ST. MAXIMOS CONFESSOR (JAN. 21ST)

St. Maximos the Confessor Communing with Christ and Receiving Insights into the Mystery of Creation

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

In the realm of Christian saints, one figure shines brightly as a beacon of unwavering faith and profound theological insight: St. Maximos the Confessor. Born in Constantinople around AD 580, St. Maximos emerged as a pivotal figure during a tumultuous period in the Byzantine Empire.

From an early age, Maximos exhibited a keen intellect and deep spiritual yearning. His journey led him to monastic life, where he delved into the teachings of the Church Fathers, which he found to contain many contradictions. As a young scholar and mystic, St. Maximos took these contradictions as a challenge to Christian Faith, synthesizing an understanding of philosophy and theology that became the great tome called “On the Ambiguities of the Church Fathers” or “Ambigua,” which contributed significantly to the development of Orthodox Christian theology.

During the Monothelite controversy, a theological dispute that threatened the unity of the Church, St. Maximos fearlessly defended the Orthodox faith. His steadfast commitment to the doctrine of two wills in Christ, human and divine, earned him the title "Confessor."

The price of his convictions was high. Emperor Constans II, embroiled in the controversy, ordered the arrest and mutilation of St. Maximos, having his tongue cut out. The Confessor endured the horrific ordeal with remarkable resilience, steadfast in his faith.

Exiled to Rome and silenced, St. Maximos continued his theological writings, leaving a lasting legacy. His "Centuries on Love" and "Four Hundred Chapters on Love" illuminate the path of spiritual ascent and the transformative power of divine love.

Despite persecution, St. Maximos' influence extended beyond his time. Later recognized as a Doctor of the Church in the Latin West, his teachings resonated with scholars as different as Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin, emphasizing the enduring relevance of his theological insights.

St. Maximos the Confessor, through his unwavering faith, intellectual brilliance, and sacrificial endurance, remains a guiding light in the annals of Orthodox Christian history. His life exemplifies the courage to stand for truth and love, even in the face of adversity. May we, like St. Maximos, find inspiration in the pursuit of both intellectual depth and spiritual fervor on our own journeys of faith.

COLLECT 

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, through the teachings and steadfast faith of Thy servant St. Maximos the Confessor, didst preserve the integrity of the Orthodox Faith in times of theological turmoil, grant unto us, we beseech Thee, the grace to stand firm in our beliefs amidst the challenges of this present age. May his exemplary life and sacrificial endurance inspire us to uphold the truth and embrace the transformative power of Thy Divine Love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.