Fool-for-Christ 17th century

Blessed Maximus of Totma

d. 1650 (17th century)

Also known as Maximus the Fool-for-Christ of Totma

A priest of the Vologda region who for forty-five years took up the hard exploit of folly for Christ.

Feast Day

January 16

Draft

Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.

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Commemorated as

Our Blessed Father Maximus, Priest and Fool-for-Christ of Totma

Life

Blessed Maximus of Totma (surnamed Makar'ev) was a Russian priest of the seventeenth century who became known for the demanding ascetic discipline of folly for Christ. He served in the town of Totma, in the Vologda diocese of the Russian North, following his father, who was likewise a priest.

Although ordained to the priesthood, Maximus took up the path of voluntary foolishness for Christ's sake and sustained it for forty-five years. Sources describe his life as one of unceasing prayer, fasting, and bodily neglect, including going without proper clothing, carried on with deliberate disregard for his own comfort. He reposed in advanced old age on January 16, 1650, the date on which he is commemorated.

He was buried near the Resurrection church of Varnitsa in Totma. Reports of miraculous healings at his tomb led, in time, to the establishment of his local veneration.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

Early 17th century Priest of Totma Maximus Makar'ev serves as a priest in Totma, in the Vologda diocese, succeeding his father in the priestly vocation.
For 45 years The exploit of folly for Christ Though a priest, he undertakes the ascetic discipline of foolishness for Christ, living in continual prayer, fasting, and bodily privation.
January 16, 1650 Repose He reposes in deep old age and is buried near the Resurrection church of Varnitsa in Totma.
1676 and 1680 Loss of his Life An account of his life, prompted by the miracles at his tomb, is destroyed in a fire at the Resurrection church in 1676; a second Life composed in 1680 is also lost.
1715 Local veneration established On account of the numerous miracles at his grave, the priest John Rokhletsov and the parishioners of the Holy Resurrection church petition Archbishop Joseph of Great Ustyug, who permits a shrine and the serving of molebens.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Folly for Christ

Foolishness for Christ is an extreme form of Orthodox asceticism in which a person deliberately renounces ordinary social standing, comfort, and reputation, often feigning madness, in order to rebuke worldly values and conceal genuine virtue. What distinguishes Maximus among those who took up this path is that he did so while remaining a priest, sustaining the discipline for forty-five years.

The accounts of his life emphasize ceaseless prayer, fasting, nakedness, and a total disregard for his own body as the marks of his endurance.

Tomb and miracles

After his burial near the Resurrection church of Varnitsa, his grave became associated with reported healings. These accounts included recoveries from paralysis, fever, and mental affliction; among them were the peasant Theodore Mamoshov, said to have been paralyzed for nine years before recovering after venerating the grave, and Anna Tataurova, reported healed of a mental affliction after the saint appeared to her in a dream.

Several such healings, dated to the period 1680-1705, were recorded and depicted on the margins of the icons that adorned his reliquary. The miracles were the stated reason for the formal recognition of his local veneration in 1715, when church authorities petitioned for permission to place a grave-reliquary over his relics.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Jan 16