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The Life of our Holy Father, Maximus the Confessor
English, Russian (translation)
- GenresHistory
73 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 23, 2019
Excellent life, very inspiring. It makes very clear how Orthodox Christians are supposed to behave when faced with heretical bishops: Where there is no Apostolic Faith, there is no apostolic succession.
February 28, 2014
I read the translation from the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston. St. Maximus is great. No question there. Some of the discussion concerning the uncreated nature of grace (more specifically in episcopal consecration) and the abandonment thereof by hierarchs through heresy sheds light on the need to continually abide in the truth (2 Jn. 1:9).
However, I was disappointed at this particular version because it seems that they were more out to prove a point about the calendar. For example, the book is dedicated thus: "Dedicated to all the clergy, monastics, and laity who in this hemisphere have withdrawn from communion with those hierarchs and churches which have espoused the heresy of ecumenism, and who in this unbelieveing and perverse generation have stood fast in the Orthodox confession."
The subsequent 70 pages of this book are all painted with this self-justifying shade to the point that the dogma of Christ's two wills becomes more of a side note. Instead the theme of St. Maximus vs. the Empire becomes a desperate opportunity to rant about "the ecumenists."
It is not as if ecumenism isn't a problem, but I really wanted to learn more about the life of St. Maximus rather than the indignation of schismatics -_-
However, I was disappointed at this particular version because it seems that they were more out to prove a point about the calendar. For example, the book is dedicated thus: "Dedicated to all the clergy, monastics, and laity who in this hemisphere have withdrawn from communion with those hierarchs and churches which have espoused the heresy of ecumenism, and who in this unbelieveing and perverse generation have stood fast in the Orthodox confession."
The subsequent 70 pages of this book are all painted with this self-justifying shade to the point that the dogma of Christ's two wills becomes more of a side note. Instead the theme of St. Maximus vs. the Empire becomes a desperate opportunity to rant about "the ecumenists."
It is not as if ecumenism isn't a problem, but I really wanted to learn more about the life of St. Maximus rather than the indignation of schismatics -_-
November 14, 2020
A short retelling of St. Maximus the Confessor's life. It really highlights his commitment to God despite what probably felt like the whole so-called Christian world against him. It hits on some of the heresies of the time (Monophysitism and Monoenergism) and how it may have seemed like a nit-picky philosophically dispute to divide over but St Maximus knew the Gospel and true understanding of Christ was at stake.
This telling of his life is surrounded by anti-ecumenism sections relating St. Maximus' struggle with the current ecumenist movement and its movement way from truth. I read some other reviews that this book was written by 'True Orthodox' guys which are schimatics. I'm not too knowledgable about that so I recommend this book but I would be mindful of that in case it is true.
This telling of his life is surrounded by anti-ecumenism sections relating St. Maximus' struggle with the current ecumenist movement and its movement way from truth. I read some other reviews that this book was written by 'True Orthodox' guys which are schimatics. I'm not too knowledgable about that so I recommend this book but I would be mindful of that in case it is true.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews