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Holy Righteous Maxim, Priest of Totem, Fool for Christ's sake. Religious educational program: Holy Righteous Maxim of Totemsky Complete life of the righteous Maxim of Totemsky, Christ for the sake of the holy fool

Maxim Totemsky(+), priest, blessed

For some time he was a priest in the city of Totma, Vologda diocese. For forty years he underwent the difficult feat of foolishness for Christ, constantly being in fasting and prayer. During his lifetime he became famous for his miracles. He died at a ripe old age on January 16 of the year and was buried in the Resurrection Varnitsa Church, in which he served.

Reverence

The biography and description of the miracles of Blessed Maxim was compiled in the 17th century, but burned down in the fire of the Church of the Resurrection in the year. In the 18th century, two of his healings were again recorded. So, in the year a resident of Totma, Tarunin, fell ill with a fever and lay relaxed for six months. When he called Saint Maximus for help, he immediately received healing. In the year she received healing from the tomb of the righteous A. Ya. Tataurov, who was in a frenzy of mind for a month.

Local veneration of the saint began in the year, in connection with the numerous miracles that occurred at his tomb. In particular, four miracles performed at the relics of the righteous were represented by marks on his shrine, located inside the Varnitsa Church of the Resurrection near the left choir. Outside, the burial site was marked by a picturesque fresco depicting Blessed Maxim, outlined by a wooden icon case.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the resting place of Blessed Maxim was in desolation.

Prayers

Troparion, tone 4

Having served the immaculate priesthood of God, / in the midst of worldly rebellion, you chose foolishness, / you took up the cross, you followed Christ with an irrevocable thought, / and, approaching Him with love through virtues, / leaving the earthly, you accepted the Heavenly, / blessed Maximus, our Father, / pray Christ God / the city of Totma will be preserved unharmed / and our souls will be saved.

Kontakion, tone 4

Following the divine voice,/ you were jealous of instructing your flock/ not with the wisdom of words, but with the exuberance of a serene life,/ with incessant prayers and streams of tears/ washing your soul and body,/ exhausting your flesh with air elements,/ and even after death, the Lord glorified you with miracles,/ yes We call you with faith:/ Rejoice, Our God-Wise Father Maxima.

Memory 16 January s.s.

Righteous Maxim was a priest in the city of Totma in the first half of the 17th century. His name was Maxim Makariev, son of Popov. Ordained a priest, for 45 years he underwent the voluntary feat of the foolishness of Christ for the sake ofand remained in unceasing prayer, fasting, nakedness, and completely neglected the care of his body.
The righteous priest Maxim, already during his lifetime, was distinguished by grace-filled gifts from God. He died at a ripe old age on January 16, 1650and was buried at the Resurrection Varnitsa Church in the city of Totma. His laborious and holy life and the miraculous healings that flowed from his tomb served as an incentive to compile a written legend about him, but this legend burned down in the fire of the Resurrection Church in 1676. Later, the new legend compiled in 1680 was also lost. Meanwhile, miracles at the tomb of the righteous man continued.
In 1715, the priest of the Church of the Resurrection, John Rokhletsov, and the parish people turned to Archbishop Joseph of Veliko Ustyug with a request to allow them to erect a tomb over the relics of St. Maxim in the Paraskevievskaya Church, built over these relics, and to place an image of the saint on the tomb. The Bishop gave his permission and blessed to serve prayers like other saints of God.
At that time, everyone still remembered the miracles that took place at the burial place of Righteous Maxim, and these miracles were depicted on the stamps decorating the tomb of the saint of God.
In 1680, a resident of Totma, Boris Timofeev Tarunin, fell ill with a fever.and lay relaxed for six months. When he called the righteous Maxim for help, he immediately received healing.
In 1691, the peasant Arefa Malevinsky did not get up for nine weeksfrom bed with fever; when he began to call on Saint Maximus for help, his illness completely disappeared.
Peasant Feodor Vasiliev Mamoshov was unwell for nine years and was in relaxation. On the night of November 5, 1703, he dreamed that an old man in only a shirt came to his bed and said to him: “Theodore, stop mourning.” And, taking him by the shoulder, he led him to church and ordered him to venerate the tombstone of Righteous Maxim. Having awakened, Theodore felt so healthy that he could go on foot to the Church of the Resurrection to venerate the tomb of his healer.
Anna Yakovleva Tataurova in 1705 was in a frenzy of mind for a month. At night, righteous Maxim appeared to her in a dream and ordered two requiem services to be served over his coffin, promising her recovery for that. Having awakened, the sick woman regained consciousness and began to ask to be taken to the tomb of the righteous, where, after the funeral services were performed, she immediately felt completely healthy.

Troparion of Righteous Maxim

voice 4

Having served the immaculate priesthood of God, / in the midst of worldly rebellion, you chose foolishness, / you took up the cross, you followed Christ with an irrevocable thought, / and, with love, you approached Him with virtues, / leaving the earthly, you accepted the Heavenly, / blessed Maximus, our Father, / pray Christ God / the city of Totma will be preserved unharmed / and our souls will be saved.

Kontakion of Righteous Maxim

voice 4

Prayer to the Righteous Maxim of Totemsky

O most blessed and most wonderful servant of God, righteous Maximus! Having received the grace of the Holy Spirit, you first served the immaculate priesthood of the Most Holy Trinity, standing before the Throne of God and offering Bloodless Sacrifice for people. When, possessed by an extreme desire for the Lord, you chose the foolish life of Christ for the sake of you, you rejected worldly delights, you dressed in bodily nakedness, like scarlet, you endured the heat of the sun and the great frost with love, you labored in the city of Totma, and for this sake you inherited the Heavenly Palace in the villages of the righteous. But as if you have boldness towards Christ God, pour out warm prayers for us, O holy saint of God, so that we may be delivered from all needs and all opposing evils. Do not stop praying to the Word, Christ our God, for the city and people, to be preserved unharmed from famine and plague, fire and sword, and from the invasion of adversaries. Send down from Heaven, O sacred head, blessed Maxim, upon us, who diligently flow to you and kiss your holy image with love, peace, grace and salvation to our souls, so that we, together with all the saints, will be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom, singing together the Holy Trinity, Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The righteous priest Maxim, already during his lifetime, was distinguished by grace-given gifts from God. He died at a ripe old age on January 16, 1650
and was buried at the Resurrection Varnitsa Church in the city of Totma. His hardworking and holy life and the miraculous healings that flowed from his tomb served as an incentive to compile a written story about him, but this story burned down in the fire of the Resurrection Church in 1676. Later, the new legend compiled in 1680 was also lost. Meanwhile, miracles at the tomb of the righteous man continued.

In 1715, the priest of the Church of the Resurrection, John Rokhletsov, and the parish people turned to Archbishop Joseph of Veliko Ustyug with a request to allow them to erect a tomb over the relics of St. Maxim in the Paraskevievskaya church, built over these relics, and to place an image of the saint on the tomb. The Bishop gave his permission and blessed to serve prayer services like other saints of God.

At that time, everyone still remembered the miracles that took place at the burial place of Righteous Maxim, and these miracles were depicted on the marks decorating the tomb of the saint of God.

In 1680, a resident of Totma, Boris Timofeev Tarunin, fell ill with a fever.
and lay relaxed for six months. When he called the righteous Maxim for help, he immediately received healing.

In 1691, the peasant Arefa Malevinsky did not get up for nine weeks
from bed with fever; when he began to call on Saint Maximus for help, his illness completely disappeared.

Peasant Feodor Vasiliev Mamoshov was unwell for nine years and was in relaxation. On the night of November 5, 1703, he dreamed that an old man in only a shirt came to his bed and said to him: “Theodore, stop grieving.” And, taking him by the shoulder, he led him to church and ordered him to venerate the tombstone of the righteous Maxim. Having awakened, Theodore felt so healthy that he could go on foot to the Church of the Resurrection to venerate the tomb of his healer.

Anna Yakovleva Tataurova in 1705 was in a frenzy of mind for a month. At night, righteous Maxim appeared to her in a dream and ordered two requiem services to be served over his coffin, promising her recovery for that. Having awakened, the sick woman regained consciousness and began to ask to be taken to the tomb of the righteous, where, after the funeral services were performed, she immediately felt completely healthy.

Holy Righteous Maxim, Priest of Totemsky, Fool for Christ's Sake

Day of Remembrance January 29 and on the 3rd week after Pentecost Cathedral of Vologda Saints.

The way of life of holy fools seems strange and incomprehensible to the world. Many do not see anything good in it, but they also find much that is indecent, useless and even harmful. Nevertheless, foolishness is the highest and most difficult feat of spiritual life, and fools for Christ’s sake have appeared in the Orthodox Church at all times, both in Greece and here in Russia, setting an example of faith and patience and disgracing worldly wisdom with their violence.

Having set themselves the goal of swearing at the world, so as not to be scolded by it, they firmly walked along a narrow and sorrowful path, lovingly enduring all sorrows and hardships, ridicule and curses, labors and illnesses, their life was a lesson for their contemporaries, the best consolation and example of patience for those who suffer and the most powerful and constant denunciation of passions and vices.

Often they added their strong words to this, they were not ashamed and were not afraid to express the most bitter truths in the face of the powerful of the world, or, in order to further strengthen the people in the faith and to awaken listeners from spiritual sleep, they lifted the veil of the future and threatened the unrepentant judgment of God. Who, other than the holy fool, would dare to offer Grozny a piece of raw meat during Lent, or remind the suspicious Godunov of God’s judgment, as Nikolai Salos and John the big cap did?

Among such voluntary sufferers and true servants of God who have shone forth in our fatherland is Priest Maxim, who underwent the feat of foolishness for 45 years in unceasing prayer, in fasting, nakedness and complete neglect of the body, and was the spiritual salt for the inhabitants of Totma, rich in material salt.

Righteous Maxim lived in Totma in the first half of the 17th century.

Full name: Maxim Makarievich Popov.Judging by the surname Popov, he could come from a priestly family.

Righteous Maxim was already marked by grace-filled gifts from God during his lifetime.

He died at a ripe old age on January 16, 1650 and was buried at the Resurrection Varnitsa Church in the city of Totma.

His hardworking, holy life and the miraculous healings flowing from the tomb were the reason that a legend about him was then compiled by obvious witnesses, but this legend burned in 1676 during a fire in the Church of the Resurrection.

In 1680, as a result of new miracles from the tomb of Righteous Maxim, a new record was compiled about him, which was subsequently also lost, so that we do not know now where and when Righteous Maxim was born, when and in what church he was ordained a priest, and for how long whether he served as a pastor.

In 1715, the priest of the Church of the Resurrection, John Rokhletsov, and the parish people turned to Archbishop Joseph of Veliky Ustyug with a request to allow them to erect a tomb over the relics of St. Maxim in the Paraskevievskaya Church, built over these relics, and to place an image of the saint on the tomb; both were permitted to them.

Of the miracles that took place at the burial place of Righteous Maxim, only the following four have reached us, which are depicted on the marks decorating the tomb of the saint of God.

In 1680, a resident of Totma, Boris Timofeev Tarunin, fell ill with a fever and lay relaxed for six months. When he called the righteous Maxim for help, he immediately received healing.

In 1691, the peasant Arefa Malevinsky did not get out of bed for nine weeks from a fever, but when he began to call on Saint Maxim for help, his illness completely disappeared.

Fyodor Vasilyev Mamoshov, a peasant from the Starototemsky volost, upper Idenga, Kokoryin village, was unwell for nine years and was in relaxation. On the night of November 5, 1703, he dreamed that an old man in only a shirt came to his bed and said to him: “Fedor, stop grieving. And, taking him by the shoulder. He took him to church and ordered him to venerate the tombstone of Righteous Maxim. Having awakened, Fyodor felt so healthy that he could go on foot to the Church of the Resurrection to venerate the tomb of his healer.

Anna Yakovlevna Tatura in 1705 was in a frenzy of mind for a month. At night, righteous Maxim appeared to her in a dream and ordered two requiem services to be served over his coffin, promising her recovery for that. Having awakened, the patient regained consciousness and began to ask to be taken to the tomb of the righteous, where, after the funeral services were performed, she immediately felt completely healthy.

Information sources:

Veryuzhsky I. Historical tales about the lives of saints who labored in the Vologda diocese, glorified by the entire church and locally revered. Vologda, 1880. pp. 664-667.)

https://azbyka.ru/days/sv-maksim-totemskij,

Wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_Totemsky.