Blessed Maximus the Fool for Christ of Tot'ma

Blessed Maximus Makar'ev was a priest in the city of Tot'ma (Vologda Diocese) during the first half of the XVII century, and his father was a priest. Saint Maximus was also ordained to the priesthood, and for 45 years he voluntarily undertook the difficult spiritual exploit of foolishness for Christ's sake, spending his time in unceasing prayer, fasting, and nakedness, completely neglecting to take care of his body.

Father Maximus was already distinguished by grace-filled gifts from God during his lifetime. He reposed at an advanced age on January 16, 1650 and was buried near the Resurrection church of Varnitsa in the city of Tot'ma. His laborious and holy life, and the miraculous cures which flowed from his tomb, served as an incentive to write his Life, but it was destroyed in 1676 during a fire in the church of the Resurrection. A new Life was composed in 1680, and it was lost as well. Meanwhile, the miracles continued at the righteous one's tomb.

Local veneration of the Saint began in 1715, because of the numerous miracles which occurred at his grave. In that year, the Priest John Rokhletsov and the parishioners of Holy Resurrection church asked Archbishop Joseph of Great Ustyug to allow them to place a sepulcher over the relics of Saint Maximus in the church of Saint Paraskevḗ, which was built over his relics, and to put an Icon of the Saint on the tomb. Vladyka granted their petition and gave his blessing for Molebens to be served for him, as is done for other God-pleasers. At that time, everyone still remembered the miracles which took place at the tomb of Blessed Maximus, and these miracles were depicted on the borders of the icon which adorned the God-pleaser’s tomb.

In 1680, Boris Tarunin, a resident of Tot'ma, fell ill with a fever and was paralyzed for six months. When he prayed to the righteous Maximus for the help, he was healed right away.

In 1691, the peasant Aréthas Malevinsky was bed-ridden for nine weeks with a fever. When he began to call upon Saint Maximus for help, his illness completely disappeared.

The peasant Theodore Mamoshov was paralyzed for nine years. On the night of November 5, 1703, he dreamt that an old man, clad in just a shirt, approached his bedside and said to him, "Theodore, cease your grieving." Taking him by the shoulder, he led him into the church and commanded him to venerate his grave. When he awakened, Theodore felt so well that he was able to walk to the church of the Resurrection in order to venerate the tomb of his healer.

In 1705, Anna Tataurova had not been in her right mind for a month. One night, Saint Maximus appeared to her in a dream, telling her to have two Panikhidas served at his tomb, promising her that she would recover if she did this. When the sick girl woke up, she asked to be taken to the righteous one's tomb. After the two Panikhidas were served, she felt perfectly well.

Blessed Maximus is also commemorated on the third Sunday of Pentecost, the Synaxis of the Vologda Saints.