My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
+
ON JANUARY 21st OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES OUR VENERABLE FATHER MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR
Saint Maximos, our holy Father, a Constantinopolitan, was born in 580 A.D. to a prosperous and pious Orthodox family of noble lineage. His baptismal name was Moschos. From an early age, Maximos displayed good conduct and a pure disposition. He was provided with an education in philosophy, rhetoric, and grammar. Possessed of a sharp mind and diligent character, he learned his lessons quickly. In short, he was prepared for a career at the Imperial Court. The young Maximos successfully completed his curriculum, excelling in expounding upon the philosophical and theological foundations of Orthodox Christian spirituality. He pursued what was good and useful, leaving behind what was injurious and useless to the soul. His soul was smitten with divine love. He only wished to please God. He was humble-minded and moderate. He was not puffed up due to his family's nobility. He was not proud on account of his own wisdom and virtue.
By the time St. Maximos reached his early thirties, he achieved a respected name in the Senate for his competence in government matters. Herakletos had heard good reports of Maximos and therefore retained him as a secretary, entrusting him with official Palace documents. He became head of the Imperial Chancellery or First Secretary to Emperor Herakletos (610-640 A.D.) He would often take counsel with Maximos, on various matters. In 627 A.D., Herakletos invaded Persia, overthrew Chosroes II, and recovered the True Cross which had been captured by the Persians. Immediately following the recovery of the holy relic of the True Cross, after an 18 year was with the Persians, the atmosphere at the Byzantine Court was zealous.
After resigning his post and repaired to the Monastery of the Theotokos at Scutari, across the Bosporos, that he might fulfill his love for quietude and prayer. He received the Monastic Tonsure and the name Maximos, and became thoroughly engaged in the ascetical life. He overcame the tyranny of the passions by daily meditation on the Holy Scripture and study of the writings of the Holy Fathers. He was held in high regard among the brotherhood of that monastery, surpassing all the brethren in ascetic struggles. After a few years, when the Egoumenos (Abbot) reposed, a vote was taken. Father Maximos was then asked to take up the Office of Hegoumenos. He now no longer had the care of his own soul's salvation but also that of others, which role he took seriously in the knowledge that he would answer for his charges before Christ.
Maximos had come to be known as "Maximos the Wise" not only among fellow monastics but also with the diplomats and government officials with whom he had served. He would now prepare to defend the Apostolic Faith through God-inspired words. In both the East and West, he is acknowledged as the most significant theologian of his times. He expounded and acted upon the traditions handed down to him, that is, Mysteries (Sacraments), divine offices, Holy Scripture, Synods, Saints, and writings of the Holy Fathers.
The most influential of his early writings were The Ascetic Life, a catechetical piece on the two great commandments, and The Four Centuries of Love, consisting of practical discourses on the Christian life and prayer, and the practice of the virtues. Father Maximos taught that the virtues are natural. By nature, we have an appetite simply for what is good. Nature impels us to desire and move toward obtaining these virtues. They exist in all men because of the identical nature of men, but we do not all practice what is natural to us to an equal degree. With regard to asceticism, he comments that it was devised in order to ward off deception, which establishes itself through sensory perception. When deception is completely expelled, the soul immediately exhibits the splendor of its natural virtue. Father Maximos perceived the Holy Scripture as foretelling man's purpose since it was God Who said, "Let us make man according to Our image and likeness...And God made man according to the image of God He made him, male and female He made them. And God blessed them...And God saw all the things that He had made, and, behold, they were very good (Genesis 1:26, 27, 28, 31). Saint Maximos said that we are taught to speak to ourselves of the grace of adoption, since we are by grace worthy to call Father the One Who is Our Creator by nature. Thus by respecting the designation of Our Begetter in grace, we are eager to set on our life the features of the One Who gave us life. We sanctify His Name on earth in taking after Him as Father, in showing ourselves by our actions to be His Children."
In his work, entitled Four Centuries of Love, our Holy Father Maximos makes clear in the first letter, "First Century," that a Christian trains in love (agape): "Love is a good disposition of the soul by which one prefers no creature to the knowledge of God. It is impossible to attain to a lasting possession of such love if one has any attachment to earthly things." Saint Maximus encourages us, writing: "Love is begotten of detachment...In the "Third Century," Saint Maximos reminds one of the Christ-like response to passions, for example, resentment, by saying: "If you harbor resentment against anyone, pray for him and you will prevent the passion from being aroused; for by means of prayer you will separate you grief from the thought of the wrong he has done you." When you have become loving and compassionate toward him, you will wipe the passion completely from your soul. If someone regards you with resentment, be pleasant to him, be humble and agreeable in his company; and you will deliver him from his passion."
In the "Fourth Century," he wrote: "the one who loves Christ thoroughly imitates him as much as he can. Thus Christ did not cease to do good to men. Treated ungratefully and blasphemed, He was patient; beaten and put to death by them, He endured, not thinking ill of anyone at all. These three are the works of love of neighbor, in the absence of which a person who says he loves Christ or possesses His Kingdom deceived himself."
The Lord summoned Saint Maximos to the heavenly Jerusalem, by revealing to him the day and hour of his repose. This ushered in great joy for the Martyr and Confessor, who then gladly surrendered his soul into the hands of Christ God, Whom he had loved from his youth and for Whom he had suffered so greatly. The heavenly man and earthly angel, Saint Maximos reposed in Lazika on the 21st day of January, in the year 662 A.D. at the age of 82.
After the internment of the holy relics of Saint Maximus in Schemarion, there appeared every night thee lamps over his tomb. They miraculously burned and illuminated the entire place. This wondrous phenomenon confirmed for many how much boldness the Venerable Maximos found before the Lord Christ, to Whom is due all glory, honor, and veneration, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
______________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George