About St. Maximus the Confessor

Saint Maximus, or Maximos, the Confessor (c. 580 – 662) was a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar. In his early life, Maximus was a civil servant, and an aide to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius. He gave up this life in the political sphere to enter the monastic life. He was eventually persecuted for upholding his Christological positions against heresy; following a trial, his tongue and right hand were mutilated. He died in exile, but his theology was upheld by the Third Council of Constantinople and he was venerated as a saint soon after his death. His title of "Confessor" means that he suffered for the Christian faith, but was not directly martyred. Venerated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, he has the rare distinction among saints of having two feast days: August 13 and January 21.