Maximian al Constantinopolului

Cel întru sfinţi părintele nostru Maximian(sau Maximianus), a fost arhiepiscop de Constantinopol între octombrie 431 și aprilie 434, în timpul disputelor hristologice ce au urmat Sinodului al III-lea Ecumenic și depunerii lui Nestorie. Alegerea sa a fost influiențată de dorința împăratului Teodosie al II-lea. Prăznuirea sa se face la data de 21 aprilie. Înainte de secolul al XII-lea, pomenirea sa se făcea la data de 20 noiembrie.

Viața

Maximian was of Roman background, born in Rome, who was a childhood friend of Pope Celestine I of Rome. He was noted to be a pious man, but was not known for his intellect. He had a good reputation among the Christians, in part because at his own expense he constructed monuments to bury the departed. Maximian led a monastic life before he entered the Holy Orders. He became a preot of the Church of Constantinople, ordained by Abp. Sisinnius. He was a member of the clergy since the days of Ioan Gură de Aur. After the deposition of Nestorius, Maximian became Archbishop of Constantinople at the insistence of Emperor Theodosius II who apparently was looking for an ordinary candidate and perhaps one who was not overly under the influence of his sister, Pulcheria. His selection passed over Proclus, who was a favorite of the aristocrats.

Maximian was consecrated on 25 octombrie, 431. The attendees at his consecration reflected the ongoing controversy as the Orientals (Syrians) were not invited because they continued to regard Nestorius' removal from the see of Constantinople as uncanonical. Maximian held Orthodox beliefs and thus followed in the stead of such former archbishops as John Chrysostom, Atticus, and Sisinnius.

After initially enforcing the rulings of the Council of Ephesus, Theodosius, in mid 432, decided to try to heal the split with the Syrians and, after consulting with Bp. Maximian, wrote to John of Antioch deploring the animosity and setting conditions for reconciliation with the synod at Constantinople. Among the conditions was a requirement that the Syrians accept Maximian as bishop of Constantinople and renounce Nestorius. But, the Syrians, including John of Antioch, had objection over the 'two natures' issues with Cyril of Alexandria and his Letters and Chapters. After much negotiations Cyril and the Syrians settled their differences with the Chapters and John accepted Maximian and renounced Nestorius.

Throughout these negotiations, Maximian remained distant and blind to what was happening around him. Thus, it became clear that age and diminished intellectual alertness showed that he was not up to the job. On 12 aprilie, 434, Holy Thursday, in the midst of the negotiations Maximian reposed.

Casetă de succesiune: Maximian al Constantinopolului
Precedat de: Nestorie	Arhiepiscop de Constantinopol 431-434	Urmat de: Proclu

Sources

• Wikipedia: Archbishop Maximianus of Constantinople
• Ec-patr: Maximian
• McGuckin, John A., St. Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2004. ISBN 0-88141-259-7