Maximus the Confessor
Christian monk, theologian, scholar and saint (c. 580 - 662)
Feast: 21 January (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Maximus, of a noble family of Constantinople, was first secretary to Emperor Heraclius, then left the world for a monastery and became abbot. He was one of the chief teachers of the Church on the Incarnation and the spiritual life.
He led the fight against the Monothelite heresy, faithful to Rome. Condemned, he was beaten and his tongue and right hand were cut off; he died in exile on 13 August 662, a martyr for the true faith and obedience to Rome.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
A monk-theologian who suffered for the full truth about Christ.
Connected on this site
- Anastasius Sinaita Saint Pupil
- Sophronius of Jerusalem Saint Teacher
- Anastasius Apocrisiarius Saint“In the fortress of Schemaris near the bank of the river Tzkhenis Dsqali in the mountains of the Caucasus, the passing of Saint Maximus the Confessor, abbot of Chrysopolis near Constantinople: renowned for his learning and for his zeal for Catholic truth, he suffered from the heretical emperor Constans the cutting…” — this site's research
- Martin I Saint“Not far away St Maximus the Confessor was imprisoned, his hand cut off and his tongue cut out; the two never met.” — this site's research
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Maximus of Constantinople
- Wikidata Q206842 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Maximus the Confessor (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.