forget to press the buttons and