Saint Maximos the Greek
The learned monk from Arta who became a translator and reformer in Russia.
- Born
- Arta, about 1470–1475 (sources differ)
- Birth name
- Michael Trivolis
- Died
- 21 January 1556, Lavra of Saint Sergius
- Canonised
- 1988
- Church
- Trigono area, Arta
Maximos the Greek was born in Arta as Michael Trivolis, to a noble and educated family. The exact year differs: the Greek Wikipedia gives 1475, the Discover Arta site 1470.
His life
He studied in Corfu, Venice, Padua, Florence and Milan. In 1505–06 he became a monk on Mount Athos and took the name Maximos. In 1516 he went to Russia, at the invitation of Tsar Vasily III, to translate liturgical and theological books into Slavonic. He was accused of heresy and magic and imprisoned for many years. In 1551 he was moved to the Lavra of Saint Sergius, where he died on 21 January 1556. In Russia he is known as Maksim Grek.
The church in Arta
He was canonised on 31 May 1988 and his feast day is 21 January. In Arta, in the Trigono area, a church in his honour was inaugurated in June 2016, the first in his birthplace; according to Discover Arta it is not yet complete and holds relics of the saint.
