Maximus the Greek

Saint Maximus the Greek
Saint Maximus the Greek
	16th or 17th century icon
Monk
Born	c. 1475; Arta, Rumelia Eyalet, Ottoman Empire (now Greece)
Died	c. 1556; Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Sergiyev Posad, Russia
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	6 June 1988, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius by 1988 Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, (Patriarch Pimen I of Moscow)
Feast	21 January

Maximus the Greek, also known as Maximos the Greek or Maksim Grek (Greek: Μάξιμος ὁ Γραικός;^[a] Russian: Максим Грек; c. 1475 – c. 1556), was a Greek monk, publicist, writer, scholar, and translator active in Russia.^[1]^[2]^[3] He is also called Maximos the Hagiorite (Μάξιμος ὁ Ἁγιορίτης),^[4] as well as Maximus the Philosopher.^[5] His signature was Maximus Grecus Lakedaimon (lit. Maximus the Greek of, and originating from, Lakedaimonia) and his family origins were probably from Mystras, a location in Laconia, which was the geographical site of Ancient Sparta in the Peloponnese.^[6]^[7]

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

^
Sources:
- Treadgold 1973, p. 14: "Maxim the Greek has been shown to be the same as Michael Trivolis, a remarkably learned monk who spent more than half his life in the West. Born at Arta in present-day Greece about 1470, he came from one of the great families of Byzantium, members of which had been friends and counselors of emperors and included a patriarch of Constantinople (Callixtus I, 1350–63)"
- Kaltenbrunner 1989, p. 149: "1492, also noch zu Lebzeiten Picos, kam der junge Grieche Michael Trivolis nach Florenz, wo er in jenen Kreisen verkehrte, die dem Grafen von Mirandola zugeneigt waren. Michael Trivolis wurde Sekretär des gleichfalls philosophisch."
- Fassmann & Bill 1974, pp. 471‒472: "[...] tritt ein junger griechischer Humanist, Michael Trivolis, in das Kloster San Marco ein, das schwer überschattet ist von den Folgen der Vernichtung Savonarolas. Michael hat im Hause der Reichsgrafen della Mirandola deren."
- Letiche & Dmytryshyn 1990, p. 55: "As Possevino says: 'In measure that the 32 Maksim the Greek (original name Michael Trivolis, I470(?)-I557) was a Greek scholar-monk who studied for several years in Florence at the Platonic Academy, where he met many luminaries of the [...]"
- Medlin 1952, p. 64: "Maximus the Greek (born Michael Trivolis, ca. 1475‒1556) had come to Moscow in 1518 in response to Grand Prince Vasili III's request to Mt. Athos monasteries for a learned translator of Greek into Slavonic. The erudite Greek monk [...]"
- Speake 2018, p. 186: "It was the Russian scholar Elie Denissoff who first identified the Greek émigré Michael Trivolis with the monk Maximos the Greek and, thanks to this identification, was able to suggest that his life took the form of a diptych, of which Italy and Russia are the two leaves and Athos is the hinge."
- Johnston 2013, p. 838: "Maximus the Greek, St. c. 1470‒1555 Greek Dominican friar, then Orthodox monk, polemicist, and translator in Russia."
- Onasch 1967, p. 51: "Auf den Moskauer Synoden von 1525 und 1531 lief, er die von dem Griechen Maximos (Maksim Grek) durchgeführten Textrevisionen altrussischer Übersetzungen aus dem Griechischen (Patristica, Liturgica) verwerfen. Maksim kam in strengste Klosterhaft und durfte nicht einmal kommunizieren."
- Trueb 2008, p. 17: "Der griechische Schriftgelehrte Maksim Grek, der seit 1518 am grossfürstlichen Hof tätig war, und russische Bücherliebhaber wie der [...]"
- Thomas & Chesworth 2015, p. 135: "Maximus the Greek Date of Birth 1475 Place of Birth Arta, Greece Date of Death 1556 Place of Death Sergiyev Posad, Russia BIOGRAPHY Maximus the Greek was born Michael Trivolis in 1475 in Arta, Greece, to a family of Greek aristocrats."
- Wes 1992, p. 22: "The oldest was not actually a Russian, but a Greek monk from Arta in Epirus: Maksim Grek (ca 1471–1556). His real name was Mikhail Trivolis."
- Avenarius 2005, p. 119: "Maxim the Greek, already mentioned in connection with the struggle against the Markion heresy (compare VIII. 3.2), was a Greek monk, who came to Russia in 1518 at the invitation of Prince Basil III to participate in correction of the Russian liturgical books [...]"
- Helleman 2004, p. 213: "Maximus the Greek (Mikhail Trivolis) (1475‒1556) Greek Orthodox monk, humanist scholar, and linguist, who received an outstanding education in Europe."
- Steiris 2015, "Maximus was born as Michael Trivoles in Arta. His family came probably from Mystras, in Southern Greece. It is indicative that he signed his works as Maximus Grecus Lakedaimon, e.g., from Lakonia, the era around ancient Sparta."
- Bolshakoff 1976, p. 39: "Many other people suffered with Vassian, including the remarkable Greek humanist Michael Trivilis, known in Russia as Maximus the Greek. Michael Trivolis was born of a great Byzantine aristocratic family in Arta in Epirus in 1470 [...]"
- Vakalopoulos 1976, p. 157: "These included Michael Trivolis from Arta (of the prominent Byzantine family that had taken refuge on Corfu after the Capture), known as Maximos Trivolis after he was tonsured, who studied classical literature and philosophy in Venice, Padua, Ferrara, Florence, and Milan."
- Treadgold 1975, p. 60: "Maxim the Greek has been identified as Michael Trivolis, a remarkably learned monk who spent more than half his life in the West. Born at Arta in present-day Greece about 1470, he came from one of the great families of Byzantium, whose members included friends and counselors of emperors and even a patriarch of Constantinople (Callixtus I, 1350–1363)."
- Zajc 2011, p. 361: "The life path of Michael Trivolis led from his homeland Greece to the North of Italy where, in the town centres, he made acquaintance with the scholars of the time, and where he was involved in writing, copying and translating activities."
- Ryan 2006, p. 64: "They remembered too the more recent attempts to revise the Church Slavonic translations of Greek Church texts by the born-again Greek humanist Michael Trivolis, later known in religion as Maxim, and in Russia as Maxim the Greek."
^ Cite error: The named reference McGuckin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Arans 1983, p. 304; Wieczynski 1976, p. 26; Kovalevsky 1976, p. 142.
^ Grumel 1944, p. 256; Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2002, p. 967.
^ Arans 1983, p. 304.
^ Steiris 2015, "Maximus was born as Michael Trivoles in Arta. His family came probably from Mystras, in Southern Greece. It is indicative that he signed his works as Maximus Grecus Lakedaimon, e.g., from Lakonia, the area around ancient Sparta."
^ Zakythinos 1951, p. 115: "Les noms des Mavropappas, des Sgouromallis, des Lampoudios, des Léontarios, des Mélikis, des Trivolis reviennent dans les sources. [...] Plus d'un membre de la famille Trivolis s'est distingué à Mistra."

[2] Sources:
Treadgold 1973, p. 14: "Maxim the Greek has been shown to be the same as Michael Trivolis, a remarkably learned monk who spent more than half his life in the West. Born at Arta in present-day Greece about 1470, he came from one of the great families of Byzantium, members of which had been friends and counselors of emperors and included a patriarch of Constantinople (Callixtus I, 1350–63)"

Kaltenbrunner 1989, p. 149: "1492, also noch zu Lebzeiten Picos, kam der junge Grieche Michael Trivolis nach Florenz, wo er in jenen Kreisen verkehrte, die dem Grafen von Mirandola zugeneigt waren. Michael Trivolis wurde Sekretär des gleichfalls philosophisch."

Fassmann & Bill 1974, pp. 471‒472: "[...] tritt ein junger griechischer Humanist, Michael Trivolis, in das Kloster San Marco ein, das schwer überschattet ist von den Folgen der Vernichtung Savonarolas. Michael hat im Hause der Reichsgrafen della Mirandola deren."

Letiche & Dmytryshyn 1990, p. 55: "As Possevino says: 'In measure that the 32 Maksim the Greek (original name Michael Trivolis, I470(?)-I557) was a Greek scholar-monk who studied for several years in Florence at the Platonic Academy, where he met many luminaries of the [...]"

Medlin 1952, p. 64: "Maximus the Greek (born Michael Trivolis, ca. 1475‒1556) had come to Moscow in 1518 in response to Grand Prince Vasili III's request to Mt. Athos monasteries for a learned translator of Greek into Slavonic. The erudite Greek monk [...]"

Speake 2018, p. 186: "It was the Russian scholar Elie Denissoff who first identified the Greek émigré Michael Trivolis with the monk Maximos the Greek and, thanks to this identification, was able to suggest that his life took the form of a diptych, of which Italy and Russia are the two leaves and Athos is the hinge."

Johnston 2013, p. 838: "Maximus the Greek, St. c. 1470‒1555 Greek Dominican friar, then Orthodox monk, polemicist, and translator in Russia."

Onasch 1967, p. 51: "Auf den Moskauer Synoden von 1525 und 1531 lief, er die von dem Griechen Maximos (Maksim Grek) durchgeführten Textrevisionen altrussischer Übersetzungen aus dem Griechischen (Patristica, Liturgica) verwerfen. Maksim kam in strengste Klosterhaft und durfte nicht einmal kommunizieren."

Trueb 2008, p. 17: "Der griechische Schriftgelehrte Maksim Grek, der seit 1518 am grossfürstlichen Hof tätig war, und russische Bücherliebhaber wie der [...]"

Thomas & Chesworth 2015, p. 135: "Maximus the Greek Date of Birth 1475 Place of Birth Arta, Greece Date of Death 1556 Place of Death Sergiyev Posad, Russia BIOGRAPHY Maximus the Greek was born Michael Trivolis in 1475 in Arta, Greece, to a family of Greek aristocrats."

Wes 1992, p. 22: "The oldest was not actually a Russian, but a Greek monk from Arta in Epirus: Maksim Grek (ca 1471–1556). His real name was Mikhail Trivolis."

Avenarius 2005, p. 119: "Maxim the Greek, already mentioned in connection with the struggle against the Markion heresy (compare VIII. 3.2), was a Greek monk, who came to Russia in 1518 at the invitation of Prince Basil III to participate in correction of the Russian liturgical books [...]"

Helleman 2004, p. 213: "Maximus the Greek (Mikhail Trivolis) (1475‒1556) Greek Orthodox monk, humanist scholar, and linguist, who received an outstanding education in Europe."

Steiris 2015, "Maximus was born as Michael Trivoles in Arta. His family came probably from Mystras, in Southern Greece. It is indicative that he signed his works as Maximus Grecus Lakedaimon, e.g., from Lakonia, the era around ancient Sparta."

Bolshakoff 1976, p. 39: "Many other people suffered with Vassian, including the remarkable Greek humanist Michael Trivilis, known in Russia as Maximus the Greek. Michael Trivolis was born of a great Byzantine aristocratic family in Arta in Epirus in 1470 [...]"

Vakalopoulos 1976, p. 157: "These included Michael Trivolis from Arta (of the prominent Byzantine family that had taken refuge on Corfu after the Capture), known as Maximos Trivolis after he was tonsured, who studied classical literature and philosophy in Venice, Padua, Ferrara, Florence, and Milan."

Treadgold 1975, p. 60: "Maxim the Greek has been identified as Michael Trivolis, a remarkably learned monk who spent more than half his life in the West. Born at Arta in present-day Greece about 1470, he came from one of the great families of Byzantium, whose members included friends and counselors of emperors and even a patriarch of Constantinople (Callixtus I, 1350–1363)."

Zajc 2011, p. 361: "The life path of Michael Trivolis led from his homeland Greece to the North of Italy where, in the town centres, he made acquaintance with the scholars of the time, and where he was involved in writing, copying and translating activities."

Ryan 2006, p. 64: "They remembered too the more recent attempts to revise the Church Slavonic translations of Greek Church texts by the born-again Greek humanist Michael Trivolis, later known in religion as Maxim, and in Russia as Maxim the Greek."

[2] Treadgold 1973, p. 14: "Maxim the Greek has been shown to be the same as Michael Trivolis, a remarkably learned monk who spent more than half his life in the West. Born at Arta in present-day Greece about 1470, he came from one of the great families of Byzantium, members of which had been friends and counselors of emperors and included a patriarch of Constantinople (Callixtus I, 1350–63)"

[3] Kaltenbrunner 1989, p. 149: "1492, also noch zu Lebzeiten Picos, kam der junge Grieche Michael Trivolis nach Florenz, wo er in jenen Kreisen verkehrte, die dem Grafen von Mirandola zugeneigt waren. Michael Trivolis wurde Sekretär des gleichfalls philosophisch."

[4] Fassmann & Bill 1974, pp. 471‒472: "[...] tritt ein junger griechischer Humanist, Michael Trivolis, in das Kloster San Marco ein, das schwer überschattet ist von den Folgen der Vernichtung Savonarolas. Michael hat im Hause der Reichsgrafen della Mirandola deren."

[5] Letiche & Dmytryshyn 1990, p. 55: "As Possevino says: 'In measure that the 32 Maksim the Greek (original name Michael Trivolis, I470(?)-I557) was a Greek scholar-monk who studied for several years in Florence at the Platonic Academy, where he met many luminaries of the [...]"

[6] Medlin 1952, p. 64: "Maximus the Greek (born Michael Trivolis, ca. 1475‒1556) had come to Moscow in 1518 in response to Grand Prince Vasili III's request to Mt. Athos monasteries for a learned translator of Greek into Slavonic. The erudite Greek monk [...]"

[7] Speake 2018, p. 186: "It was the Russian scholar Elie Denissoff who first identified the Greek émigré Michael Trivolis with the monk Maximos the Greek and, thanks to this identification, was able to suggest that his life took the form of a diptych, of which Italy and Russia are the two leaves and Athos is the hinge."

[8] Johnston 2013, p. 838: "Maximus the Greek, St. c. 1470‒1555 Greek Dominican friar, then Orthodox monk, polemicist, and translator in Russia."

[9] Onasch 1967, p. 51: "Auf den Moskauer Synoden von 1525 und 1531 lief, er die von dem Griechen Maximos (Maksim Grek) durchgeführten Textrevisionen altrussischer Übersetzungen aus dem Griechischen (Patristica, Liturgica) verwerfen. Maksim kam in strengste Klosterhaft und durfte nicht einmal kommunizieren."

[10] Trueb 2008, p. 17: "Der griechische Schriftgelehrte Maksim Grek, der seit 1518 am grossfürstlichen Hof tätig war, und russische Bücherliebhaber wie der [...]"

[11] Thomas & Chesworth 2015, p. 135: "Maximus the Greek Date of Birth 1475 Place of Birth Arta, Greece Date of Death 1556 Place of Death Sergiyev Posad, Russia BIOGRAPHY Maximus the Greek was born Michael Trivolis in 1475 in Arta, Greece, to a family of Greek aristocrats."

[12] Wes 1992, p. 22: "The oldest was not actually a Russian, but a Greek monk from Arta in Epirus: Maksim Grek (ca 1471–1556). His real name was Mikhail Trivolis."

[13] Avenarius 2005, p. 119: "Maxim the Greek, already mentioned in connection with the struggle against the Markion heresy (compare VIII. 3.2), was a Greek monk, who came to Russia in 1518 at the invitation of Prince Basil III to participate in correction of the Russian liturgical books [...]"

[14] Helleman 2004, p. 213: "Maximus the Greek (Mikhail Trivolis) (1475‒1556) Greek Orthodox monk, humanist scholar, and linguist, who received an outstanding education in Europe."

[15] Steiris 2015, "Maximus was born as Michael Trivoles in Arta. His family came probably from Mystras, in Southern Greece. It is indicative that he signed his works as Maximus Grecus Lakedaimon, e.g., from Lakonia, the era around ancient Sparta."

[16] Bolshakoff 1976, p. 39: "Many other people suffered with Vassian, including the remarkable Greek humanist Michael Trivilis, known in Russia as Maximus the Greek. Michael Trivolis was born of a great Byzantine aristocratic family in Arta in Epirus in 1470 [...]"

[17] Vakalopoulos 1976, p. 157: "These included Michael Trivolis from Arta (of the prominent Byzantine family that had taken refuge on Corfu after the Capture), known as Maximos Trivolis after he was tonsured, who studied classical literature and philosophy in Venice, Padua, Ferrara, Florence, and Milan."

[18] Treadgold 1975, p. 60: "Maxim the Greek has been identified as Michael Trivolis, a remarkably learned monk who spent more than half his life in the West. Born at Arta in present-day Greece about 1470, he came from one of the great families of Byzantium, whose members included friends and counselors of emperors and even a patriarch of Constantinople (Callixtus I, 1350–1363)."

[19] Zajc 2011, p. 361: "The life path of Michael Trivolis led from his homeland Greece to the North of Italy where, in the town centres, he made acquaintance with the scholars of the time, and where he was involved in writing, copying and translating activities."

[20] Ryan 2006, p. 64: "They remembered too the more recent attempts to revise the Church Slavonic translations of Greek Church texts by the born-again Greek humanist Michael Trivolis, later known in religion as Maxim, and in Russia as Maxim the Greek."

[McGuckin-3] Cite error: The named reference McGuckin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] Arans 1983, p. 304; Wieczynski 1976, p. 26; Kovalevsky 1976, p. 142.

[5] Grumel 1944, p. 256; Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2002, p. 967.

[Arans-6] Arans 1983, p. 304.

[7] Steiris 2015, "Maximus was born as Michael Trivoles in Arta. His family came probably from Mystras, in Southern Greece. It is indicative that he signed his works as Maximus Grecus Lakedaimon, e.g., from Lakonia, the area around ancient Sparta."

[8] Zakythinos 1951, p. 115: "Les noms des Mavropappas, des Sgouromallis, des Lampoudios, des Léontarios, des Mélikis, des Trivolis reviennent dans les sources. [...] Plus d'un membre de la famille Trivolis s'est distingué à Mistra."

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